By Editorial Board
As Southeast Asia continues to suffer its ongoing battle against COVID-19, various other events have also transpired. With the region’s dependency on tourism and the free flow of trade to support their economies, the pandemic has placed heavy restrictions which resulted in economic recessions. Currently experiencing the third incoming wave of the Coronavirus as well as the effects of the Delta variant, a spike in infections is once again observed while the death toll continues its rise.
Despite the exports of vaccines from China, the EU, and the U.S., accessibility is still limited as vaccination rates and the capacity to conduct COVID testing for local communities continue to remain at an all-time low. Southeast Asia continues to battle the pandemic and the detrimental consequences of their under-preparedness to face this pandemic. More attention needs to be drawn to the ineffectiveness of disease containment while examining why vaccination rates are not proceeding at a rate that will halt the spread of the virus.
Shortage of Healthcare Supplies and Overflow of Healthcare Facilities
As of July 13, Indonesia is the world’s new epicenter for COVID-19 infections, with a staggering number of 49,000 cases a day. Consequently, hospital beds are overpopulated and oxygen supply is low, with citizens struggling to find treatment. The influx of patients has resulted in the deaths of 114 doctors in July, tallying up to more than 1,500 deaths of workers in the healthcare sector.
In attempts to contain the spread, government officials have enforced safety measures that limited travel and dining-in, as well as the closure of some work offices. With only 6% of the country being fully vaccinated, the government is pushing for 2 million doses to be received each day starting in August.
Despite the Philippines’ lockdown regulations, infection rates hit an all-time record, with over 2 million confirmed cases, and more than 33,500 deaths. Healthcare facilities are being overwhelmed, half of the ventilators are unavailable and 70% of beds are occupied. Medical workers are unable to maintain safety amidst the immense tide of patients leading to the deaths of 103 staff caused by exposure and lack of protection.
Employees are threatening resignation as a form of protest, after not receiving allowances and hazard pay, while demanding Health Minister Fransico Duque to step down. President Duterte gave the ministries of budget and health until August 31 to pay healthcare workers.
As the cases rise in Myanmar, citizens’ access to healthcare has been obstructed by the February coup. In fear of being seen following the regime, in combination with the resentment against the military, doctors, and patients refuse to enter military-operated hospitals. Infections are estimated to be more than 229,000 with 5,000 deaths, although the numbers are suspected to be higher in actuality. Families are desperately seeking medical care and oxygen supply on their own, while funeral homes and cemeteries are having difficulty keeping up with the demand.
Political Instability: Questioning the Effectiveness of Government Policies
Due to the dire situations faced within ASEAN countries, waves of protests have broken out to question the competence of government control over COVID-19. This is especially prominent within Thailand as protesters go against the Prime Minister’s office after the passing of the emergency lockdown decree. Angered by the declining response from the local government, civil unrest has resulted in clashes between citizens and the police force, with violent methods becoming more prevalent within these events. The critics of the lack of efficiency in Thailand’s COVID-19 combat strategy have become the center of these protests.
Similar situations have been observed in Indonesia. Throughout the month of July, there have been ongoing protests against the newly announced extensions of COVID-19 restrictions. Occurring in the cities of Jakarta and Bandung, these demonstrations have also been targeted towards governmental buildings such as the State Palace. As tension arises, an atmosphere of chaos and distrust has developed amongst locals against the Indonesian army. Many fear the conspiracies that outline the Indonesian government taking advantage of vaccines to control its people; therefore, vaccination rates remain consistently low. Even after two months, this continues to remain prevalent.
Accusations have been made against the Malaysian government and their lack of responsibility when containing the Delta variant. The revolt against these government policies and their mishandling of the pandemic within the country, this had ensured the withdrawal of UMNO (United Malays National Organization’s support for Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Adding on to the economical and public health crisis, widespread in Malaysia, the country has been under a nationwide lockdown since June, with an accumulated total of 800,000 cases. In regards to this, more sectors of the country’s economy have now been reopened as new Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob believes that this will improve the morale of Malaysian citizens.
Vaccination Rates
Even though Vietnam’s infection rates surpassed 10,000 cases a day in August, the country still has the lowest vaccination rates in Asia, with only 2% of its population being fully vaccinated. The overflow in Southern region hospitals and the rising death roll can be attributed to the lack of vaccine accessibility. As the wealthy Western countries seized the vaccine supply, developing countries in Southeast Asia were overlooked. Vietnam will continue to fall behind as Western nations begin to give a precautionary third dose to their citizens. However, this situation can also be accredited to the fact that the country did not initially make haste to gather vaccines, but rather looked toward containment strategies.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addressed a letter to the World Health Organisation pleading for the COVAX Initiative to prioritize Vietnam. Aid was provided from both China and the U.S., with China offering 2 million of the Sinovac vaccine, and Vice President Kamala Harris offering an additional 1 million doses of Pfizer. In attempts to control the infections, the government began to implement lockdown measures, with support from the military in Ho Chi Minh City.
While other countries grapple with their dire situations, Cambodia has become Southeast Asia’s newest success story. On September 6th, it was reported that two-thirds of the country had already received their first dose, and 53% are fully vaccinated. Even with the second-lowest GDP, they have the second-highest vaccination rates amongst the ASEAN countries. This accomplishment can be attributed to their geographical location, low population, and donations from foreign countries. Vaccines were provided by the COVAX Initiative, and 27 million vaccines were supplied by China, which has maintained a healthy diplomatic relationship with Cambodia for the past 2 decades. This has made Cambodia less reliant on Western aid while asserting soft power in an area where the U.S’ influence is not as proficient.
Heightening of Restrictions
Surges of COVID-19 are a recurring phenomenon in the ASEAN regions. Countries such as Laos and Brunei have implemented tight measures to constrict the spread of the virus. These include night curfews lasting from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in Laos, and the suspension of visas for foreigners or long-term pass holders from entering Brunei. The Singapore parliament has also received backlash due to public discontent towards the fluctuating COVID-19 containment regulations, administered in efforts to adapt and co-exist with the virus.
Observing the overall state of affairs of Southeast Asia and comparing local circumstances to other countries around it, it is on a positive road for progress. With Brunei, Cambodia, and Laos’s total tally of infection cases near a hundred and over 80% of Singapore’s population is fully vaccinated at the end of August, the countries of the ASEAN have been able to present a strong front against COVID-19, despite its underdeveloped infrastructure in various countries. Vietnam has been especially successful in virus containment and with the region’s climate and culture factors contributing to this cause. The future for COVID-19 in the area remains uncertain, though there are many aspects for improvement in the near future as countries around the world continue to send their support in order to move past this unfortunate era.