01 June  

Countries in Southeast and South Asia are easing restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Some countries will resume economic activities while infections are still on the rise.

India is easing its stay-at-home order on Monday, which has been in place since late March. Restrictions will also be lifted on retail and manufacturing sector operations.

India's government stressed it will further reopen business activity, after measures to deal with the pandemic caused mass unemployment and seriously affected the country's economy.

However, coronavirus infections have yet to decline in India, with the number of new cases exceeding 8,000 per day.

The Philippines is easing strict travel restrictions in the capital Manila and its surrounding areas and resume operation of public transportation.

But in the Philippines, the rate of increase in the number of infections has yet to drop even after two-and-a-half months of lockdown.

The government seeks to accelerate resuming economic activities in a cautious manner. It will continue to limit the number of passengers using public transportation to half the full capacity or less, and will impose age limits for outings.

Thailand is further easing restrictions in phases on Monday, by allowing movie theaters and other indoor facilities to reopen along with massage parlors.

The Thai government has extended its state of emergency so it can impose restrictions if there is a resurgence of infections.

nhk