In the eye of Southeast Asia’s Covid-19 surge

Only countries that have won the battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) can fully reopen the economy. Others face difficult balancing acts. Southeast Asia is no exception.

I AM writing this column in Pasay City in the eye of Southeast Asia’s new pandemic surge. In late February, Pasay, a major destination hub of Metro Manila, reported the highest number of Covid cases and second highest in the Philippines. Today, the city’s general hospital is nearing full-bed capacity.