As Asian countries learn to live with the coronaviruses and gain traction in their vaccine campaigns, several are reopening their borders and welcoming travelers.
The Asia-Pacific region initially lag in vaccinations and many countries remained committed to some of the world's toughest restrictions for much of the year, but the region's vaccination rates have been catching up.
Some Asian nations have reopened international travel just before the winter holidays, despite the fact that most of their populations have beenvaccinated.
After more than 20 months of tight border restrictions, Singapore loosened its international travel regulations last month. Our World in Data shows that the city-state has the highest rate of vaccinations in the world.
Travelers from India and Indonesia will be allowed to return to Singapore later this month.
At a news conference this month, Singapore's health minister said that the Pandemic situation is stabilizing within Southeast Asia. This gives us the ability to open our borders to regional countries.
On Monday, Singapore and South Korea opened a travel bubble. South Korea has been relaxing travel regulations for foreigners.
New case numbers in South Korea have recently reached a record, but it will not change its live with Covid strategy. 78 percent of the country's population has been fully vaccined, according to the government.
Travelers who are fully vaccine free will no longer have to stay in Cambodia starting this week. A New York Times database shows that 80 percent of the country's population has been fully vaccined, despite the government's claim that 88 percent has been done. Cambodia has begun giving shots to young children.
Some Asian countries with low vaccination rates have reopened their borders.
In the Philippines, where only 31 percent of people have been fully immunized, the Tourism Ministry said on Friday that it had approved opening to fully immunized travelers from certain countries. The Covid task force will make a final decision.
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The election preceded the coup. The party of Ms. San Suu Kyi won 83 percent of the available seats. The military refused to accept the results of the vote.
There is a chance that Ms. San Suu Kyi could be sentenced to prison. She was put on trial after being secretly held by the junta. She could be sentenced to a maximum of 102 years in prison if convicted of all the charges against her.
The military government said it would reopen land crossings with China and Thailand next month. If the coronaviruses cases continued to decline, it would allow international flights early next year.
Since the military took control of the country, the health care system has been in disarray. The country of 54 million faced a surge in cases and deaths in July, but the daily numbers have since declined.
Vietnam, which has 39 percent of its population vaccine free, has seen a 46 percent increase in daily cases over the past two weeks. International visitors will be allowed to visit Phu Quoc and the other tourist destinations in the province.
The rest of the country will be open to international travelers next year.
The tourism industry should take steps to restart safely, according to the deputy prime minister.
India reopened its borders to most international travelers this week. Only 29 percent of the population is fully vaccined and the country plans to open travel bubbles with 99 countries.
Visitors from some countries have been allowed in Indonesia and Thailand. Thailand has inoculated 54 percent of its population.
Rick Paddock was involved in reporting.
