Coronavirus Response: Communications Updates In Key APAC Markets

Earlier this month, PR Newswire published an APAC communications roundup on the coronavirus (now officially known as COVID-19). We noted that APAC companies were actively communicating their operational changes and corporate social responsibility efforts.

Since then, APAC companies have stepped up such communications and are implementing additional business contingency plans. They are demonstrating their commitment to their customers by implementing fee waivers as the economic impact of COVID-19 ripples across the region.

Companies are also partnering with governments in the region to ensure that the public is well-informed about the latest COVID-19 situation. Separately, governments are also issuing public health advisories to curb the spread of the virus. For example, Hong Kong SAR has activated its highest warning level, while Singapore and South Korea are at the second-highest level.

With the activation of a higher public health warning level, tighter restrictions are likely to be implemented for large-scale events and travel, so communicators need to adapt their plans accordingly.

To help APAC communicators calibrate their efforts across the region, we have compiled a round-up of how companies are reacting and public health advisories in various key markets.

Singapore

To support affected retail and business banking customers, RHB Singapore is offering a moratorium of up to six months for monthly instalments of loan payments. Customers may request to restructure or reschedule their loans and financing arrangements.

Software company Pulse Secure is waving subscription fees of its secure remote access solutions to Asian companies. Users can get protected remote access to cloud and data centre resources from their mobile and desktop devices.

Corporate training provider Anagram Group has rolled out measures for conducting training workshops and events during this period. These measures include keeping group sizes to eight people and below, and organising workshops on dealing with the business impact of COVID-19. In response to the postponements of business events, the group will introduce more webinar programmes that feature live video, slides, and chat functionalities.

Government Response: Singapore has raised its four-tier disease outbreak response level to the second-highest level on 7 February. The government has implemented stricter quarantine measures, temperature screening and visitor restriction at hospitals, and advised event organisers to cancel or defer non-essential large-scale events.

Hong Kong SAR

Hang Lung Properties has allocated the first portion of its RMB 10 million Hang Lung Novel Coronavirus Relief Fund to purchase 2,000 sets of health and food kits for the elderly and underprivileged families. These kits contain surgical masks, hand sanitizers, rice, cooking oil and dried food.

Telecommunications company Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN) is offering three months of free one-stop remote office services to existing customers. This move, which is a collaboration with Microsoft, is in tandem with a growing demand for remote office services, particularly among SMEs.

HKBN is also providing free unlimited local mobile data to the elderly and people with disabilities living in five residential care homes that are operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong. Considering COVID-19, many residential care homes have suspended in-person visitations. This move allows care home residents to make video calls with family members and friends to keep their spirits up.

Insurance company AXA Hong Kong is offering free hospital benefit and death benefit coverage on the novel coronavirus to front-line medical workers, including doctors, nurses and allied health staff, in establishments that are part of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.

Government Response: On 25 January, Hong Kong activated the Emergency Response Level – the highest of three levels based on the risk assessment of the virus spread. On 8 February, the government mandated that those who arrive from Mainland China or have visited Mainland China prior to arriving in Hong Kong are subjected to a compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Besides cancelling large-scale public events and extending closures of schools and government agencies, the authorities are enhancing surveillance of those under quarantine, increasing its supply of masks and the number of quarantine facilities.

Malaysia 

Exhibition organiser Informa Markets is supporting the Malaysian government’s efforts to share factual and up-to-date information on the COVID-19 situation. Informa Markets organised a special briefing by Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Director-General of Health at the Ministry of Health, for its stakeholders, including business leaders and representatives of diplomatic missions, on 12 February. The event facilitates companies to make more informed decisions concerning business continuity.

Government Response: The Star reported that Malaysian health authorities has formed a joint working group with their counterparts in Singapore to curb the COVID-19 spread. The partnership will expedite information-sharing on cross-border cases. The Ministry of Health has also issued public health advisories on avoiding contact with wild animals, consumption of raw meat and covering one’s mouth when sneezing.

Indonesia

The organizers of the Indonesia International Furniture Expo highlighted their commitment to providing a secure experience for participants at the event which will be held on 12 to 15 March in Jakarta. The release also included efforts by the Indonesian government to inform the public on COVID-19. The Health Ministry has set up a website with live updates on the spread and prepared 100 hospitals to handle the fast-spreading virus.

Digital travel booking platform Traveloka has distributed thousands of N95 masks to international passengers travelling from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta to mainland China, Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Singapore.

Government Response: As of 18 February, there are no reported cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia. The country is intensifying screening at immigration checkpoints and equipping hospitals to handle suspected cases.

South Korea 

Molecular technology developer Seegene Inc. has launched its COVID-19 assay, a diagnostic solution to detect the virus, in South Korea and across the globe. The assay, which identifies three different target genes based on the international recommended protocols by the World Health Organization, has been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

To show that it is business as usual in Seoul, Universal Peace Federation, a non-governmental organisation, issued a press release on its World Summit that was held on 3 to 5 February. This event gathered 7,000 heads of state, entrepreneurs, academics, media and religious leaders to contribute their expertise on solving conflicts within society. Extra precautions were taken to ensure the safety and health of participants.

Government Response: The country has raised the level of the four-tier infectious disease alert to the second-highest rung. Health officials have announced plans to expand diagnostic testing for early patient detection and establish a social monitoring system to further reinforce measures to prevent infections at healthcare institutions. According to a Yonhap News Agency report, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki warns against excessive fear of COVID-19 and urged people to continue with their economic activities.

Vietnam 

Data intelligence company KOMPA Group has launched a website that monitors local and global cases of infections in real-time but also allows Vietnamese Internet users to catch up on the latest news from official sources.

A group of like-minded Vietnamese technology companies has introduced platforms to combat misinformation surrounding COVID-19. Mobile-based platform company Appota launched a new version of the Lich Nhu Y mobile calendar, which features a dashboard that carries real-time updates on the epidemic. Social network Zalo partnered the Ministry of Health to distribute an updated guide on preventing the virus spread. To curb the spread of fake news, Ncov.vn enables the community to collectively identify and categorize inaccurate information.

Government Response: Vietnam has declared a public health emergency over the spread of coronavirus. It has also advised citizens to limit large-scale gatherings and is imposing stricter quarantine measures.

Thailand 

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau announced that 24 international and regional conventions and exhibitions involving more than 40,000 participants will proceed as planned over the next three months.

Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok became the first airport in the world to introduce a fever detection system that is fully integrated into the biometric border control system. German biometrics company DERMALOG has developed the system, which can identify potentially infected travellers by detecting body temperatures.

Government Response: The Ministry of Public Health raised its emergency operations alert code to level 3, which includes “avoid travel to affected areas”. The Ministry advised the public to adhere to the principles for respiratory disease prevention such as washing hands and wearing masks.

Information on government responses is accurate as of 19 February.

Here is a compilation of the government health advisories in the region: 

This blog post is written by Kenneth Goh, Senior Marketing Executive at PR Newswire. A former journalist, he relishes keeping track of breaking news as much as telling stories with trends and data. Connect with him via Linkedin.