Risk Assessment Report – 20 November 2020

• Worldwide, there have been over 57.1 million cases and more than 1.36 million deaths attributed to COVID-19.

• On November 15, leaders of the 15 signatory countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) held the

fourth RCEP Summit via videoconference. They subsequently attended and witnessed the online signing ceremony of the

RCEP. The joint leaders' statement on the free trade agreement (FTA) highly praised the signing of the historic pact. As Chinese

Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang pointed out, the signing of the RCEP represents not only a landmark achievement of

East Asian regional cooperation, but also a victory for multilateralism and free trade. The signing offers a ray of light and hope

to people facing the gloomy international landscape, and shows that multilateralism and free trade is the right way forward

for the world economy and human civilization. The signing of the RCEP is one of the most significant, most awaited and most

exciting outcomes of the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings this year. It underwent eight years of arduous and intensive

negotiations, overcame all difficulties and was finally signed during the summit. The global COVID-19 outbreak has made all

parties more aware of the RCEP’s great impetus and significance for promoting regional economic recovery and mutually

beneficial cooperation, and has raised the sense of urgency for its timely signing.

• On November 19, the Pacific island of Samoa reported its first COVID-19 case. According to official sources, the individual is

a sailor who had flown back to Samoa from Auckland, New Zealand, on November 13 and tested positive for the virus on

November 17 after several days in a quarantine facility. Officials added that a second test on November 19 returned negative

but the individual will remain in isolation at Tupua Tamasese Motootua hospital. They also announced the beginning of the

contact tracing process as 17 other sailors who arrived on the same repatriation flight and have also been in quarantine with

roughly 300 other passengers. Officials highlighted that there is currently no community transmission of the virus. In the past

two months, other pacific islands including the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Vanuatu reported their first COVID-

19 cases without community transmission.

• Myanmar has reported 1,560 new COVID-19 cases on November 19. Cases have been rising at a high rate since late August.

On October 28, the government announced that restrictions would be extended until November 30. The restrictions include

stay-at-home orders, curfews, bans on public gatherings, and closures of public events, entertainment venues, and religious

institutions. A nationwide gatherings limit is in effect for no more than 30 people. The government is also actively enforcing the

nationwide curfew from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. International and domestic flights continue to be suspended, with exceptions

granted for humanitarian and cargo flights. Permission for passenger flights is now given from authorities to transport citizens

while applications being assessed on a case-by-case basis. A mandatory 14-day quarantine and COVID-19 test for incoming

travellers has been imposed since July. Entry is only allowed following a negative PCR test result. Yangon, the most populous

state in the country, accounts for more than 70% of national cumulative cases. Accordingly, an additional stay-at-home order

for all townships in Yangon has been implemented, except for the Coco islands. Only one member of each household may

leave the house to purchase supplies, and only two may leave to seek medical care.