On April 15, 2020, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to a proposal to extend the country’s social distancing measures under Directive 16 for at least one more week in risk-categorized provinces and cities. These measures, including a prohibition on public gatherings of more than two people and a suspension of public transportation services, were originally put in place for the period from April 1 to April 15.

On April 15, 2020, the Lao Prime Minister’s Office issued Notification No. 481/PMO, which provides further recommendations on the implementation of PM Order No. 06/PM issued on March 29, 2020, including the extension of the earlier lockdown measures imposed in Laos to May 3, 2020, and reiterating that measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic should remain in effect until further notice. 

On April 9, 2020, the Government of Vietnam passed Resolution No. 42/NQ-CP on measures to support those who are facing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic (“Resolution 42”).Under Resolution 42, financial support will be given to employees and employers in difficult circumstances as follows:

On April 8, 2020, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 41/2020/ND-CP, which took effect on the same day, on deferral of payment of taxes and land rental (“Decree 41”). This is considered a relief measure for taxpayers amid the COVID-19 epidemic.Decree 41 provides for extension of the deadline for tax payment for a number of taxpayers, including companies in many sectors, small and extra-small enterprises, and credit institutions providing supporting services for clients affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Thailand has issued a new regulation setting out criteria and conditions for power purchase agreements (PPAs) for very small power producers (VSPPs) under the Community Power Plants for the Local Economy project—part of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand’s (EGAT) Energy Policy for the Local Economy. The Regulation Re: Procurement of Electricity from Very Small Power Producers was issued on April 2, 2020, by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and published in the Government Gazette on April 10, 2020.

On April 11, 2020, the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) issued Guidelines for the Domestic Transportation of Goods, and Entering and Exiting the Lao PDR, during the Protection, Control, and Eradication Period for COVID-19 No. 266/MPWT.

On April 13, 2020, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MEYS) issued an Instruction on Enhancing Distance or E-Learning and Teaching by Private Institutions at All Levels.  

Since the first reported case of COVID-19 on March 23, 2020, the Myanmar government has announced several notifications and preventive guidelines. On March 25, the Office of the President of Myanmar issued rules for government personnel and offices with the aim of guarding against the spread of the virus.