ASEAN in general had avoided the full brunt of the pandemic in 2020 by closing borders early and restricting mobility. Hopes of a nascent recovery seen in late 2020 and early 2021 were quickly quashed when waves of a more contagious Covid variant swept through the region at a time when vaccination rates were still not at optimal levels. Asean economies were hit hard by renewed lockdowns, disrupting both consumption and manufacturing.
