Infections ease, but recovery proving slow

Though there are notable exceptions, there are some encouraging signs that new infections of the coronavirus are falling in many places in Emerging Asia. The slowing spread of the virus should allow more economies to gradually ease restrictions in the coming weeks and months, as a few countries already have. But the lesson from these countries is that consumer behaviour is unlikely to quickly return to normal. And with export demand slumping, the grim Q1 GDP figures released over the past week likely only give a taste of what's to come this quarter.