TOKYO -- Most Asian economies moved up in the latest edition of the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index thanks to declining infection numbers. The emergence of the omicron variant of the virus, however, has thrown the outlook into doubt.
Taiwan and China lead the region at No. 4 and No. 6 overall, as both stick to zero-COVID strategies. Japan, ranked seventh, managed to maintain its position within the top 10 for a second straight month. But Japan, which has detected at least two omicron cases in travelers, has moved swiftly to tighten border restrictions again.