Warnings as Southeast Asia's biggest economies ease COVID-19 curbs

The COVID-19 sign is seen in front of a restaurant to ensure all service staff is fully vaccinated on the first day of coronavirus restrictions lift on retail and dining in Bangkok and other high-risk areas to revive the economy, as the country battles its worst coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand, September 1, 2021. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

BANGKOK/JAKARTA (Reuters) - As Indonesia and Thailand start to ease COVID-19 curbs after seeing case numbers fall, health experts say cases of new infections could rise again with vaccination rates still low.

After containing the coronavirus better than much of the world last year, Southeast Asia has turned into a global epicentre in recent months with the arrival of the virulent Delta variant.