COVID-19: Official Information and Useful Health Tips

[Adrianli]

Can merge with this thread :

 

 

[inlinesix]

@kobayashiGT

[therock]

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-more-striking-evidence-bcg-vaccine-might-protect-against-covid-19-1.4222110?mode=amp

Good news for most of us
Better yet for those of us from Malaysia with two jabs...

[Blueray]

Parliament: Private social gatherings of any size no longer allowed under proposed law

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SINGAPORE - Social gatherings of any size, in homes or public spaces, will no longer be allowed under a proposed law that will grant the Government various powers to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

This would include having private parties or gatherings with families or friends not living together, at home or in public spaces such as in parks and Housing Board void decks, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Tuesday (April 7) during the debate on the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill.

The Bill, if passed, would allow the Health Minister to prohibit events and gatherings, or impose conditions on how they are conducted.

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-private-social-gatherings-of-any-size-no-longer-allowed-under-proposed-law

[Blueray]

All returning Singapore residents to serve 14-day self-isolation at dedicated facilities

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SINGAPORE: All Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long term pass holders entering Singapore from any country will be required to serve a 14-day self-isolation at dedicated stay-home notice facilities.

This takes effect at 11.59pm on Thursday (Apr 9), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement on Wednesday. 

This is a further expansion of the enhanced stay-home notice requirements for travellers returning to Singapore, MOH said.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-stay-home-notice-14-days-moh-facilities-citizen-pr-ltph-12620986

[therock]

 

[therock]

[Blueray]

National Care Hotline now ready for calls after 300 specialists volunteer to help man the 24-hour hotline

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SINGAPORE - The National Care Hotline is now ready to offer support to those who need it, after specialists trained in psychological first aid responded to the call for volunteers to man it, said Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee in a Facebook post on Friday (April 10).

Over 300 psychologists, counsellors, social workers, psychiatrists and public officers from about 50 agencies have stepped up to man the 24-hour helpline.

"If you need someone to talk to about the issues that weigh you down - worried about Covid-19, its impact on your personal and family lives, on your jobs and livelihoods, and your future - you do not need to struggle alone," said Mr Lee.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/national-care-hotline-now-ready-for-calls-after-300-specialists-volunteer-to-help

[therock]

 

https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/changes-to-childcare-arrangements-during-circuit-breaker

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Flexibility to be exercised for families with essential service workers

While most parents would be working from home, there would be some households where parents have to continue going to work during this period. These are workers in our essential services, especially our healthcare workers who are on the frontline working on shifts and on weekends, when childcare centres may not be available, and may be activated at any time of the day to respond to the COVID-19 situation.  They will face additional difficulties which may be unnecessarily stressful for these essential service personnel. For very young children, we also recognise that it is difficult for them to be away from their parents for long periods of time, and adjusting to new caregivers that they are unfamiliar with would be challenging.  

 

[therock]

https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/forum-thoughts-of-a-stay-home-retiree

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A lesson I have learnt from the circuit breaker measures is that one's daily routine should not be taken for granted.

I am a retiree in my 70s, and my usual post-exercise breakfast at hawker centres as well as the frequent lunches, afternoon coffee and dinners with former colleagues and classmates are over for now.

Now, it is exercise followed by takeaway breakfast and going home, reading, surfing the Internet, listening to music, watching television and taking afternoon naps.

Among other lessons I have learnt amid the ongoing circuit breaker period are:

One must always have some form of savings to tide over any difficult period, and not have to depend on others.

Entertainment and the bright neon lights may not always be there.

Social gatherings lubricate life and are not a norm.

Surgical masks are difficult to obtain when one needs them most.

Some seniors are at a loss of what to do during this period as they are so used to staying out.

Many people are hoping for the Covid-19 pandemic to go away as quickly as possible so that they can get back to their routines.

Now is the time for everyone to play his crucial part in keeping cases to a minimum and eventually flattening the infection curve.

Where it is absolutely necessary to leave home, wearing a mask is necessary for seniors as they are the most vulnerable to infection.

No amount of government stimulus and rescue packages is going to help if there is no full cooperation from the public.

For the sake of Singapore's health and economy, please stay home.

Andrew Seow Chwee Guan

 

[Blueray]

Markets to refuse entry to people not wearing masks from Sunday: NEA

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SINGAPORE: Starting from Sunday (Apr 12), people not wearing face masks will not be allowed to enter the 40 markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or NEA-appointed operators.

The move is to safeguard the health and well-being of all stallholders and patrons at the 40 markets, which are relatively popular and tend to attract crowds over the weekends, the agency said in a press release on Friday.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/markets-no-face-mask-wear-entry-nea-covid-19-coronavirus-12632510

[therock]

[Blueray]

Compulsory to wear masks on public transport, even after Covid-19 circuit breaker period

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SINGAPORE - All commuters will soon need to wear masks on public transport to curb the spread of the coronavirus, even after the circuit breaker period, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in a Facebook post on Saturday (April 11).

"We will make mask-wearing compulsory for public transport. This will minimise transmission in public transport during the post-circuit breaker period when safe distancing is compromised," he wrote.

He said that with the circuit breaker measures in place, trains and buses are not crowded and safe distancing is possible for commuters taking public transport.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/coronavirus-all-commuters-have-to-wear-masks-on-public-transport-says-khaw-boon-wan

[therock]

Fine... 

 

[Blueray]

Covid-19: All shoppers at supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and malls must wear masks from April 12 or be refused entry

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SINGAPORE — From Sunday (April 12), all customers visiting supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and shopping malls must wear masks, or they will be refused entry.

In a joint statement on Saturday, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said that this is to safeguard the shoppers’ own health and well-being, as well as that of other customers and staff working at these premises. 

Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/covid-19-all-shoppers-supermarkets-convenience-stores-pharmacies-and-malls-must-wear-masks

[therock]

 

[therock]

 

[therock]

A balanced article IMO on masks and other matters:

https://www.academia.sg/academic-views/coronavirus-right-lessons/