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  1. The new restrictions before Chinese New Year will include a cap of eight distinct visitors per household per day. This is different from the current restriction of eight visitors at one time. But enforcing the rule might be a tad difficult, considering these are houses and not public places. Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) co-chair Lawrence Wong acknowledged that enforcement for this new rule is "not going to be so easy". He listed a few possible ways that the enforcement might occur if the rules are not adhered to. Enforcement Officers will do random spot checks, and neighbours might also tell on rule-breakers. In response to a media question, Wong said that random spot checks had been done before, and it wasn't new. However he reiterated that it would not be easy, and called on everyone to cooperate and do their part. Wong also strongly advised those going out to visit to keep it to no more than two other households per day, particularly during the Chinese New Year period. source: https://mothership.sg/2021/01/8-visitors-cny-day/
  2. SPH retrenching 140 employees due to Covid-19 source: https://mothership.sg/2020/08/sph-retrench-140-employees/ Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) held a restructuring exercise on Tuesday, Aug. 18, laying off 140 employees from the Media Solutions Division (MSD) and SPH Magazines. According to SPH, this accounts for about 5 per cent of the group's overall headcount, and will incur retrenchment costs of approximately S$8 million. Covid-19 has significantly impacted advertising revenue SPH's CEO Ng Yat Chung said that subscription and readership of SPH's news titles have "increased since the onset of Covid-19", but the Covid-19 pandemic has also significantly impacted their advertising revenue. "A more integrated approach of producing and selling our content across our various platforms will allow us to deal more efficiently and effectively with the new level of demand we are seeing from our advertisers and audience," said Ng. According to SPH's statement, the group has informed the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the Creative Media and Publishing Union (CMPU) and National Trades Union Congress on this exercise. Affected staff will receive compensation on terms negotiated and agreed with the union. "CMPU and SPH management jointly reviewed the selection criteria to ensure that the Singaporean Core within the company is safeguarded as far as possible. The union also negotiated for a fair compensation package for affected employees", said CMPU in a media statement. SPH also said that it have been working closely with the union and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to ensure that affected staff will receive the help and support they require during this period. SPH's last retrenchment exercise was in October 2019 This is SPH's third round of retrenchment since 2017. In October 2019, SPH announced that it will retrench 5 per cent of its staff by the end of the year, despite earning a profit of S$213.2 million for the financial year which ended in Aug. 31, 2019. In October 2017, the media group cut 230 jobs, 130 of which were retrenchments. The remaining job reductions resulted from retirement, termination of contracts and roles that were eliminated due to restructuring of work processes. This resulted in a total of 15 per cent of the staff in newsrooms and sales operations being reduced. According to SPH, the company has reviewed its costs, cut back on discretionary spending, and instituted pay cuts for senior management since the start of the Covid-19 crisis. In March this year, SPH announced that its directors, which includes the CEO, and senior management would be taking voluntary pay cuts of 10 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.
  3. Msia 18th to 30th march -total ban on public movement and mass activities -all businesses and places of worship closed except for shops and supermarkets -total ban for all overseas travel -self quarantine 14 days for those returning to Malaysia -total ban of foreign visitors -closure of all kindergarten, schools, colleges -closure of all except essential services water, transport, oil & gas, electricity, health, emergency services
  4. Honestly, I think these staycation and cruise to nowhere are putting people to unnecessary risk of infection, from a health and safety point of view. I know of companies that are considering issuing SHN to those returning from cruise and staycation as an added precaution. I wouldn't say that is unreasonable... MOH investigating 13 Covid-19 infections among people who served stay-home notices at Mandarin Orchard hotel SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Saturday (Dec 19) that it is investigating 13 cases of Covid-19 infection among individuals who had served stay-home notice (SHN) at Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel, which will stop accepting new guests with immediate effect. In a press statement, MOH advised guests who have stayed at the hotel between Nov 11 and Dec 19 to monitor their health closely for 14 days from their last date of stay. “They should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history,” said MOH. It added that persons on SHN are housed in a dedicated tower and floors at the hotel, segregated from all other guests, with no interaction amongst them. “However as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all guests in the hotel, the hotel will check out all its occupants. Persons serving SHN will be transported via dedicated vehicles to an alternative SHN dedicated facility. "Deep cleaning and disinfection will be carried out by the hotel, in consultation with MOH and the National Environment Agency.” The hotel has made arrangements to check out existing guests progressively. Restaurant and event spaces within the hotel will also be closed. MOH said that as part of routine laboratory surveillance, the National Public Health Laboratory conducts whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis on all Covid-19 cases. It takes about four weeks to culture the virus and complete the genome sequencing. Thirteen imported cases, who were confirmed between Nov 2 and 11 to have Covid-19 infection, were observed to have high genetic similarity despite the cases having arrived from different countries, including Bahrain, Canada, Indonesia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. “This suggests that these cases were likely infected from a similar source," said MOH." Further investigations by MOH found that these 13 cases had served SHN at Mandarin Orchard Singapore between Oct 22 and Nov 11. Genome sequencing and analysis are continuing for cases beyond Nov 11.” The ministry said that epidemiological investigations were immediately initiated to determine if there is a potential link between these 13 cases and if transmission could have occurred locally, and not from their country of origin. “From MOH’s preliminary investigations, we cannot exclude that transmissions could have occurred at Mandarin Orchard Singapore. ”The ministry has started special testing operations to test around 500 staff of the hotel for Covid-19 infection. These include the staff serving those on SHN as well as those who serve other guests in other parts of the hotel. “We will also test all who are currently serving SHN at Mandarin Orchard Singapore for Covid-19 infection to determine their status, instead of waiting till their SHN exit swab. ”MOH said that hotels used as SHN dedicated facilities must have in place strict protocols to segregate persons on SHN from all other guests. These include placing persons on SHN in segregated blocks, wings or floors, and ensuring their route of movement is clearly demarcated from other guests. Persons on SHN are also not allowed to leave their rooms during their stay, and rooms are thoroughly disinfected and sanitised upon completion of SHN according to strict infection control measures. “They will also not be allowed access to common facilities in the hotels. The Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Police Force conduct regular checks on these hotels to ensure that safe management measures are complied with, and that security measures are in place,” said MOH. “The Government takes a serious view of any breach in protocols and will investigate and take actions should there be non-compliance.”
  5. Taiwan reports first locally transmitted coronavirus case since April source: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwan-reports-first-locally-transmitted-coronavirus-case-since-april TAIPEI (REUTERS, BLOOMBERG) - Taiwan's government on Tuesday (Dec 22) reported its first locally transmitted case of Covid-19 since April 12. The individual who tested positive for Covid-19 was a friend of a person who had already been confirmed to have been infected with the virus, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung told a news conference. The announcement ends what was the world's longest stretch without a domestic infection and providing a reminder of the virus's ability to outfox even the most successful efforts to contain it. The re-emergence of a local outbreak threatens to derail one of the standout success stories in the global fight against the pandemic. Taiwan has managed to keep its total number of cases to 766, with just seven deaths, through a combination of restricting travel into the island early in the outbreak and implementing a strict quarantine and contact tracing strategy. Taiwan currently holds the No. 2 spot in Bloomberg's Covid Resilience Ranking, a measure of the best places to be in the Covid-19 era. The continued spread of the coronavirus worldwide, however, has meant Taiwan's authorities have had to remain on their guard. Since the last case of domestic transmission in April, more than 300 cases have been brought in by people returning from overseas.
  6. COVID-19: Phase 2 of reopening to start from Jun 19, social gatherings of up to five persons allowed https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-phase-2-of-reopening-to-start-from-jun-19-social-12835758
  7. Just a week after announcing a possible spin off separate listing of its cinema business, entertainment company mm2 Asia is in talks to merge this business, operating mainly under the Cathay brand, with competitor Golden Village. As part of the deal, the parties aim to bring in new investors to help beef up the combined entity, which is going to be the largest cinema operator in town.Mm2 Asia now runs 8 Cathay cinemas in Singapore, and 14 in Malaysia. The potential merger partner, Hong Kong listed Orange Sky Golden Harvest Entertainment (Holdings), runs another 14 cinemas under the Golden Village brand in Singapore. The Hong Kong company, previously known as "Golden Harvest" runs a total of 35 cinemas with 285 screens in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. The deal will need to jump through several hoops: approvals from both mm2 Asia and OSGH shareholders; approval of SGX and Hong Kong Exchange, as well as relevant government authorities, including the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore in relation to anti-trust issues.Under the initial heads of agreement, the parties are still negotiating the financial terms. According to mm2 Asia, the merger terms will be discussed based on the FY2019 operating figures, subjected to mutually agreed adjustments.For FY2019 ended Dec 2019, OSGH's Singapore cinema business generated a turnover of HK$810.3 million, down slightly from HK$822.1 million in the year earlier. Operating profit in the same period was HK$139.8 million, down from HK$150 million. Unsurprisingly, Covid-19 has hit the cinema business hard. For the six months ended June 30 this year, Golden Village's Singapore revenue was just HK$137.4 million, due to the circuit breaker measures. It made a loss of HK$16.9 million. For the six months ended June 30 2019, it generated revenue of HK$401 million for its Singapore cinema business, and operating profit of HK$70.6 million. If the merger is completed, the combined entity will be able to enjoy advantageous economies of scale, and provide more financial and operating stability. The company also notes that there has been general disruption to the movie and cinema business, with the advent of content streaming apps and the growth of video content on social media. The merger would result in a stronger platform for the operation of the cinema business. The funds from new investors will also provide the additional working capital for the combined business to cope with operating costs, and strengthen the balance sheet of the combined business.
  8. SPH Sees $83.7 Million Loss For 1st Time In 2020, Due To Covid-19 & Fall In Advertising source: https://mustsharenews.com/sph-loss-2020/ SPH Loses $83.7 Million In 2020 As Covid-19 & Advertising Impact Heavily Covid-19 has impacted on most industries, media being no exception. Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) is no exception, as they saw a net loss for the first time in their history in 2020, at $83.7 million. Just a year ago, they had a net profit of $213.2 million. They released their full-year financial report for 2020 today (13 Oct), which show losses in property valuation, advertising, and more. However, some properties also saw profits, while they remained profitable operationally. Read on to find out about the dollars and cents of SPH in 2020. Losses in investment values, advertising SPH’s various property investments saw losses during the Covid-19 pandemic, as many of them dealt with retail as well as student accommodation. This includes $196.5 million loss in value for its retail malls, and $31.9 million drop for student accommodation properties in the United Kingdom and Germany. Media also saw losses of $11.4 million before taxes. However, overall revenue saw a loss of 22.8% or $131.7 million. Newspaper advertising revenue continues to fall, this time by $99.1 million or 32.9% from 2019. Also, daily average newspaper digital sales are rising at 52.5%. Among the losses were retrenchment costs of $16.6 million, when 140 employees were let go in Aug. There was also a $122.5 million loss in advertising revenue. Operations see profit despite losses elsewhere Despite the losses elsewhere, operations saw a profit of $110.2 million. This is still a loss in profits from last year though. Also, overall property valuations may have gone down, but they still earned some profits. Profits rose to $327.2 million from acquiring Student Castle student accommodation in the United Kingdom, and Westfield Marion Shopping Centre in Australia. CEO cites advertising, Covid-19 losses SPH CEO Ng Yat Chung pointed to Covid-19 and the “collapse in advertising” as major reasons for the losses. He noted that SPH will keep taking a “prudent and disciplined approach” to liquidity and capital management, so as to survive the Covid-19 storm. That said, there was growth in circulation of 9.4% thanks to their News Tablet digital product, he said. Just 3,808 staff remain as of 31 Aug, compared to 4,085 in 2019. However, there was a mere 1.5% reduction in staff costs. Not an easy time for companies As companies continue to feel the effects of Covid-19, it may well be the time to adapt and find new ways to thrive. SPH has tried this with property, but it suffered heavy losses due to the climate. Media, which is also its primary arm, also had heavy losses, although readership is increasingly digitally. However, its legacy newspaper business will continue to see losses. Hopefully SPH weathers the storm and finds a way to make their losses back.
  9. Singapore restarting cruises: Boost for economy, but not plain sailing source: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/restarting-cruises-boost-for-economy-but-not-plain-sailing It may sound like a good way to help the economy, but it could easily be a disaster waiting to happen. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has announced that it will allow pilot "cruises to nowhere" from next month, with safety measures in place. This sounds fine, in theory. It's true that Singapore risks harming its economy if it does not return to some form of normalcy. But when it comes to cruises, the risks may outweigh potential rewards. Consider what cruises entail in the first place. Passengers eat, they take part in activities, and they generally relax outside of their cabins. Even accepting that each cruise ship carries only half the number of passengers it can normally accommodate, it would still host more than 1,000 people over a period of days. One of the participating ships in the pilot project has a normal capacity of more than 3,300 and the other has a maximum capacity of 4,900. And that is without counting the crew. Those on board are supposed to wear masks. But we know that while masks do reduce the transmission rate, they do not completely stop the coronavirus from spreading. And passengers will not be masked during meals. There is also the risk of transmitting the virus through common surfaces passengers touch while they help themselves to the food. And even if the food is served at the counter by crew, there are still many possible contact points. Do you stop passengers from touching walls and handrails when they go for a stroll on deck? Or from talking to one another when taking part in activities? There are just so many possibilities for Covid-19 transmission. One might argue that the same may be said of people in shopping malls or supermarkets. But they do not mingle for several days. Nor are they stuck together in an enclosed space, interacting through on-board activities. People excited or having a good time tend to talk louder, increasing the transmission risk. Expert opinion on the risks posed by such cruises is divided. Professor Dale Fisher, a senior infectious diseases consultant at National University Hospital, and Professor Ooi Eng Eong of Duke-NUS Medical School's emerging infectious diseases programme see the move as another step towards normalising life here. "It's not only about prioritising the safest activities; there is a balance with social and economic factors," said Prof Fisher. Prof Ooi agreed that it is important to balance the risks against the livelihoods of many, adding: "It would be the same as any staycation." Dr Asok Kurup, who chairs the Academy of Medicine's Chapter of Infectious Disease Physicians, is more concerned that cruises usually attract older people - who are more vulnerable to Covid-19. He said: "Socialising is another reason older folks go for cruises, (play) mahjong, et cetera. The skew towards more elderly passengers in such settings, in possibly confined environments, means the need to be super vigilant and have very thorough policing of measures." How is that going to happen? The STB said the ships must have "measures to discourage close contact and inter-mingling between groups". Discourage, not prohibit. People may intermingle, gather and chat. Even if rules are laid out, they may be breached. Even if the crew take action against paying passengers, the damage may have been done. The website of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States - the worst-hit country in the world - says: "Cruise ships pose a greater risk of Covid-19 transmission than other settings" as they "are typically more densely populated than cities or most other living situations". It advises Americans to defer cruise travel. Professor Alex Cook, vice-dean of research at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, is also dead set against such cruises. He asked: "Are cruise ships the hill we want to die on?" He pointed out that there is no guarantee that all passengers are free from Covid-19. A passenger who gets infected the day before boarding "is almost certainly going to test negative on embarking", said Prof Cook. During incubation, the person would test negative - but could turn positive in a day or two, in other words, during the cruise. Should an outbreak result, he warned, "we'll need to be ready to handle the contact tracing and quarantining that would be necessary". The CDC said there is also risk in "crew living and working in close quarters in a partially enclosed environment where social distancing may prove challenging, even with a limited number of people on board". Should a crew member be infected but be asymptomatic, it could "keep the virus circulating from one voyage to the next". The STB says it is allowing such cruises "in line with the calibrated resumption of economic activities in Singapore". Yes, it is important to keep the economy going. And yes, many people here want to go on holiday again. But the risk appears too high. The outcome is uncertain - it could be beneficial or highly damaging. In the best-case scenario, no transmission occurs on board and everyone has a good time. But the worst that could happen - and there is no guarantee that it won't - is a major outbreak that, if spread to the community by asymptomatic carriers, could bring more economic activities to a halt. Surely there are better ways to kick-start the economy?
  10. While I really hesitate to start another thread on COVID-19, but these latest reports may have suggested something we don't know (yet). It might be worthwhile for the relevant authorities to take a closer look and come up with suitable measures to prevent potential outbreak, IF there are further evidences supporting the claim. China's Shenzhen says chicken imported from Brazil tests positive for coronavirus BEIJING: A sample of frozen chicken wings imported into the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen from Brazil has tested positive for coronavirus, the city government said on Thursday (Aug 13), raising fears that contaminated food shipments could cause new outbreaks. Local disease control centres tested a surface sample taken from the chicken wings as part of routine screenings carried out on meat and seafood imports since June, when a new outbreak in Beijing was linked to the city's Xinfadi wholesale food centre. The discovery came a day after traces of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 were found on the packaging of frozen shrimp from Ecuador. China has been stepping up screenings at ports amid the concerns over food imports. The Shenzhen Epidemic Prevention and Control Headquarters said the public needed to take precautions to reduce infection risks from imported meat and seafood. Li Fengqin, who heads a microbiology lab at the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment told reporters in June the possibility of contaminated frozen food causing new infections could not be ruled out. Viruses can survive up to two years at temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius, but scientists say there is no strong evidence so far the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can spread via frozen food. Coronavirus found on packaging of Ecuador shrimps in China: State media BEIJING: A city in China's eastern Anhui province found the novel coronavirus on the packaging of shrimps from Ecuador, state media reported on Wednesday (Aug 12), in the latest instance of the virus being detected on imported products. The coronavirus was found on the outer packaging of frozen shrimps bought by a restaurant in Wuhu city when local authorities carried out a routine inspection, CCTV, China's state television, said. The news broke a day after a port city in eastern Shandong province said it found the virus on the packaging of imported frozen seafood, although it did not say where it originated. Since July, several other Chinese cities have also reported cases, including the port cities of Xiamen and Dalian, prompting China to suspend imports from three Ecuadorean shrimp producers. China embarked on intensive screening of meat and seafood containers at major ports after a fresh outbreak of the disease was linked to a wholesale food market in Beijing in June. New Zealand considers freight as possible source of new COVID-19 cluster WELLINGTON: New Zealand officials are investigating the possibility that its first COVID-19 cases in more than three months were imported by freight, as the country plunged back into lockdown on Wednesday (Aug 12). The source of the outbreak has baffled health officials, who said they were confident there was no local transmission of the virus in New Zealand for 102 days and that the family had not travelled overseas. Investigations were zeroing in on the potential the virus was imported by freight. Bloomfield said surface testing was under way in an Auckland cool store where a man from the infected family worked. "We are very confident we didn't have any community transmission for a very long period," Bloomfield said during a televised media conference. "We know the virus can survive within refrigerated environments for quite some time."
  11. Gold tops US$1,600 as virus fuels growth fears source: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/gold-tops-us1600-as-virus-fuels-growth-fears [SINGAPORE] Gold traded near the highest level since 2013 on concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus and how it's impacting global growth. Palladium topped US$2,700 an ounce as it continued its record-breaking rally. Bullion steadied after surging 1.3 per cent Tuesday's as Apple Inc's warning that the virus and efforts to contain it would have its sales missing forecasts spurred a sell off in stocks. China's death toll from the disease topped 2,000, while the province at the centre of the outbreak reported fewer additional cases. The flight to safety has benefited haven assets, with the rally spilling over to the palladium market, where a multi-year deficit is expected to widen in 2020. Gold is up 5.6 per cent this year as investors assess the impact of the disease on economic growth and appetite for risk amid speculation that the Federal Reserve will feel increased pressure to reduce interest rates. The US central bank has said the effects of the virus have presented a "new risk" to the outlook and traders will study minutes from the Fed's latest meeting, due later on Wednesday, for any hint of a dovish tone. Spot gold was little changed at US$1,601.88 an ounce at 11.46am in Singapore. Prices had touched US$1,611.42 in early January, the highest since 2013, as geopolitical tensions flared. The unfolding health emergency has seen holdings in global exchange-traded funds backed by bullion expand to a record. Palladium climbed 3 per cent to US$2,709.10 an ounce, an all-time high. "A deficit equivalent to about 20 per cent of the palladium market is expected to be sustained this year, helping explain the surge in prices," said Vivek Dhar, an analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Demand is being driven by environmental regulations, particularly in China, which has increased palladium use in vehicles and should offset any recent weakness in car sales, he said.
  12. 'Is my anxiety normal?': How Covid-19 may affect mental health source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/is-my-anxiety-normal?utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram&utm_campaign=sttg Friends call extroverted medical student Katelyn Joy Chiu, 22, a sunshine girl. Nothing rains on her parade. But she had "an overwhelming sense of uneasiness" when she started serving her 14-day stay-home notice on March 19, after curtailing a trip to London to visit her sister. She was disappointed about lost opportunities, too, for she had to forgo hard-won clinical attachments in a Tel Aviv hospital, a Papua New Guinea medical ship and also stints in Singapore from April to June. Anxiety heightened when more countries went into lockdown and infections grew exponentially, the bad news flooding her social media. "It became very scary. It felt like Covid-19 was in my bedroom," she recounts. "Covid-19 is a vicious annoyance that disregards everything." To turn things around, she made a to-do list from day one. She spent time doing videos of cover songs, creating an Instagram Live worship-and-sharing hour with a Christian friend that 400 people viewed, and working on her palliative care academic project at home. "I made my bed to kick-start my day, so there was no temptation to lounge in bed or take afternoon naps." Importantly, she accepted the situation and realised she was privileged. The minute her stifling confinement ended on April 2, Miss Chiu and her boyfriend took a midnight drive to West Coast Park and strolled, then drove to East Coast Park and walked again, savouring the fresh air. FEELING TEARY Like Ms Chiu, people with no underlying mental health issues may feel overwhelmed during the pandemic and wonder why they are teary or heavy-hearted. They are experiencing Covid-19 anxiety, a prolonged time of heightened anxiety and even loss, experts say. Ms Elysia Tan, senior counsellor at Touch Integrated Family Group, which serves families, children, youth and people who require mental health support, says: "In Singapore, which like the other major cities globally is highly efficient and enjoys much stability, people may find themselves out of their comfort zone." Also, people are social beings and may not be accustomed to social distancing from loved ones, friends and colleagues, she adds. TOTAL DISRUPTION So this is a vastly altered state of life that Singaporeans are trying to adapt to. "Covid-19 is a total disruption," says Ms Sarah Poh, mental health counsellor and founder of The Therapy Platform, a therapy booking platform. American grief expert David Kessler articulated the sadness now engulfing people worldwide: "The loss of normalcy; the fear of economic toll; the loss of connection." In an interview with the Harvard Business Review, he said: "This is hitting us and we're grieving. Collectively. We are not used to this kind of collective grief in the air." Still, some grief or anxiety is normal and can even quicken a sense of purpose. "People who have been feeling teary or heavy-hearted sometimes could well be having a normal response to the pandemic,'' Dr Goh notes. Normal anxiety does not paralyse a person, experts say. But if the anxiety is recurrent, overwhelming, causes mood changes like irritability, and even triggers physical symptoms such as insomnia, indigestion and body aches, it may be time to seek professional attention, they counsel. FACING FAMILY 24/7 Meanwhile, mental healthcare professionals express concern about families under stress, including the functional households. Dr Goh says children are experiencing a lot of stress from the abrupt cessation of school and, for now, there are teething issues with home learning. "It is important to note that our anxiety can be 'contagious' for the little ones," he emphasises. Children do best when they have a good routine, and get to play, he adds. "You may wish to consider simulating the school routine of having recess and lunch time between home learning. Do remember to have some play time with your children. When was the last time you did that?" In compact Singapore homes, conflict over shared space can arise. Ms Poh of The Therapy Platform notes that in space-scarce Singapore, people face their families 24/7. This intensifies during the circuit breaker month. "The key here is to have respect and set boundaries over what is private space and what is communal space. Without good conversation around space use, tension can rise quickly within the family,'' she says. "Actually, the conversation will be more about person-to-person values, then about actual size of space. Instead of waiting for conflict to happen, have a planned conversation by the 'leaders', who are usually the parents." People of every temperament have to manage, including chirpy extroverts. Extroverts, who draw energy from social interaction, may have a hard time with diminished connection. "Instead of looking to the outside now, perhaps now is the golden opportunity for us to nurture our inner life. Having excess time being by ourselves, we have to learn to enjoy our own company,'' says Ms Poh. Other expert tips encompass being aware of the roots of your anxiety, living in the present and limiting the virtual life. Ms Christine Wong, a psycho-traumatology practitioner, mentions a client who had a never-experienced level of Covid-19 anxiety. "She said she was worried about employment, but her job was stable." After delving into the situation, the client, a professional in her 40s, understood that her anxiety stemmed from around the age of six when her father went bankrupt after his business failed. In the middle of the night, the family had to move. Her mother cried in front of the children. "If we understand what's happening, it gives us huge clarity,'' says Ms Wong. "It's half the battle won." Dr Adrian Wang, a psychiatrist and counsellor who practises at Gleneagles Medical Centre, placed the pandemic in perspective. "The virus is a finite thing,'' he said at a Web In Travel webinar last month on managing Covid-19 fear and anxiety. "Eventually this storm will pass. It's not a never-ending pattern of gloom and doom."
  13. Has anyone received Scoot notifications about Covid test requirements for flights to China? I received like 20 emails for various booking references which of course I did not made. Maybe their system hacked....
  14. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-mc-donalds-to-temporarily-suspend-all-restaurant-operations-in-singapore-230224039.html Wa now enen drive through is closed. Looks like Mcdonald side is getting super serious.. Don't know is it because that there might have more new cases to be uncovered that is linked to McDonald's or because of management want to be on safer side of the option.
  15. Just for discussion, based on my recent observations. Should masks be made mandatory as long as you step out of the house? Only those with valid medical reasons with a certificate from the doctors should be excused, but you will still be required to wear a face shield, and also required to provide the certificate if approached by social distancing ambassadors and relevant authorities. I am of the view that should one choose to exercise out in public, that is a personal choice, and your personal choice should not affect the health of the general public. And if exercising with a mask is too suffocating, then the choice is clear, stay home and do simple exercises so you don't have to put on a mask. Whenever I'm on the road at the traffic lights, I observe pedestrians waiting at the lights alongside joggers (panting) and I can only imagine the droplets being excreted out and the bystanders potentially breathing in these respiratory droplets. And then we have crowded beaches and parks where social distancing is not possible but most people do not put on masks anyway because it is not a requirement if you are "exercising". As a general rule of thumb, as long as you are out in public, you should put on a mask. Is there a need for exemption for this group of people? Pretty straightforward if you ask me. There is a pandemic going on which will not be going away anytime soon. We have to make lifestyle changes and not insist on our usual way of life. Also, your surgical mask or cloth mask should cover your nose and mouth, and not act as a chin guard. Those not covering either should be treated the same as you would as someone not wearing a mask since there is essentially no protection. https://www.todayonline.com/voices/tighten-rules-mask-wearing-those-not-doing-strenuous-exercise? Thoughts? Feel free to disagree with me.
  16. BBS wheels reportedly files for bankruptcy in Germany source: https://uk.motor1.com/news/434607/bbs-wheels-bankruptcy-germany/ The wheel manufacturer should stick to business-as-usual for now. 2020 has been a difficult year for most companies, and that’s putting it lightly. 2020 has been a tough year for everyone, and the financial fallout from coronavirus will most definitely take some companies down for the count. In the automotive realm, one of these companies could be BBS, which is reportedly facing bankruptcy. This would be the third time the German-based custom wheel manufacturer has been in hock. In 2007 the company went through bankruptcy and was ultimately purchased by a Belgium company. Another bankruptcy occurred a few years later, and as of 2015, a South Korean company called Nice Corp was the majority stakeholder. Autoevolution reports the current financial crisis for BBS is the result of an “unexpected disappearance of promised payments,” according to a statement allegedly from BBS. Exactly what that means is unclear. A report from Motor Illustrated offers a bit more insight. The bankruptcy filing is apparently in Germany only, with diminished demand and halted production due to COVID-19 being the reasons. The move is similar to a Chapter 11 filing in the United States, which means BBS shouldn’t simply disappear. Rather, it’s a reorganizing that, in theory, will allow the company to continue operation. As such, the report says BBS will continue normal operations for now. How this will affect BBS in the US is unclear at this point. The manufacturer has a deal with NASCAR to supply single-lug wheels for the next-generation cars in the series. Yes, that means no more twenty-lug ballets with pit crew teams during four-tyre pit stops. It also means the days of black 15-inch steelies on the cars are over, as BBS offerings are said to be 18-inch aluminium wheels. It’s doubtful that deal alone will pull BBS out of the financial fire, but having a bit more publicity with America’s premier motorsport certainly shouldn’t hurt.
  17. SINGAPORE — Since mid-February 2020, engineering firm Singapore Technologies (ST) Engineering has begun domestic production of medical-grade surgical masks and the masks are now being tried and fitted at Singapore's hospitals that are in the frontline fight against Covid-19. In an online interview with the media on Wednesday (May 6), Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said that Singapore had to restart its domestic production capabilities when one of its foreign suppliers could not fulfil its contractual obligations recently to produce surgical masks. He did not specify the name of the foreign supplier. There used to be manufacturers here that produced surgical masks but that stopped more than 10 years ago. For now, ST Engineering’s production facility in Singapore will solely focus on supplying medical-grade surgical masks for the frontline healthcare workers at hospitals here tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been making N95 masks in Singapore since 2015. As for future plans, Mr Gareth Tang, senior vice-president of technology at ST Engineering Innosparks, said in the same online interview via Zoom video conferencing platform that the company may consider manufacturing surgical masks for commercial purposes after the pandemic is over. The general public’s need for masks will be met through the distribution of reusable masks or through the commercial market, where companies such as supermarkets and pharmacies may bring in their own supplies of masks and sell to residents here. Many companies here have also started setting up their own mask-making facilities to help in the nationwide fight against the coronavirus, Mr Chan said. One example is gaming company Razer, which has a fully automated manufacturing line that can produce up to five million face masks a month. The production of masks by other companies other than ST Engineering may not meet the medical-grade standards to be included in the national stockpile, and so could be used to sell in the market to the general public instead. When there was a worldwide shortage of surgical masks at the initial stages of the Covid-19 outbreak, Mr Chan said that Singapore started making contingency plans such as switching to alternative sources of suppliers and restarting domestic production. However, even with production lines being set up here, he said that the common challenge is still the need to secure the raw materials. “It’s not just simply about having the machines to produce the masks and the manpower, but also to secure a sustainable supply of raw materials,” he said. For example, he explained that each of the three layers making up a surgical mask are made from raw materials that come from different supply chains and the authorities have to make sure that each one is sustainable. Mr Tang said that it was very challenging to set up ST Engineering’s production facility because they had to do it in “record time” from the beginning of the outbreak in Singapore from end-January to mid-February. Another challenge was due to the disruptions in supply chains across the world as countries go into lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. Mr Chan declined to reveal the production capacity of the facility or the volume of masks that Singapore requires to prevent any potential disruption to supplies. When asked about the time needed to produce enough masks to fully cater to the needs of healthcare workers, Mr Chan did not want to reveal that as well, except to say that the Government is “confident” in meeting their needs “for quite some time”. “We have arrived at a reasonable point where we are quite confident that we can take care of our medical workers in Singapore.” When TODAY asked about talk in the past few months that Taiwan’s export ban on masks affected Singapore’s supply, Mr Chan declined to comment. Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/made-in-Singapore-surgical-masks-given-frontline-healthcare-workers-covid-19-chan-chun-sing Watch before the mask comparison video by Straits Times and the national stockpile mask is the only one thta passed the absorbant test. That I think is also the mask Kee Qiu gave to us in Feb, the 4 masks? Brand is ASSURE. ASSURE is also manufactured in SG? Anyone know who is the manufacturer? https://www.yms.com.sg/brands/assure-disposable-face-mask-3ply/ Does it also mean Razer produced masks will not be going into the national stockpile since Kee qiu seem to suggest it does not fit the medical grade standard needed for healthcare workers. nyway well done sg.. Always better to be self sufficient and not be overly dependent on other countries. Late but better than never. Now the tricky part is the raw materials..
  18. SINGAPORE - Starting April 1 next week, all schools will conduct one day of home-based learning a week, in the light of the recent spike of Covid-19 cases in Singapore. Primary schools will do so on Wednesdays, secondary schools on Thursdays, and junior colleges/Centralised Institute on Fridays. Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Friday (March 27) that this move will better prepare parents and students for more days of home-based learning if and when required. Schools will also stagger dismissal times to reduce the congestion when students take public transport or the school bus home. Singapore has ramped up measures over the past few weeks progessively to curb the spread of the virus, said Mr Ong. "So likewise, for schools, which are a major part of people's lives, we have also been stepping up (measures). So we will not want to do something dramatic, sudden, that will result in school closure," he said. "We still have options, we are not like many countries where they are forced into sudden school closures." When asked how long this home-based learning arrangement will last, Mr Ong said: "It depends how long the virus lasts, and how long we feel it will be around." From next Monday (March 30), schools will provide instructions to students and parents on accessing the home-based learning materials. Assistance will be given to students who do not have access to digital devices when their learning requires it. Students will have about four to five hours of learning on the day of home-based learning, of which two hours can be used to access digital devices. It can come in different forms, through e-lessons, or other references like worksheets and textbooks. Teachers could also conduct lessons via "live" videos. Schools will remain open for a small group of students whose parents are not able to make alternative childcare arrangements, and priority will be given to parents working in essential services such as healthcare or public transport. A small number of teachers in schools will supervise these students. Most teachers will stay at home on the day of home-based learning, while about 20 per cent of staff, including the principal, will remain in school. Co-curricular activities (CCAs) will remain suspended for the rest of Term 2, and so will other activities that involve mingling of students across schools like the National School Games. The Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation will be cancelled. On Sunday, Mr Ong had said that he received many questions from parents, with some asking why the March holidays were not extended, especially given the rising numbers of imported Covid-19 cases and impending border closures. He cited scientific evidence showing that young people are not spreaders of the virus, and said that closing schools would also disrupt the lives of many people, particularly parents who are both working, and who have limited childcare options. Various precautionary measures have already been put in place and hygiene protocols have been stepped up. Students now only spend their time with those in their classes, with CCAs and inter-school activities suspended. They sit apart in class and are reminded to wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their faces. Communal activities such as mass assemblies and school camps have been suspended. Recess timings are staggered and temperature checks are conducted daily. Students who are not feeling well - be it with a cough, sore throat or a fever - will be placed in an isolation room in school or sent home. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/coronavirus-students-to-have-home-based-learning-once-a-week-from-april-as-schools-step-up
  19. Social distancing has been heavily emphasized by all countries across the globe. This is a term relatively new and alien term to many of us, not just Singaporeans. We're used to queuing up like sardines in a tin can. What does it really mean for us Singaporeans? Restaurants and businesses have tried to place tape markings to demarcate queues, some have halved its tables and chairs at various outlets. But do Singaporeans really know how to work with the markings given? Some of the markings are too near due to space constraint and are not slots for you to stand in, they are supposed to provide safe distancing for you to stand at least 1m apart. Post the social distancing measures you've observed in this thread. First two correct, the rest wrong. Bad example (pic taken from our Minister CCS's fb page) Social distancing in a wedding. Tables further apart. Lesser people in one table. Social distancing in Our Tampines Hub. Honestly should just cancel this. Just watch movie at home this period la. Our Tampines Hub has also been actively telling people not to stay home, join the outdoor/family activities. A little irresponsible this period of time, sending the wrong message across. Many of us laugh at this arrangement. Will you adhere to this? If the lift is too packed, how? Wait for the next one lor. Or walk down the stairs if you're heading down. Why squeeze? Zero social distancing at Shake Shack despite the tiny black markings on the floor. Minimal social distancing observed for the first two. After that, who cares? 😫 Social distancing in Chinatown. Pretty hard isn't it? Toast Box? Social distancing is about standing at least 1m away from each other. The lines are not slots for you to stand in. Stand on or as near to the front line as possible so the person behind you can do the same. The authorities can't babysit us in every aspect. If you're queuing up for food, make a conscious effort to keep a distance from the next person even if there's no marking on the ground. If someone is standing too closely to you, step aside or ask the person to watch his or her distance. If the restaurant is too packed and nobody is adhering to social distancing, go to the next, do takeaway, call food delivery (ask the rider to place the food outside, minimize contact) We can make our own judgment, right? Most importantly, if you are unwell, stay home, see a doctor. Practice good social responsibility.
  20. CB easing measures in 3 phases details out Added by BB Circuit breaker to end June 1 with three-phase resumption of activities | Schools to reopen on June 2 | Visits allowed to parents, grandparents
  21. The World Health Organisation (WHO) released new guidance for governments looking for exit strategies beyond existing lockdown measures. For many countries currently under lockdowns which have crippled or stalled economies, the answer of when and how to ease restrictions has not been easily answered or forthcoming. “We understand that these countries are now trying to assess when and how to ease these measures,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The answer depends on what countries do while these wide measures are in place.” Six criteria were identified in WHO’s guidance document to ensure that governments would be able to manage a controlled and deliberate transition from community transmission to a steady state of low level or no transmission. Any government that wants to start lifting restrictions must first meet six conditions: Transmission of Covid-19 is under control Health systems and public health capacity are able to detect, test, isolate and quarantine every case and trace every contact Hot spot risks are minimized in highly vulnerable places, such as nursing homes Preventive measures such as physical distancing and hand washing in workplaces have been establised Controlled and managed risk of new import cases from travellers Populations are fully engaged, understand and empowered to live under a new state of “normality” There must be a gradual process to prevent a cycle of new outbreaks. “You can’t replace lockdowns with nothing,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, head of WHO’s emergencies programme. “We don’t want to lurch from lockdown to nothing to lockdown to nothing.” “We need to have a much more stable exit strategy that allows us to move carefully and persistently away from lockdown.” WHO has said that in most countries, it is too soon to get back to normal. Ending lockdowns prematurely in an attempt to restart economies could result in the reemergence of infections. There are currently more than 2 million cases of Covid-19 worldwide and more than 130,000 people have already died. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2020/04/16/who-countries-need-to-meet-6-conditions-to-end-lockdowns/?fbclid=IwAR30p_2zYQjm0e7pVUI6AXY-OQ1l8h2jozomgaE3qwnEF9zpLyh3Tmae-8U After seeing all the crazy spikes and explosive nos pop out all across Asia, Europe, United States whats more interesting is how countries are executing their exit strategies from this pandemic. Meanwhile in SG our fight has just started So far countries already eased restrictions/planning to China South Korea New Zealand Vietnam? Germany Norway Switzerland USA
  22. Hmmm. This is assuring. But then hor, I don't see they payment channel from goodyear site. How to make payment arh? I think this is a good initiative from Goodyear. Kudos to their efforts for keeping us safe while we have fresh tyres to drive. For those who have the intention to buy the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5, best time to do it now. Goodyear’s ultimate all-rounder: New Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 combines luxurious comfort with superior wet braking and dry handling performance. Designed with Active Braking Technology that delivers shorter braking distance on wet and dry road Excellent handling performance on dry roads with Power Cushion Technology A quieter and more comfortable ride vs its predecessor Braking Performance Handling Performance Superior Comfort
  23. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/covid-shopping?hpbanner Groceries and food, indoor exercise equipment and gaming tools have emerged as the most popular categories for online shopping. Top items sold under groceries: Frozen processed food Eggs and diary products Condiments Milo Snacks, such as mala peanuts and seaweed Boba ice cream Top items sold under food and drinks delivery: Bubble tea Frozen yoghurt Burgers Fried chicken Coffee and breakfast items Top items sold under sports and fitness: Yoga mats Weights Dumb-bells Mountain or city bikes Jump ropes Exercise bands Top items sold under electronics: Computer monitors Keyboards PlayStation 4 Nintendo Switch Video game accessories, such as cables and chargers Top items sold under hobbies: Hand mixers Electric ovens Bubble tea pearls Baking supplies Art supplies, such as canvases and paintbrushes Other popular purchases: Home office furniture Beauty products
  24. So 2020 has been awfully eventful so far! Five months in and already, 2020 is proving to be life changing. Here's a recap of what's happened so far. Carrying on from end of 2019 to 2020, Dec 31, 2019: A cluster of severe pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China is reported to the World Health Organization. Doctors do not yet know its cause. Truth be told, before 2020, I've never heard of Wuhan. Jan 2: Third state of emergency in New South Wales, Australia as bushfires threatened the country. Donations all over the world poured in. We saw devastating images of thousands of animals dying or already dead. We read about the Koalas pushed to the brink of extinction by drought and bush fires. More species and subspecies would be endangered and even extinct. What could possibly be worse to the start of the year? Fire Tornadoes! Bushfires, ash rain, dust storms and flash floods: two weeks in apocalyptic Australia. Was this a warning sign from earth to clean up our acts if not the world will heal itself? #prayforaustralia was going around. Mother nature sure is angry. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. . . . . Meanwhile in Singapore, MOH says it will screen all inbound travellers from Wuhan, China, from the evening of Jan 3. There are no cases in Singapore. Jan 3: US kills Iran general Qassem Suleimani in drone strike ordered by Trump. Iran vows vengeance. . . . Somewhere else in the world, trouble was brewing. Jan 3: @Carbon82 started a new thread on a novel Coronavirus with SARS link from Wuhan. Not much interest generated. Jan 7: WHO notified of the novel coronavirus, then known as 2019-nCoV, in China *"Soft launch" of COVID-19 ahem. But the world was too occupied with the impending WWIII, or so we thought. Jan 8: Iran launches ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq, injuring American soldiers. At the same time.... . . . Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight crashed shortly after taking off from Iranian capital Tehran, killing all 176 passengers and crew members on board. It came in the midst of escalating tensions between US and Iran. Conspiracy theories started flying around. Was it a mistake, was it an attack, was it related to Jan 3? Also Jan 8: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce they are stepping down from their duties as royals in Buckingham Palace. You can always count on the Royal family for some commercial break. Jan 10: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau says Iranian missle brought down the airliner. *Cue World War 3* The only time I came close to being a part of any World War was playing Command & Conquer: Red Alert when I was younger. Jan 11: China records its first coronavirus death, 11 days after WHO learned of the virus outbreak. Jan 16: The impeachment trial for Donald Trump begins - on his abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Jan 20: MOH announces it will expand temperature screening to all travellers coming in from China from Jan 22, in light of the Chinese New Year holidays and expected influx of Chinese travellers. Jan 22: A multi-ministry task force, chaired by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, is formed. Jan 23: FIRST CONFIRMED CASE IN SINGAPORE A 66-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan arrived in Singapore on Jan 20. He is warded at the Singapore General Hospital and tests positive for the yet unnamed novel coronavirus. Contact tracing begins. Temperature screening is implemented at all sea and land checkpoints, it is announced. . . Wuhan, China goes under an unprecedented lockdown, impacting 11 million residents, on the eve of the Great Migration. Chinese New Year is cancelled for the factory of the world. Transportation in and out of the city was shut down. The live animal and seafood market in China was placed under international spotlight of being a possible point of origin for the virus outbreak. The hunt for patient zero is still ongoing with suggestions indicating the outbreak may not have started from the seafood market. Wuhan experienced food shortages and hospitals saw an overwhelming number of patients. Foreigners visiting the city were evacuated and repatriated to their countries. It was Chinese New Year at this point in Singapore (24th Jan) and I spent the four days of holiday reading and watching up on reports of Wuhan hospitals being overwhelmed and thousands of people falling sick. In Singapore, people celebrated Chinese New Year as per normal, except me. Four days of staying home alone eating pizza watching Netflix and reading up on this "Wuhan virus". Jan 26: Kobe and Gianna, along with seven other passengers, died in a helicopter crash in California. The death of Kobe Bryant halted all coronavirus news for almost two days as the entire world mourned for him and his daughter Gianna. Jan 31: The United Kingdom withdraws from the European Union. The move was met with mixed reactions as celebrations and protects sparked across the country. Feb 5: In 2020, we learnt that cruise ships are breeding grounds for the coronavirus. The Diamond Princess Cruise was the first cruise ship to have a major outbreak of the virus. Over 700 people became infected, with 14 people dead. As of May 2nd, over 40 cruise ships have had confirmed cases on board. Feb 7: DORSCON ORANGE IN SINGAPORE!!! 33 CASES IN SINGAPORE. Shit hits home real hard, that is the reason why you need to panic buy toilet paper. . . . . Dr Li Wenliang, a doctor from the Wuhan Central Hospital. Dubbed a whistle blower was one of the first who tried to warn and share information about the novel coronavirus to fellow colleagues. He was reprimanded by the police. He died on February 7. Feb 11: The novel Coronavirus finally gets its name, COVID-19. The name is a shortened version of coronavirus disease 2019. The virus itself is called 2019-nCoV. Before this it was referred to as the Wuhan virus. Feb 21: 0 new confirmed case in Singapore. During this period we were being hailed as the 'Gold Standard' and litmus test for coronavirus containment. If Singapore can't do it, no one else can, they say. Feb 24: Dr Mahathir quits as Prime Minister. Mahathir resigns but is asked to stay as Interim Prime Minister. His resignation and appointment was accepted by the King all in a day's work. Political drama and confusion in the midst of a pandemic? March 1: Muhyddin Yassin is sworn in as Malaysia's 8th Prime Minister. Don't know much about Malaysia's politics but one thing I do know is that if Mahathir is still in power, Malaysia would probably still be in verbal war with Singapore even in this crisis, likely gloating about our current predicament "I told you so hehe". March 11: Italy becomes the first country to implement a nationwide lockdown as the outbreak surged in Italy, making them the second-worst hit country by the virus after China. Several countries began to follow suit. . . . WHO declares the coronavirus a pandemic. I think at this point most people regarded Who's advisory and announcement as, "As good as not saying anything." By this point the virus had already spread to more than 100 countries around the world, with more than 120,000 people infected and over 4,300 dead. Mar 5: Everything went downhill for Singapore from this point onwards, starting with the SAFRA Jurong cluster. Mar 6: Double figure spike in Singapore. At this point, we're seeing a total of 130 cases. Mar 13: USA declares national emergency. In most Hollywood movies, USA is depicted as saving the world but don't be expecting that anytime soon. New York is always the target for most catastrophes in movies, well guess what, Corona didn't miss that out. In 2020, we also learnt that it's hollywood for a good reason. Leadership matters. Mar 15: Acceleration time. Figures shoot up to 226, doubling within a week. Gold standard no more? From this point on, cases spiked further from imported cases - Singapore residents and students return from abroad. Welcome home, for better and for worse, for the good and the bad times. Mar 16: US stocks took a major plunge amid mounting fears surrounding the coronavirus. The Dow fell a sharp 2,997 points, the biggest drop since 1987. Mar 18: Malaysia's MCO, causing another panic both in Malaysia and Singapore. Supply chain disruption has never been so threatened before. The stakes are high now. Malaysia is our closest neighbor after-all. We share close ties, much closer than we initially thought. An eerie calm. On hindsight, was this a loophole when we allowed Malaysians to rush in to Singapore and possibly bringing the virus in before MCO kicked in? Nothing much we could do then but to hold our breath for the next two weeks for a possible surge in virus cases. Mar 20: Imported cases continued to spike. Singaporeans are advised to defer all travel abroad. Mar 21: Singapore announces our first two death from the coronavirus. Mar 22: Singapore closes borders to short term visitors. All short-term pass holders are barred from entering or transiting in Singapore. March 24: The 2020 Olympics delayed until 2021. It was originally set to take place at the end of July in Tokyo, Japan. . . . Returning Singapore residents who have travelled to the United Kingdom and United States will be taken from the airport to hotels to serve out their 14-day stay-home notice. Mar 31: Singapore's Imported cases start to drop, but local transmission cases rise. There are now 926 COVID-19 cases in Singapore, and another cluster in a dormitory is discovered. April 2: COVID-19 cases surpass one million globally after just a little over three months since the first case was reported back in China. Apr 3: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces a “circuit breaker” will run from Apr 7 to May 4. Only essential services can continue to keep their premises open, and all schools will close and students shift to home-based learning. Masks should be used when people leave the house for essential needs, but Singaporeans are urged to stay at home as much as possible. . . . Cue PANIC BUY part 3. Apr 5: 120 new cases are announced in Singapore – the biggest spike yet. Apr 7: CIRCUIT BREAKER COMMENCES - What does this means? Full home based learning for schools. 80% of Singapore's workforce to work from home or shut. Only essential services will continue to operate. . . . Ironically, the city-wide lockdown in Wuhan is lifted after 76 days. Traffic will be allowed in and out of the city. Apr 9: The biggest spike yet in Singapore, with 287 cases. Of these, 217 are linked to known clusters, with those linked to the dormitories continuing to grow. All Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders will have to serve a 14-day self isolation at dedicated Stay Home Notice facilities. . . . The state of New York alone has the highest number of coronavirus cases than any country in the world, with more than 160,000 people infected. More than 7,000 people have been killed by the virus. Apr 13: Singapore reports 386 infections with the vast majority linked to dormitories. Apr 15: Singapore reports 447 new cases, with 404 linked to foreign worker dormitories. Apr 16: The record numbers continue to grow, with 728 new cases reported. Apr 18: A record 942 new COVID-19 cases are reported, with the "vast majority" being work permit holders living in foreign worker dormitories. April 20: 1,426 new coronavirus cases in S'pore in new daily high. This is the highest recorded so far to date. Is the peak over in Singapore? We certainly hope so. Apr 28: Crisis in the North Peninsula?! Where is Kim Jong Un? Kim Jong Un was last seen on Apr 11. Reports of the North Korean leader to be in grave health following an emergency heart surgery sent international media into a frenzy. There were unverified reports of his death citing "reliable sources". Unimaginable. What happens to North Korea if he dies? Who is going to be his successor? His sister? Apr 30: Singapore Airlines is in the red. PM Lee announced that Gov is determined to see SIA through this COVID-19 crisis. In general I think most Singaporeans will agree SIA is the gem and pride of Singapore, as much as Changi Airport is. May 2: Kim Jong Un appears in public. What's next? May 15: USA to China: I don't want to friend you anymore (Trump says doesn’t want to talk to Xi right now, could even cut China ties) . . . . The total number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore stands at 26,891 as of 15th May. We are not out of the woods yet (a phrase so loosely used in 2020). In fact, we're not even halfway there. . . . . Well when I started this thread, it was meant to be a summary and timeline of events in 2020 so far. Didn't expect it to be this long and so much about COVID-19 but I guess it's just the inevitable. I know how it's like scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed and all you read are news on the COVID-19 and people dying. Coronavirus news fatigue and compassion fatigue is real and may very well be setting in. All these news leaves people feeling depressed, people feel powerless that they cannot influence change in the country, in the world. People become increasingly immune in bad things happening around us and in the world. The public distrust in news media starts to grow - inaccuracy, fear mongering, conspiracy theories starts to take over. So is there a correlation between over-consumption of news and general anxiety? I would certainly think so. However, as much as news fatigue and anxiety is setting in, it is more important than ever for our journalist and news media to continue the COVID-19 coverage. Hope I didn't miss or mess up any milestone. Wishing for World Peace used to be a Miss Universe Q&A textbook answer but right now that's all I want. What's your prediction for 2H? What else can possibly happen in 2020?
  25. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/general-election-delay-unconstitutional-covid19-teo-chee-hean-12574796 It is extremely disturbing to read such comments from our Government. Can they freaking focus on the issue at hand? "When you are sailing into a storm, you want to be certain who your captain is and that he will not be changed halfway. You want to make sure that he is there - together with you, working with you, guiding you through the storm," he added. Minister Teo, if you haven't noticed, we are ALREADY in the MIDDLE of the STORM. And now you are considering asking for a change of captain which is what an election is? If an election is called, I know who to vote for
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