CoVid-19 News Q3
Sept 24,2020
More people allowed to return to workplace from Sept 28 as S’pore’s Covid-19 community cases remain low
SINGAPORE – Safe distancing rules will be eased and more activities allowed to resume in the coming weeks as the number of Covid-19 cases in the community has remained low, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Wednesday (Sept 23).
Sept 18,2020
11 new coronavirus cases in Singapore, lowest daily figure since March 12
SINGAPORE – There were 11 new coronavirus cases confirmed as at Friday noon (Sept 18), taking Singapore’s total to 57,543.
This is the lowest daily figure in about six months since March 12, when there were nine cases.
Sept 14,2020
Commentary: Will COVID-19 dim Singapore’s love affair with cars?
Indeed, as Singapore emerged from the circuit breaker and moved into Phase 2 of a “new normal”, car usage started to increase again, prompting the reintroduction of the ERP at specific gantries from Jul 27 to manage congestion.
Sept 8,2020
S’pore to allow bigger Mice events with up to 250 people
Bigger exhibitions and conferences with up to 250 participants are set to return to Singapore, as the Republic seeks to revive this once-buoyant sector.
Organisers will be able to apply to pilot such meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) events from Oct 1.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/spore-to-allow-bigger-mice-events-with-up-to-250-people
Sept 7,2020
Singapore reports fewest daily COVID-19 cases in nearly six months
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore’s health ministry reported 22 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the city-state’s lowest daily count since mid-March.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-singapore-idUSKBN25Y0Q6
Sept 4,2020
Singapore retail sales fall 8.5% in July as COVID-19 continues to plague sector
SINGAPORE: Retail sales in Singapore fell 8.5 per cent year-on-year in July as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to plague the sector.
This is an improvement from the 27.7 per cent plunge in June, said the Department of Statistics (SingStat) on Friday (Sep 4).
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/covid-19-singapore-retail-sales-july-13081858
Aug 31,2020
Suntec S’pore retrenchments: Public questions the term ‘local’ once more
Out of the 85 employees, 60 are local staff and 25 non-local. The company currently has 178 employees, 149 of whom are locals, noted the media release reported by channelnewsasia.com.
Aug 27,2020
Work stopped at 13 construction sites because of fresh Covid-19 cases in dormitory
Some workers from Singapore’s biggest foreign worker dormitory, Sungei Tengah Lodge, had tested positive for Covid-19 and had been working in these construction sites.
A total of 20 construction projects had been issued a safety time-out notice on Sunday (Aug 23), among which were the 13 construction sites.
Aug 21,2020
Singapore researchers discover new Covid-19 variant which causes milder infections
SINGAPORE – Researchers in Singapore have discovered a new variant of Covid-19 that causes less severe infections, according to a new study in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet.
This could provide new avenues for vaccine and therapeutic development, experts say.
The latest reported variant of the Sar-Cov-2 virus which causes Covid-19 emerged in Wuhan, China early in the pandemic and was exported to Singapore and Taiwan, according to the study by researchers in various institutions, including the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and the Duke-NUS Medical School.
Aug 15,2020
83 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore including 4 imported; no community cases
SINGAPORE – There were 83 new coronavirus cases confirmed as of Friday noon (Aug 14), taking Singapore’s total to 55,580.
There were no cases reported in the community, for the first time since June 1.
There were also four imported cases who had been placed on stay-home notices upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/83-new-covid-19-cases-in-singapore-including-4-imported
Aug 3,2020
COVID-19: Travellers who serve stay-home notice outside of facilities after entering Singapore must wear electronic device
SINGAPORE: Starting next Tuesday (Aug 11), travellers entering Singapore who are serving their stay-home notice outside of dedicated facilities will have to wear an electronic monitoring device throughout the 14 days.
July 30,2020
US records a COVID-19 death every minute as total surpasses 150,000
The United States recorded 1,456 new deaths on Wednesday, the highest one-day increase since 1,484 on May 27, according to a Reuters tally.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/us-one-covid-19-death-every-minute-12975208
July 20,2020
Global shares mixed as investors eye EU meeting on pandemic
Global shares were mixed in directionless trading Monday as the number of coronavirus cases soared in the U.S. and investors cautiously eyed the summit of European leaders discussing the pandemic crisis.
https://www.msn.com/en-sg/money/other/global-shares-mixed-as-investors-eye-eu-meeting-on-pandemic/ar-BB16X0A1
July 17,2020
Southeast Asia’s markets have lagged as countries struggle with coronavirus management
“The key reason is probably down to (Covid-19),” Daryl Liew, chief investment officer at REYL Singapore, told CNBC.
Liew said Southeast Asia has been a “laggard” in the region as the coronavirus situation in most of the countries is “still not really under control.”
#stockmarket #covid19impacts #stayathomesavelives
July 15,2020
First COVID-19 vaccine tested in U.S. poised for final testing
The experimental vaccine, developed by Fauci’s colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc., will start its most important step around July 27: A 30,000-person study to prove if the shots really are strong enough to protect against the coronavirus.
But Tuesday, researchers reported anxiously awaited findings from the first 45 volunteers who rolled up their sleeves back in March. Sure enough, the vaccine provided a hoped-for immune boost.
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/07/14/first-covid-19-vaccine-tested-in-us-poised-for-final-testing/24560982/
July 13,2020
NUS researchers develop 3 new COVID-19 swabs to address shortage
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed three COVID-19 swabs to meet a surge in demand, both globally and in Singapore.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-swab-test-designs-nus-researchers-singapore-12927544
July 9,2020
Coronavirus herd immunity may be ‘unachievable’ after study suggests antibodies disappear after weeks in some people
The study also found that 14% of people who had tested positive for coronavirus antibodies in the first round of testing no longer tested positive in subsequent tests carried out weeks later.
https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-antibodies-study-herd-immunity-unachievable-spain-2020-7?fbclid=IwAR1BFzTE5B78IVQFSkxss1PudJIMgWvMUXrmwBsuWFesb3j1tDslwPT2sDs
July 7,2020
Singapore Doesn’t See Second Coronavirus Wave at This Point
“The increased number of cases we’re seeing in the community reflects that increased social interactivity, leading to more transmission occurring, but that’s not necessarily a second wave,” Mak said. “We don’t see this as a second wave at this point in time.”
July 3,2020
Singapore is on track to face its worst dengue outbreak in history
(CNN)Singapore has just begun to get its second wave of coronavirus under control. Now, it’s on track to face its worst-ever outbreak of another viral infection: dengue.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/03/asia/singapore-dengue-intl-hnk/index.html
July 2 ,2020
3 out of 4 imported Covid-19 cases were Singaporeans and PR returning from Pakistan
SINGAPORE – Three of the four imported Covid-19 cases on Wednesday (July 1) are two Singaporeans and a permanent resident who returned from Pakistan, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).
They were placed on stay-home notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore on June 19 and 20, and ferried in separate dedicated transport to SHN facilities to commence their 14-day isolation. They are asymptomatic and had been tested while serving their SHN.
June 26 ,2020
14 men charged for breaching COVID-19 safe distancing measures
“The authorities will not hesitate to take action against anyone who does not comply with safe distancing measures or show blatant disregard for our laws,” said the police in a press release.
“Let us all do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19.”
June 23 ,2020
Singapore’s Lee Calls Election for New Mandate to Fight Pandemic
“We need a capable government, with the strong backing of the people, to do all that needs to be done on your behalf, and see us through these tumultuous times,” Lee said. “An election now — when things are relatively stable — will clear the decks, and give the new government a fresh five-year mandate.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-23/singapore-calls-for-general-elections-amid-pandemic
June 18 ,2020
DSO team in S’pore finds 5 antibodies that can combat virus
Five antibodies which could potentially neutralise the virus that causes Covid-19 have been discovered by scientists at DSO National Laboratories, Singapore’s national defence research and development organisation.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/dso-team-in-spore-finds-5-antibodies-that-can-combat-virus
June 15 ,2020
A Little late for Q2 but lets start with some good news.
COVID-19: Phase 2 of reopening to start from Jun 19, social gatherings of up to five people allowed
Retail outlets can open, dining in at F&B outlets will be permitted, and tuition and other private enrichment classes can resume with some exceptions.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-phase-2-of-reopening-to-start-from-jun-19-social-12835758?cid=FBcna&fbclid=IwAR2kL-QPVJlk7XrURC8pme4gKiKs2-x4W1_18-O3HV80kYnAHoR-15fXffQ