Month: March 2020
UK reports record 381 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours
LONDON: Britain reported a record daily coronavirus toll of 381 on Tuesday (Mar 31), more than double the number of nationwide deaths posted in the previous 24 hours. “As of 5pm (1600 GMT) on 30 March, of those hospitalised in the UK, 1,789 have sadly died,” the health ministry said on its Twitter page, up from
Israel tests coronavirus vaccine prototype on rodents at laboratory
JERUSALEM: Israel has begun testing a COVID-19 vaccine prototype on rodents at its bio-chemical defence laboratory, a source said on Tuesday (Mar 31). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR), in rural Ness Ziona, to join the fight against the coronavirus pandemic on Feb 1, prompting an easing of its secrecy
Malaysia’s stay-at-home order preventing major spikes in COVID-19 cases, says government
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s stay-at-home order has prevented major daily spikes in coronavirus infections, the government said on Tuesday (Mar 31), but the World Bank warned the trade-reliant country’s economy would shrink this year for the first time in more than a decade. Malaysia recorded 140 new coronavirus cases and six deaths on Tuesday, taking the
COVID-19: LTA waives vehicle entry permit fee for Malaysian motorists in Singapore during movement control order period
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will provide a one-off Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee waiver for all owners of Malaysia-registered cars and motorcycles who have had to stay on in Singapore due to Malaysia’s movement control order. This decision was made in response to feedback from Malaysian workers in Singapore, their employers and unions,
US Army Corps to build hundreds of temporary hospitals for COVID-19 crisis
WASHINGTON: US officials want to build hundreds of temporary hospitals across the country to cope with the thousands of new coronavirus cases being diagnosed daily after the United States endured its deadliest day yet on Monday (Mar 30) with 575 fatalities. The US Army Corps of Engineers, which converted a New York convention center into a 1,000-bed
Landlords and tenants need to see each other as long-term partners, share both pain and benefits: Chan Chun Sing
SINGAPORE: Landlords and tenants must see each other as “long-term partners”, who share both the pain and the benefits, in good times and bad, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Mar 31). This means both parties working out how to share the rebates given to them by the Government, said
Individuals can apply to defer property loan, insurance premium payments amid COVID-19: MAS
SINGAPORE: Home owners facing financial pressure amid the COVID-19 outbreak will soon be able to apply to defer repayments for their residential property loans until Dec 31 this year. This option applies to either the principal payment, or both the principal and interest payments. Interest will accrue only on the deferred principal amount, which means
Events postponed, restaurants ‘near empty’: F&B industry on the chopping block as COVID-19 measures bite
SINGAPORE: The World Gourmet Summit, known for its myriad of dining events featuring culinary stars from around the world, will be postponed for the first time since it started 24 years ago. Usually held in April, the annual gastronomy festival has been pushed back to August because of the COVID-19 situation. Advertisement Advertisement “At the
US coronavirus death toll rises past 3,000 on deadliest day
NEW YORK: The US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbed past 3,000 on Monday (Mar 30), the deadliest day yet in the country’s mounting crisis, while New York cheered the arrival of a gleaming 1,000-bed US Navy hospital ship as a sign of hope in the city’s desperate fight. In a grim new milestone marking the spread
Myanmar reports first COVID-19 death; man had 4-day layover in Singapore
SINGAPORE: A Myanmar national who had a four-day layover in Singapore on his way home from Australia has died from COVID-19, Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports spokesperson Dr Khin Khin Gyi said on Tuesday (Mar 31). The 69-year-old man, who died at about 7.30am on Tuesday at Way Bar Gyi hospital in Yangon, is the first
Indonesia to suspend all foreign arrivals, barring a few exceptions
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Foreign Minister said on Tuesday (Mar 31) the government has decided to ban all arrivals and transits by foreigners in Indonesia to prevent a further spread of the coronavirus. Foreigners with stay permits and some diplomatic visits will be exempted from the ban, Retno Marsudi said, adding that the government aims to issue
Ramadan bazaars may proceed if SOP followed: Malaysian health ministry
KUALA LUMPUR: Ramadan bazaars will be allowed to operate during the fasting month provided that vendors and customers adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP), such as safe distancing and crowd control. Health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press conference on Tuesday (Mar 31) that as long as precautionary measures are taken, it is advisable for
Indonesian President Jokowi announces large-scale social restriction and emergency status to curb COVID-19
JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday (Mar 31) that he has signed the regulations needed for cities and provinces to enforce what the government described as “large-scale social restrictions” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The president said he signed a government regulation on “Large-Scale Social Restrictions” and a presidential decree on “Public Health Emergency
Study shows middle-age COVID-19 mortality risk
PARIS: Middle-aged people, and not just the elderly, have a dramatically higher risk of dying or developing serious illness from COVID-19, new research from Britain showed Tuesday (Mar 31). The findings came in a new comprehensive analysis of virus cases in mainland China. Advertisement Advertisement Researchers from Britain analysed more than 3,600 confirmed COVID-19 cases
