Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
South Korea reports 146 new coronavirus cases, highest in a week
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SEOUL: South Korea reported 146 new coronavirus cases on Friday (Mar 27), the highest number in a week, its disease control agency said on Saturday, with the country suffering a rise in imported cases from Europe and the United States during recent days. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) did not say how
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
SingPost says 3 employees infected with COVID-19 did not have contact with public
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SINGAPORE: National postman Singapore Post said on Friday (Mar 27) that a contract staff and two full-time employees at its packet-processing facility at SingPost Centre have tested positive for COVID-19, and that cleaning and disinfecting is under way. The three individuals are not postmen and do not have contact with members of the public in
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
COVID-19: Entry approval required for all long-term pass holders entering Singapore
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SINGAPORE: All long-term pass holders will require an entry approval before entering or returning to Singapore from Sunday (Mar 29) at 11.59pm, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM). In a media release on Saturday, ICA, MOE and MOM said the additional precautionary measures are in view
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
As US COVID-19 cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment
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NEW YORK: Doctors and nurses on the front lines of the U.S. coronavirus crisis pleaded on Friday (Mar 27) for more protective gear and equipment to treat waves of patients expected to overwhelm hospitals as the number of known U.S. infections surpassed 100,000, with more than 1,600 dead. Physicians have called particular attention to a
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
China’s COVID-19 epicentre Wuhan eases travel restrictions after lockdown
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WUHAN: The Chinese city of 11 million people that was Ground Zero for what became the global coronavirus pandemic partly reopened Saturday, after more than two months of almost total isolation. Wuhan was placed under lockdown in January with residents forbidden to leave, roadblocks installed and millions subjected to dramatic restrictions on their daily life. Advertisement
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
Shangri-La Dialogue 2020 cancelled over COVID-19 pandemic
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SINGAPORE: This year’s Shangri-La Dialogue will not be convened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers said early on Saturday (Mar 28). The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an international affairs think-tank, said it had decided after close consultation with host country Singapore to not convene this year’s summit. Advertisement Advertisement “Many countries have imposed travel restrictions
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
No decision yet on General Election amid COVID-19 outbreak, says PM Lee
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SINGAPORE: No decision has yet been made as to when a General Election will be called, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday (Mar 27). When asked about a possible General Election amid the current COVID-19 outbreak, Mr Lee said that the Government needs to consider if it is possible for them to conduct
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
Government doing all that it can to stabilise economy, save jobs and businesses amid COVID-19: PM Lee
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SINGAPORE: The Government is doing all it can to stabilise the economy, preserve jobs and help businesses stay afloat amid the grave economic challenge brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Mar 27). It is also prepared to do more, said Mr Lee. “Whatever it takes to do
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
‘The tide is still coming in’: PM Lee says COVID-19’s impact on healthcare a ‘very big problem’
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SINGAPORE: Singapore is in a “grave situation” in terms of health and economy because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Mar 27). Speaking at the Istana a day after Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced a supplementary Budget in response to the outbreak, Mr Lee
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
East Coast: Advantage PAP in redrawn GRC at the next General Election?
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SINGAPORE: With political parties likely to field high-profile candidates in East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) at the next General Election, observers expect a stiff contest for the vote, although they said the People’s Action Party (PAP) is likely to have an edge. The GRC has re-absorbed neighbouring Fengshan Single Member Constituency (SMC) following the redrawing
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
Singapore reports 49 new COVID-19 cases, new cluster at SingPost Centre
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SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 49 new COVID-19 cases on Friday (Mar 27), including a 1-year-old girl and a new cluster at SingPost Centre. This takes the country’s total number of cases to 732. Of the new cases, 22 are imported and had travelled to Europe, North America and ASEAN, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release. Advertisement
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
Italy tops 9,000 coronavirus deaths, overtakes China in cases
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ROME: Italy’s recorded 919 deaths from coronavirus on Friday (Mar 28), the highest daily toll anywhere in the world, while the number of confirmed cases eclipsed the total in China where the virus first emerged. Italy was the first Western country to introduce swingeing restrictions on movement after uncovering the outbreak five weeks ago. It
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 28, 2020
Italy coronavirus deaths rise by 919, highest daily tally since start of outbreak
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ROME: The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has surged by 919 to 9,134, the Civil Protection Agency said on Friday (Mar 27), easily the highest daily tally since the epidemic emerged on Feb 21. Prior to Friday’s figure, the largest daily toll was registered on Mar 21, when 793 people died. Advertisement Advertisement
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 27, 2020
COVID-19: Financial assistance schemes to help lower- to middle-income Singaporeans affected by outbreak
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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Friday (Mar 27) detailed two financial assistance schemes announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in the Resilience Budget that aim to help lower- to middle-income Singaporeans affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Temporary Relief Fund and COVID-19 Support Grant will provide help to
