Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Brazil records first COVID-19 death
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BRASILIA: Brazil confirmed its first death from the new coronavirus on Tuesday (Mar 17), as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro declared a state of emergency over the pandemic, restricting public transportation and restaurant service. The South American country’s first victim was a 62-year-old man with underlying health conditions who died Monday in Sao Paulo,
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Singapore firms rush to house Malaysian workers before COVID-19 travel restrictions kick in
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SINGAPORE: Companies are rushing to secure accommodation for Malaysian workers who commute daily to Singapore before Malaysia’s two-week-long travel restrictions kick in on Wednesday (Mar 18). Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Monday that the government will implement a movement control order from Mar 18 to Mar 31 in a bid to contain the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Italy rushes to promote new doctors to relieve COVID-19 crisis
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ROME: Italy will rush 10,000 student doctors into service, scrapping their final exams, in an effort to help the struggling health service cope with the coronavirus onslaught. Around 2,158 people have died of the disease in Italy since the outbreak came to light on Feb 21, while the total number of confirmed cases has surged to 27,980,
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Indonesia to ban entry from 6 European countries, Iran as COVID-19 tally rises to 172
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JAKARTA: Indonesia will prohibit the entry and transit of visitors who have travelled in the last 14 days to Italy and Vatican City, Spain, France, Germany, the UK, as well as Iran due to COVID-19 concerns, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Tuesday (Mar 17). The ban, which will take effect at midnight on Friday, was announced after Indonesia confirmed 38 new cases,
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Flow of goods, food supplies, cargo to continue between Singapore and Malaysia: PM Lee
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SINGAPORE: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has assured Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that the flow of goods and cargo between Singapore and Malaysia, including food supplies, would continue, Mr Lee said on Tuesday (Mar 17). Mr Lee’s remarks came after Malaysia announced it would bar citizens from going overseas and foreigners from entering the country
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Malaysia confirms first COVID-19 death, victim is pastor from Sarawak
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KUALA LUMPUR: A 60-year-old pastor from Sarawak has become the first patient with COVID-19 to die in Malaysia, the secretariat for Sarawak’s state disaster management committee said on Tuesday (Mar 17). The man, who is from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Kuching, died at 11am on Tuesday at Sarawak General Hospital, it said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement The
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Malaysia reports 2 COVID-19 deaths, including one from mosque gathering: Health minister
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KUALA LUMPUR: Two COVID-19 patients in Malaysia have died on Tuesday (Mar 17), including a man who attended the Sri Petaling religious gathering linked to more than 400 cases in the country. Health Minister Adham Baba said the 34-year-old man, who is known as Case 178, attended the mass religious gathering at Masjid Jamek. The event
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Singapore Airlines to reduce flight capacity by 50%, expects further cuts to capacity
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SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) is cutting flights across its network as more countries impose border restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Singapore Airlines is suspending additional services across its network amid an unprecedented time in the airline industry,” it said in a news release on Tuesday (Mar 17). Advertisement Advertisement With the suspensions, SIA will
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
All Singapore households to receive 500ml of free hand sanitiser: Temasek Foundation
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SINGAPORE: Every Singapore household will receive 500ml of free zero-alcohol hand sanitiser, announced Temasek Foundation on Tuesday (Mar 17), following Singapore’s biggest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases on Monday. The sanitiser can be collected from any community club from Mar 23 to Mar 29 or any one of CapitaLand’s 16 participating malls from Mar 23 to Apr
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Companies affected by Malaysia travel restrictions to receive S$50 allowance per worker for 14 nights
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SINGAPORE: Companies affected by Malaysia’s travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 outbreak will receive an allowance of S$50 per worker for 14 nights to cover the extra costs incurred, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo on Tuesday (Mar 17). This comes after Malaysia announced it would bar citizens from going overseas and foreigners from entering the country for about two
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
MFA urges Singaporean students overseas to consider returning home soon amid evolving COVID-19 situation
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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has encouraged Singaporean students studying overseas to consider returning home soon amid COVID-19 concerns. In a statement on Tuesday (Mar 17), MFA said that Institutes of Higher Learning in Singapore have begun recalling their students who are currently on overseas internships or exchange programmes. Advertisement Advertisement “Many countries are
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
South Korea dials up COVID-19 testing with hospital ‘phone booths’
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SEOUL: A South Korean hospital has introduced phone booth-style coronavirus testing facilities that allow medical staff to examine patients from behind the safety of a plastic panel, the latest innovation in the country’s drive to track down infections. The row of four booths – which use negative air pressure to prevent harmful particles from escaping
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Philippines reports 45 new COVID-19 infections, airlines suspend operations
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MANILA: The Philippines’ health ministry on Tuesday (Mar 17) reported 45 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the country’s total to 187. President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered most of the 55 million people on the main island of Luzon, which includes the capital Manila, to stay at home for the next month after social distancing
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Singapore has months’ worth of stockpiles, planned for disruption of supplies from Malaysia for years: Chan Chun Sing
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SINGAPORE: Singapore has months’ worth of stockpiles at the national level, and has planned for a disruption of supplies from Malaysia over many years, Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said on Tuesday (Mar 17). Currently, Singapore has more than three months’ worth of carbohydrates like rice and noodles, and more than two
