Day: April 10, 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
NGOs launch initiatives to help migrant workers amid COVID-19 outbreak
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Ground-up initiatives have sprung up to help foreign workers who have been affected by Singapore’s “circuit breaker” measures that are aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. COVID Migrant Support Coalition, an informal group consisting of volunteers from Geylang Adventures, ItsRainingRaincoats, Singapore Migrant Friends and Migrant X Me, has been distributing lunch and dinner packs since Tuesday
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
Tokyo, Japan central government reach agreement over COVID-19 shutdown
News Business Article
TOKYO: Tokyo and Japan’s central government have resolved a high-profile feud over what businesses should shut down during a month-long emergency to fight the new coronavirus, the city’s governor said, clearing the way for an announcement on Friday. The rift with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has highlighted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s desire to minimise economic
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
South Korea’s Daegu reports no new COVID-19 cases for the first time since February
News Business Article
SEOUL: The South Korean city of Daegu, which endured the first large coronavirus outbreak outside of mainland China, reported zero new cases on Friday (Apr 10). It is the first time since late February that there are no new cases in Daegu, as new infections across the country dropped to record lows. Advertisement Advertisement With
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
COVID-19: Tampines Dormitory declared an isolation area
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A fifth foreign worker dormitory, Tampines Dormitory, has been declared an isolation area to prevent the spread or “possible outbreak” of COVID-19. On Thursday (Apr 9), MOH reported 17 additional cases linked to Tampines Dormitory in 2 Tampines Place, which has a total of 38 COVID-19 cases. Advertisement Advertisement According to a notice by the
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
UN chief calls for Security Council unity over pandemic
News Business Article
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the Security Council on Thursday (Apr 9) to display unity as it met to discuss what he called the “fight of a generation” – the global coronavirus pandemic. “A signal of unity and resolve from the Council would count for a lot at this anxious time,” Guterres told the
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
Commentary: Majority who have COVID-19 may not show symptoms but more research needed
News Business Article
LONDON: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, with 1.4 million cases and almost 75,000 deaths reported worldwide as of Apr 7. To slow down the spread and reduce mortality, governments across the world have put in place social distancing measures. When such measures are lifted, the “flattened epidemic curve” is expected to start rising again in
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
COVID-19: Medical waste workers put in extra hours to handle extra volume
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: By 6am every morning, Mr Tan Chiak Kong is already in his truck, fully decked out in an N95 mask, surgical gloves and disposable overalls, ready to drive off for his first trip of the day. His first destination is usually a hospital, where he parks the truck at one of its waste collection sites, and
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
Commentary: Home-based learning can be an opportunity to rethink parenting
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: We saw the writing on the wall, or we should have, when several weeks into DORSCON Orange, centre-based tuition and enrichment classes had to be suspended in order to reduce intermingling of students from different schools. This wave of precautionary measures was met with relief and praise from some and slight panic from others
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
Indonesia’s first 3 COVID-19 patients open up about online hate and stigmatisation
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JAKARTA: “Because of you, my wedding is now cancelled,” said one social media post. “Because of you, my graduation is cancelled,” said another. Advertisement Advertisement There was also another post that said: “Because of you, I lost my job.” These negative messages were among the many that Sita Tyasutami received since last month. She also got death
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
British PM Johnson out of COVID-19 intensive care
News Business Article
LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (Apr 9) left intensive care after three days of treatment for COVID-19, his office said. “The Prime Minister has been moved this evening from intensive care back to the ward, where he will receive close monitoring during the early phase of his recovery,” a statement said. Advertisement Advertisement
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
World faces worst crisis since Great Depression: IMF chief
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WASHINGTON: The global coronavirus pandemic has inflicted an economic crisis unlike any in the past century and will require a massive response to ensure recovery, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday (Apr 9). The warnings about the damage inflicted by the virus already were stark, but Georgieva said the world should brace for “the worst
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
New single-day record for NY virus deaths as hospitalisations fall
News Business Article
NEW YORK: America’s coronavirus epicentre of New York recorded a new single-day high of 799 COVID-19 deaths on Thursday (Apr 9) but Governor Andrew Cuomo said the rate of hospitalisations continued to fall. Cuomo said 799 people died in the last 24 hours, outdoing the previous high of 779 announced on Wednesday, but added that the curve
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 10, 2020
Italy’s daily coronavirus death toll, new cases accelerate
News Business Article
ROME: Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy rose by 610 on Thursday (Apr 9), up from 542 the day before, and the number of new cases also came in higher at 4,204 from a previous 3,836. The daily tally of cases was the highest since Apr 5, and comes as a disappointment to a country
Commentary: The great COVID-19 race for protective medical gear and ventilators
ABU DHABI: With more than a million infections and over 65,000 deaths around the globe, doctors and other frontline healthcare responders are facing twin problems and calling for help. First, the acute shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) – masks, gowns, gloves and eyewear that protects them from the virus while tending to patients in