Month: April 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
COVID-19: Singapore to waive foreign worker levy, enhance Jobs Support Scheme, says Heng Swee Keat
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SINGAPORE: The Government will waive the foreign worker levy for April and further enhance the Jobs Support Scheme, in a move to boost support for businesses during a month-long “circuit breaker” to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. In a Facebook post on Saturday (Apr 4), Mr Heng said the Government remains
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
In pictures: Last weekend before enhanced safe-distancing measures kick in
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SINGAPORE: This being the last weekend before much of Singapore grinds to a halt on Apr 7 – when more “circuit breakers” kick in to contain the spread of COVID-19 – shoppers were out in force and many thronged eateries before dining out is forbidden. On Saturday, snaking queues were spotted at some malls, with many people rushing last-minute
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
New York state COVID-19 toll spikes by record 630 deaths in single day: Governor
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NEW YORK: New York state’s death toll rose to 3,565 Saturday (Apr 4), the Governor Andrew Cuomo said, up from 2,935 the previous day, in the largest 24-hour jump recorded there. The state has now recorded 113,704 positive cases – 63,306 in New York City – just 6,000 short of hard-hit Italy’s total. Advertisement Advertisement New York
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
Singapore reports 6th COVID-19 death, an 88-year-old man
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SINGAPORE: A sixth person died from COVID-19 in Singapore early on Saturday (Apr 4) morning, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a news release. The patient was an 88-year-old Singapore permanent resident with no recent travel history to affected places, said the ministry. He had a history of heart and kidney disease, cancer and diabetes. Advertisement
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
UK COVID-19 deaths climb by new high of 708
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LONDON: Britain on Saturday (Apr 4) reported 708 more deaths from COVID-19 in a new daily high, as the number of confirmed cases rose to nearly 42,000. The health ministry said 4,313 people who tested positive for the virus in hospital had died as of 1600 GMT Friday while there were 41,903 confirmed cases as of
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
COVID-19: Essential healthcare services to continue operating, other services to be scaled down
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SINGAPORE: All essential healthcare services will continue operating even after the enhanced safe-distancing measures requiring most workplaces to be shut kick in next Tuesday (Apr 7), the health ministry said on Saturday. All public and private acute hospitals, including offsite specialist clinics and offsite ambulatory surgical centres, as well as community hospitals, polyclinics, Public Health Preparedness
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
False message circulating about bogus mask distributors robbing residents, warn police
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SINGAPORE: Text and audio messages circulating claiming there are people robbing residents under the pretext of distributing reusable masks as part of a new Government initiative are untrue, the police said in a Facebook post on Saturday (Apr 4). The message claims that residents would be made to try on masks believed to be doused
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
Tokyo area sees daily coronavirus cases topping 100 for first time: NHK
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TOKYO: A total of 118 people were newly infected with the novel coronavirus in the Japanese capital of Tokyo, NHK public broadcaster reported on Saturday (Apr 4), citing metropolitan government officials. It marked the first time that daily confirmed cases exceeded 100 in the Tokyo area, bringing the number of confirmed cases there to 891, NHK
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
Police investigating after apparent leak of MOE, MSF press release on school closures
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SINGAPORE: The police are looking into an apparent leak of a joint press release issued by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on COVID-19 school closures. The press release, dated Apr 3, contained details of full home-based learning that will be implemented at schools and institutes of higher learning, as
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
‘Daddy, when are you coming home?’: How COVID-19 kept a young Malaysian family apart
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KUALA LUMPUR: As Mr Zulafandi Haris was ushered out of his flat into an ambulance by health officers wearing face masks, visors and gloves, his toddler son stood at the door watching. The 30-year-old man had tested positive for COVID-19. His wife, Mdm Farah Salwani, who was three-months pregnant, was already warded in hospital after
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
Parents will have to continue paying pre-school fees through month-long closure: MSF
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SINGAPORE: Parents will have to continue paying pre-school fees even when centres are closed for a month as part of enhanced safe-distancing measures, the Ministry of Social and Family Devlopment (MSF) confirmed on Saturday (Apr 4). CNA had asked MSF whether parents have to continue paying pre-school fees, and whether they would have to pay the full amount. In response
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
Long queues at some malls as shoppers rush to prepare for closure of schools and most workplaces
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SINGAPORE: Despite the Government’s call for people to stay at home as much as possible to stem the spread of COVID-19, queues of shoppers were seen at some malls on Saturday (Apr 4), ahead of next week’s closure of schools and most workplaces. Shoppers who spoke to CNA said that they were out to buy
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
Britain’s Labour names Keir Starmer as new leader
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LONDON: Keir Starmer was elected as the leader of Britain’s main opposition Labour Party on Saturday (Apr 4), pledging to bring an end to years of bitter infighting and to work with the government to contain the raging coronavirus pandemic. Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions who was known for a forensic attention to
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 4, 2020
Spain’s daily coronavirus death toll falls for second day in row
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MADRID: The daily pace of new coronavirus infections and deaths in Spain slowed again on Saturday (Apr 4) as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was expected to announce a new extension to lockdown measures that have confined most Spaniards to their homes for three weeks. The total death toll rose to 11,744 – the world’s second
