Month: April 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 14, 2020
Pentagon awards contract for N-95 mask sterilisation at 60 sites
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WASHINGTON: The Pentagon awarded a US$400 million contract to Ohio-based non-profit research organisation Battelle so it can help to sterilise N-95 masks at 60 locations using concentrated hydrogen peroxide vapour. Battelle said on Friday it was awarded the contract by the Pentagon’s Defense Logistics Agency on behalf of the US Department of Health and Human
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 14, 2020
Macron extends France’s lockdown until May 11
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PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (Apr 13) announced he was extending a virtual lockdown to curb the cornavirus outbreak until May 11, adding that progress had been made but the battle not yet won. Acknowledging his country had not been sufficiently prepared early on to face the challenges posed by the outbreak of
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 14, 2020
UK prepares to extend virus lockdown, says peak has not passed
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LONDON: The British government warned on Monday (Apr 13) it would not be lifting a nationwide lockdown anytime soon as the country remains in the grip of a coronavirus outbreak that has claimed more than 11,000 lives. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he recovers from his own
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 14, 2020
New York governor says ‘worst is over’ as virus toll tops 10,000
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NEW YORK: New York’s governor declared on Monday that the “worst is over” for its coronavirus outbreak providing the state moves sensibly, despite reporting its death toll had passed 10,000. Andrew Cuomo said lower average hospitalisation rates and intubations suggested a “plateauing” of the epidemic and that he was working on a plan to gradually reopen
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
World’s smallest woman in India stay-at-home virus appeal
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NEW DELHI: The world’s shortest woman took to the streets in central India on Monday (Apr 13) to call on people to stay at home, after police appealed for help enforcing a coronavirus lockdown. Jyoti Amge, who is just 62.8 centimetres tall, encouraged people to wash their hands and wear a mask and gloves when
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
Jurong branch of E-Bridge Preschool to close after child tests positive for COVID-19
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SINGAPORE: The Jurong branch of E-Bridge Preschool will be closed temporarily after a child tested positive for COVID-19, said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) on Monday (Apr 13). The centre, located at 140 Corporation Drive, will be closed from Tuesday until Apr 21, covering a 14-day incubation period from when the child last attended the
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
Thailand job losses may hit 10 million if COVID-19 outbreak drags on
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BANGKOK: Thailand’s job losses may reach 10 million if the coronavirus outbreak continues for a few months, a business advisory council said on Monday (Apr 13). Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy is being hit hard by the virus outbreak and is heading into a recession. Advertisement Advertisement “We think about 7 million jobs have been lost already,
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
People playing tennis, eating at food centre among those caught breaking COVID-19 safe distancing rules
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SINGAPORE: A woman who refused to leave her meal at an Aljunied food centre and a group playing tennis were among those caught breaking elevated safe distancing measures, said the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) in a press release on Monday (Apr 13). In all, more than 200 fines will be issued
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
Police investigate man who reportedly slapped petrol station employee who asked him to wear a face mask
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SINGAPORE: The police are investigating a man who reportedly slapped a service attendant at a petrol station located along Jervois Road after she advised him to wear a face mask. Police were alerted to the incident on Sunday at about 5.50pm. Advertisement Advertisement The 55-year-old man is being investigated for voluntarily causing hurt, police said in a news
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
No road blocks conducted to enforce COVID-19 safe distancing measures, police say
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SINGAPORE: It is not true that the police have been conducting road blocks and issuing fines to people for not complying with COVID-19 safe distancing measures, said the Singapore Police Force on Monday (Apr 13). Messages have been circulating on WhatsApp and on social media, claiming that members of the public were stopped at road
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
COVID-19: Crowds, minor infractions on first working day after social restrictions imposed in Jakarta
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JAKARTA: Despite so-called “large-scale social restrictions” being imposed in Jakarta, streets in the Indonesian capital appeared to be fairly crowded on Monday (Apr 13), with those working in essential services thronging the thoroughfares. The city implemented the restrictions last Friday as the number of COVID-19 cases continued to rise across the country. Advertisement Advertisement But as it was the
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
COVID-19: Malaysia left with 2 weeks worth of personal protective equipment for hospitals
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KUALA LUMPUR: There are only two weeks worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) supply left to be distributed to all hospitals in Malaysia, the country’s Ministry of Health said on Monday (Apr 13). In a press conference, the ministry’s director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah urged those who have been donating PPE to continue doing so. Advertisement Advertisement “The
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
‘Social unrest’ warning as Modi looks to extend India’s lockdown
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NEW DELHI: Key industries are warning of social unrest unless India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes concessions when he announces any extension Tuesday (Apr 13) to a three-week pandemic-lockdown for the country’s 1.3 billion people. The lockdown ends at midnight Tuesday, but several state chief ministers have already said they plan to extend it for at
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
Sexual assault case in China sparks outrage
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BEIJING: A high-profile sexual assault investigation in China has prompted many to come forward online with similar experiences of abuse in a country where it remains tough to get justice for such crimes. A prominent Chinese lawyer who sat on the board of telecoms equipment maker ZTE stepped down last week after local media reported he
