Month: April 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
Necessary for Singapore to fast-track COVID-19 laws amid unprecedented situation: Lawyers
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: In the past month, Singapore has fast-tracked a slew of regulations and laws aimed at limiting the number of COVID-19 cases, which crossed the 2,000 figure on Friday (Apr 10). Some of the measures are also designed to help cushion the financial impact of the global pandemic on local businesses and members of the
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
COVID-19: Elderly woman dies alone in Malaysian house, family in Singapore struggles with funeral arrangements
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A family with roots in both Singapore and Malaysia found itself at a loss after its adopted grand-aunt died alone in its Johor Bahru house over the weekend. The family shares homes across the border, but was in Singapore when Malaysia imposed its Movement Control Order (MCO) on Mar 18, closing schools and non-essential businesses. People
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
MOE will allow teachers to ‘progressively’ resume use of Zoom, police reports filed on recent breaches
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The use of the Zoom for home-based learning will be “progressively” resumed with enhanced security in place, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Monday (Apr 13). Use of the video conferencing tool was temporarily suspended last week, after breaches involving obscene images. Advertisement Advertisement One of these breaches took place during a home-based
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
A Singaporean nurse’s US stint was cut short by COVID-19 – these folks stepped up to help
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Within Siti Zawiyah’s first week in America, when COVID-19-fuelled panic buying began, a colleague bought her bags and bags of groceries – so many that she had to make a few trips to carry them all in from her colleague’s car. Their contents included toilet paper, a huge bottle of water, milk, rice, frozen
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
Man arrested for possession of 18 airsoft guns after victim hit by plastic pellet
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a rash act and possessing 18 airsoft guns, after a victim reported being hit by a plastic pellet in Kembangan, said the police on Monday (Apr 13). At about 7.30pm on Apr 7, the victim alerted the police of the incident which had happened along Lorong
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
New Zealand, Australia say too soon to ease restrictions despite COVID-19 slowdown
News Business Article
MELBOURNE: Officials in New Zealand and Australia, hailed globally for their early signs of success in combating the spread of the coronavirus, said on Monday (Apr 13) it is too soon to start easing social distancing rules or reopening their economies. The rate of new coronavirus cases has abated significantly in both countries without straining
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
COVID-19: With plastic sheets, Japan’s convenience stores target social distancing
News Business Article
TOKYO: Some of Japan’s ubiquitous convenience stores have taken a novel approach to social distancing by hanging plastic sheets from the ceiling to provide a barrier between customers and staff at the cash register during the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures last week
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
Hair salons, barbers and optometrists no longer allowed to operate during Malaysia’s extended movement control order
News Business Article
PUTRAJAYA: Hair salons, barbers and optometrists in Malaysia will no longer be allowed to operate during the extension period of the movement control order (MCO), said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yakoob on Monday (Apr 13). Bazaars will also not be allowed to operate during the upcoming fasting month, he added. Advertisement Advertisement This came amid
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
South Korea reports more recovered COVID-19 patients testing positive again
News Business Article
SEOUL: South Korea reported on Monday (Apr 13) that at least 116 people initially cleared of the new coronavirus had tested positive again, although officials suggested they would soon look at easing strict recommendations aimed at preventing new outbreaks. South Korea reported only 25 new cases overall on Monday, but the rise in “reactivated” patients has
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
Japan’s Narita Airport offers cardboard beds for travellers awaiting coronavirus all-clear
News Business Article
TOKYO: Japan’s Narita Airport has prepared an impromptu hotel of cardboard beds and quilts in its baggage-claim area for passengers from overseas who might have to stay there while awaiting the results of tests for the novel coronavirus. Though flights at Narita are down so sharply that the airport has closed one of its runways,
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
3 establishments including Putien, Jollibee fined for breaching COVID-19 safe distancing measures
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Thirty businesses were told to cease operations and three establishments – including Putien and Jollibee – were fined following enforcement checks over the long weekend. Putien at 127 Kitchener Road, Komala’s Vege Mart at 125 Dunlop Street and a Jollibee outlet next to Causeway Point were each fined S$1,000 for failing to ensure proper
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
‘Medibot’ to do rounds on Malaysian COVID-19 wards
News Business Article
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian scientists have created a barrel-shaped robot on wheels that they hope will make the rounds on hospital wards to check on COVID-19 patients, reducing health workers’ risk of infection. “Medibot” is a 1.5m white robot, equipped with a camera and screen via which patients can communicate remotely with medics. Advertisement Advertisement The invention,
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 13, 2020
School meal subsidies extended to needy students who don’t return to school during home-based learning period
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Primary and Secondary school students on the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) financial assistance scheme will now receive meal subsidies regardless of whether they return to school during the full home-based learning period. The provision will cover the four weeks of home-based learning from Apr 8 to May 4, and can be used to purchase
Commentary: Maybe it’s time to pay more for grocery and food deliveries
CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina: A series of recent protests by the workers preparing and delivering our essential foods and other goods highlights a key risk to our ability to combat the coronavirus. Some employees at an Amazon warehouse and Instacart “shoppers” briefly walked off the job on Mar 30, citing inadequate health protections and compensation.