Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 19, 2020
COVID-19: Is Italy peaking yet? Experts urge patience
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ROME: The world is watching Italy to see when the number of deaths from COVID-19 and infections peak – and whether its coronavirus lockdown works. But experts with the theoretical and medical background needed to make sense of these numbers are cautious about making forecasts. Advertisement Advertisement Italian data, rising nationwide by hundreds of deaths and
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 19, 2020
‘Just stay at home’: PM Muhyiddin to Malaysians amid movement control order
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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia may extend the restricted movement order by “maybe another two weeks or even longer” if the current measures fail to contain the spread of COVID-19, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday (Mar 18). He urged Malaysians to just stay at home during the two-week control order, which is enforced from Wednesday until
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
COVID-19 outbreak could last 2 years in Thailand but there is still time to limit impact: Expert
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BANGKOK: Half of Thailand’s population – about 33 million people – could be infected by COVID-19 over the next two years in the worst case scenario described by deputy director of the Disease Control Department Dr Thanarak Phaliphat. “We’ve forecast three scenarios of widespread transmission. If Thais coordinate well, infections will be limited over the next
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
‘Sufficient flexibility and buffer’ in Singapore’s capacity to care for COVID-19 patients: Gan Kim Yong
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SINGAPORE: Singapore’s healthcare system has “sufficient flexibility and buffer” to manage the expected increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Wednesday (Mar 18), who also said that the outbreak could last beyond the year. “I would say there is sufficient flexibility and buffer to allow us
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic could make another 25 million jobless: UN
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GENEVA: The COVID-19 pandemic will significantly increase global unemployment, leaving up to 25 million more people out of work, and will dramatically slash workers’ incomes, the United Nations said Wednesday (Mar 18). In a fresh study, the International Labour Organization warned that the economic and labour crisis sparked by the spread of the new coronavirus, which
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Indonesia reports 14 more COVID-19 deaths, bringing death toll to 19
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JAKARTA: Indonesia reported 14 more COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday (Mar 18), taking the death toll to 19, a health ministry official said. This marks the country’s biggest single-day increase in fatalities. Advertisement Advertisement “The total death toll until Mar 18, 12pm is 19,” Achmad Yurianto, the government’s spokesperson for the COVID-19 pandemic said at a press conference. A total of
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Food supplies still coming, but other Singapore firms brace for disruptions from Malaysia’s shutdown
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SINGAPORE: Local food importers heaved a sigh of relief as their supplies from Malaysia arrived as planned, uninterrupted by the country’s movement control order which kicked in on Wednesday (Mar 18). However, that is not the case for those in other sectors. From construction to manufacturing, some Singapore businesses are bracing for supply disruptions of key
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Most imports of fresh food from Malaysia arrived as normal, other goods also allowed in: Chan Chun Sing
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SINGAPORE: Most imports of fresh food from Malaysia arrived as normal this morning, with other goods such as medicine and infant diapers also allowed through checkpoints, Minister for Trade and Industry Chun Chun Sing said on Wednesday (Mar 18). “I am glad to see that the supply of fresh food has not been fully disrupted
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Thousands of Muslim pilgrims brave COVID-19 to gather in Indonesia
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JAKARTA: Thousands of Muslim pilgrims from across Asia gathered in Indonesia on Wednesday (Mar 18), despite fears that their meeting could fuel the spread of a coronavirus, just two weeks after a similar event in Malaysia caused more than 500 infections. Organisers and regional officials said the event in the world’s fourth most populous nation
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
St Andrew’s Cathedral closes for 2 weeks after church member infected with COVID-19
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SINGAPORE: St Andrew’s Cathedral will be closed for two weeks after a church member was confirmed to have COVID-19. The church said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to the case on Wednesday afternoon (Mar 18). Advertisement Advertisement READ: COVID-19: Catholic Church suspends mass; other religious groups turn to livestreaming, among other measures “We regret
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Malaysia reports 117 new COVID-19 cases, remains hardest-hit Southeast Asian country
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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported 117 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (Mar 18), bringing the total number of infections in the country to 790. In a statement, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said that of the 117, 80 cases related to the mass religious gathering that took place in Sri Petaling from Feb 27 to Mar
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Johor state government hopes to reopen border with Singapore for some workers, students
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ISKANDAR PUTERI, Johor: The Johor state government is seeking special approval from the Malaysia federal government to reopen the land checkpoints with Singapore for workers in certain industries, students, as well as Singaporeans who live in Johor. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (Mar 18), Johor Chief Minister Hasni Mohammad said the Johor state
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Cabby behind fatal Gleneagles Hospital crash jailed, banned from driving
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SINGAPORE: A taxi driver behind a collision in the driveway of a hospital that killed one and injured five others was on Wednesday (Mar 18) sentenced to three weeks’ jail and banned from driving for four years. Ho Kee Hoe, 64, had accidentally stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake, sending his taxi
Commentary: COVID-19 reveals cracks in Indonesia’s leadership
SYDNEY: As he rose rapidly from furniture businessman to mayor of Solo and governor of Jakarta to president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo stuck to the same approach to politics: Build things, cut some red tape, improve access to basic services (though not necessarily their quality), and lean on civil servants to be more efficient. It