Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
COVID-19 spread can be contained with concerted response: WHO
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GENEVA: The COVID-19 infection spreading around the world can be contained and controlled, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday (Mar 5), but only with a concerted response by all governments. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced concerns at the growing number of countries with cases, especially those with weaker health systems and called on governments
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Elderly US traveller is Bhutan’s first COVID-19 case, prompting travel restrictions
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THIMPHU: Bhutan announced its first positive case of the novel coronavirus on Friday (Mar 6), prompting school closures and travel restrictions, according to a Facebook post from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The 76-year-old patient from the US was confirmed to have the disease on Thursday night, and the results were validated on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement He was
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
COVID-19: Pregnant women scared to give birth in virus-hit China
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BEIJING: Scared of the deadly new coronavirus that has swept China, pregnant women and new mothers are giving birth alone, keeping their newborns inside and switching to pricier private hospitals to avoid the risk of infection. One new mother, surnamed Xie, told AFP she gave birth to her baby girl in Wuhan earlier this month
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Singapore Philatelic Museum to reopen next year as dedicated children’s museum
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SINGAPORE: When it reopens in 2021, the Singapore Philatelic Museum will become a dedicated children’s museum targeted at those aged 12 and below, it was announced on Friday (Mar 6). “The Singapore Philatelic Museum will be revamped as a dedicated children’s museum where children can learn about a wide range of themes, including the heritage
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Task force formed to raise public hygiene standards beyond COVID-19 outbreak
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SINGAPORE: A multi-agency task force has been formed to step up public hygiene standards in Singapore beyond the COVID-19 outbreak. The new SG Clean Taskforce was announced on Friday (Mar 6) by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). Advertisement Advertisement It will be chaired by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
South Korea protests Japan’s quarantine plans over COVID-19
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SEOUL: Seoul will summon Japan’s ambassador to protest over “irrational” plans to impose coronavirus quarantine on arrivals from South Korea, it said Friday (Mar 6), accusing Tokyo of ulterior motives. The two countries have close economic ties and are both major US allies, democracies and market economies faced with a rising China and nuclear-armed North Korea.
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Malaysia’s graft-buster chief Latheefa Koya resigns
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KUALA LUMPUR: Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Latheefa Koya has tendered her resignation, as the country sees a switch in federal power that ousted the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. In a statement on Friday (Mar 6), Ms Latheefa said she was not pressured to vacate the office. Advertisement Advertisement “It was my
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
First man charged for cheating mask buyers gets more charges, S$185,000 and 6 victims now involved
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SINGAPORE: The first person in Singapore to be charged for cheating mask buyers amid the current coronavirus outbreak was given three more charges on Friday (Mar 6). Daryl Cheong Zhi Yong, 21, is now accused of cheating a total of six victims of about S$185,000 for more than 900 boxes of surgical face masks. Advertisement Advertisement On
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Muay Thai gym co-founder gets jail and caning for sexually assaulting woman after trial class
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SINGAPORE: The co-founder of a Muay Thai gym was sentenced to seven years and four months’ jail and four strokes of the cane on Friday (Mar 6) for sexually assaulting a woman after a trial class. Tan Wai Luen, 31, had been convicted after a trial of one count of sexual penetration of the 33-year-old
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
SAFRA Jurong COVID-19 cluster: Confirmed cases cleared mandatory temperature checks
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SINGAPORE: The individuals who visited SAFRA Jurong for a private dinner function on Feb 15 and later tested positive for COVID-19 had cleared mandatory temperature checks, SAFRA said on Thursday (Mar 5). “They did not have fever, nor exhibited any flu-like symptoms,” said SAFRA on its website, after it emerged that the dinner was linked
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
South Korea reports 196 new COVID-19 infections as death toll rises
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SEOUL: South Korea reported 196 new coronavirus cases on Friday (Mar 6), bringing the country’s total to 6,284, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The agency added that seven more deaths from the virus were reported, bringing the total to 42. On Thursday, as the number of cases continued to rise in the country, South Korea
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
‘Theoretical possibility’ that COVID-19 can spread from pets to humans: MOH
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SINGAPORE: There is a “theoretical possibility” that COVID-19 could spread from animals to humans, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday (Mar 6), although it assessed that pets are not a “serious vector” of transmission. MOH’s director of medical services Kenneth Mak said while scientific evidence did not point to the infection spreading either
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
China reports 30 COVID-19 deaths, rise in new infections and imported cases
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BEIJING: China reported 30 more deaths from the new coronavirus outbreak on Friday (Mar 6), with fresh infections rising for a second straight day and 16 new cases imported from overseas. In total 3,042 people have died from the disease in China, the National Health Commission said, with another 143 cases, up from 139 in
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Australia orders first school closure after pupil contracts COVID-19
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SYDNEY: Australia ordered its first school closure on Friday (Mar 6) after a 16-year-old pupil tested positive for the coronavirus, as authorities struggle to contain the outbreak in the country. Australia has recorded 60 cases of infection and two elderly people have died from the virus. Advertisement Advertisement While the majority of people contracted the
