10 Apr 2020 (12 pm - 10pm)
REACH
[11:38 am, 10/04/2020] : [Sent by Gov.sg – 10 Apr]
COVID-19: Stricter circuit breaker measures
🏃♂️ Exercise alone or with household members, observe safe distancing
- Sports stadiums are closed because ppl had gathered in groups
- Entry to parks will be strictly controlled if necessary
🙅♂️ Minimise physical interactions with elderly
- Don’t expose them to COVID-19; if infected, they are more likely to die than younger people
🏠 Stay home
- All, esp elderly, should avoid unnecessary commutes and crowded places
- Elderly should not go to markets; others should shop for them
Measures may be tightened further if people continue to gather
It is an offence to disobey safe distancing measures
1st offence: Stern warning
2nd offence: $300 fine
3rd offence: Charge in court
👨✈️2.6k enforcement officers + ambassadors deployed daily to ensure compliance
📝10k advisories + 158 stern warnings since 7 Apr. Too many not doing the right thing
Do the right thing. Stay at home. The health of all depends on each one of us.
REACH
[12:00 pm, 10/04/2020] : Dear REACH contributors,
Welcome back to our discussion! ☺️
⏰ Our chat will be open till 10pm today.
Yesterday, Singapore reported its highest daily spike. New measures include the closure of sports stadiums and Circuit Breaker measures may continue to be tightened as required.
📢 Topic: 📢
As we learn to adapt our daily lives to Circuit Breaker measures, how can we boost our morale as well as the morale of those around us as we stay home for Singapore?
REACH WhatsApp Terms of Use:
- https://go.gov.sg/reach-whatsapp-terms
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[2:31 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Joint Contribution with my close friend :-
Part 1 - Motivational Messages
(1) Wuhan has done it with 60,000 over infected and more than 3,000 death.
Now Wuhan has "0" local infections.
(2) Message to Singaporeans - we can achieve the same feat as Wuhan by :-
a. Stay Home - to work and study
b. Only for essential buying of food and groceries - wear a reusable "FACE MASK" as long as anyone step out of the house into the Public.
(Understand that only 3 over million reusable face masks are issue to the people, we have in total 5.6 million people - but those who have the reusable face masks should wear them - to keep the local transmission down).
c. Keep a safe distance while wearing the face mask in public.
d. Stop loitering in the Public and Stay Home
(3) As per attached video, Singapore is taking part in the Global trial using "Remdesvir" - on all those under moderate and severe infection (ICU) in Singapore.
These people selected for the trial drug must have good kidney and liver though if lungs are inflame by covid-19.
Doctors said that the recovery is very promising, but more complete data can only come out in 1 month's time. Some of things just need time to see result.
[2:31 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: https://youtu.be/0vl_eMXMQho
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[3:11 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Part 2 - Taking stock of where we are now, and how to proceed
(1) Malaysia like us has seen a increase in the infection case almost everyday.
- But the chart has show that it has plateau in April 2020 with strict lockdown of movement among people, safe distancing and wear masks.
- This shows that as long as they do the right things - virus infection can plateau.
(2) Looking at the chart of Singapore, we begin very well at the initial stage - by controlling the infection at a low level.
- However the beginning of Mar 2020, as residents return from abroad and when the World shows increase infection - we see a sharp spike in Mar and Apr 2020 - and 9 Apr 2020 - we see a record number of infection --- majority from foreign workers dorm where the source of infection come from Mustafa - where different dorm workers mingle with one another.
- I think Singapore should not be de-motivated with the sharp spike in infection --- as long as followings measures are done closely :-
- Singapore can plateau the infection number like Malaysia and bring the local infection down to 0 like Wuhan
- Feel that yesterday's high infection is due to hangover from Mustafa infection a week or 2 back and those infected now showing symptoms.
So it looks alarming.
But because now circuit breaker set in, the spreading could have been contain.
So we may think circuit breaker failed.
But actually is not.
On hindsight, we wish there were more risk-based measures that could limit the spread within and across foreign workers' dorms
- as an additional precaution could the large clusters at foreign worker's dorms have spillover effects to foreign domestic helpers?:-
a. It is no secret that foreign workers and domestic helpers go dating.
B. From a risk based approach, should gov start pre-emptive work with regards to domestic helpers e.g. MOM alert or issue advisory to employers to monitor their helpers closely as they are helping to care for the elderly and the young before new cases amongst domestic helpers start to spike and we will start to see multitudes of mini clusters in the local community.
c. Contact tracing for this scenario may be very difficult.
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[3:13 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Part 3 - What we can attempt to do better
Part #3:-
(1) I can understand that Singapore wants an evidence-based approach, Scientific approach but the virus spread faster than evidence can proof.
(2) Suggest that we help raise awareness of community spread by mapping cases by place of residence - to circle out all the covid hot spots.
(3) the thinking behind is to discourage people from other neighbourhood to use the common amenities e.g. Wet market in an effort to contain unlinked cases.
(4) By encircling the large infection area, will make people stay alert in these hotspots, and can take effort to up to patrol the areas, up the hygiene standards, spray disinfectant etc.
(5) Using mobile signal data can help to achieve the above encirclement effect and contact tracing --- to keep the infection spread within the encircled areas.
(6) More targeted tests can be done of those people in these encircled areas --- and symptomatic as well as mild asymptomatic cases can be systematically weed out.
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Janice
[3:19 pm, 10/04/2020] : For the plateau, everyone in Singapore has to be sensible and cooperate by only leaving the house when absolutely necessary, not just out of boredom.
Does every Singaporean know about the measures or do only the literate people know.
Carol
[3:20 pm, 10/04/2020] : I think ppl won't bother. Boring at home, go supermarket pass time. My judgement la
Janice
[3:20 pm, 10/04/2020] : I think this is a great idea. If only it would be done 🤔
XaniceAfcai
[3:11 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Part 2 - Taking stock of where we are now, and how to proceed
(1) Malaysia like us has seen a increase in the infection case almost everyday.
- But the chart has show that it has plateau in April 2020 with strict lockdown of movement among people, safe distancing and wear masks.
- This shows that as long as they do the right things - virus infection can plateau.
(2) Looking at the chart of Singapore, we begin very well at the initial stage - by controlling the infection at a low level.
- However the beginning of Mar 2020, as residents return from abroad and when the World shows increase infection - we see a sharp spike in Mar and Apr 2020 - and 9 Apr 2020 - we see a record number of infection --- majority from foreign workers dorm where the source of infection come from Mustafa - where different dorm workers mingle with one another.
- I think Singapore should not be de-motivated with the sharp spike in infection --- as long as followings measures are done closely :-
- Singapore can plateau the infection number like Malaysia and bring the local infection down to 0 like Wuhan
- Feel that yesterday's high infection is due to hangover from Mustafa infection a week or 2 back and those infected now showing symptoms.
So it looks alarming.
But because now circuit breaker set in, the spreading could have been contain.
So we may think circuit breaker failed.
But actually is not.
On hindsight, we wish there were more risk-based measures that could limit the spread within and across foreign workers' dorms
- as an additional precaution could the large clusters at foreign worker's dorms have spillover effects to foreign domestic helpers?:-
a. It is no secret that foreign workers and domestic helpers go dating.
B. From a risk based approach, should gov start pre-emptive work with regards to domestic helpers e.g. MOM alert or issue advisory to employers to monitor their helpers closely as they are helping to care for the elderly and the young before new cases amongst domestic helpers start to spike and we will start to see multitudes of mini clusters in the local community.
c. Contact tracing for this scenario may be very difficult.
---
[3:13 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Part 3 - What we can attempt to do better
Part #3:-
(1) I can understand that Singapore wants an evidence-based approach, Scientific approach but the virus spread faster than evidence can proof.
(2) Suggest that we help raise awareness of community spread by mapping cases by place of residence - to circle out all the covid hot spots.
(3) the thinking behind is to discourage people from other neighbourhood to use the common amenities e.g. Wet market in an effort to contain unlinked cases.
(4) By encircling the large infection area, will make people stay alert in these hotspots, and can take effort to up to patrol the areas, up the hygiene standards, spray disinfectant etc.
(5) Using mobile signal data can help to achieve the above encirclement effect and contact tracing --- to keep the infection spread within the encircled areas.
(6) More targeted tests can be done of those people in these encircled areas --- and symptomatic as well as mild asymptomatic cases can be systematically weed out.
---
Janice
[3:19 pm, 10/04/2020] : For the plateau, everyone in Singapore has to be sensible and cooperate by only leaving the house when absolutely necessary, not just out of boredom.
Does every Singaporean know about the measures or do only the literate people know.
Carol
[3:20 pm, 10/04/2020] : I think ppl won't bother. Boring at home, go supermarket pass time. My judgement la
Janice
[3:20 pm, 10/04/2020] : I think this is a great idea. If only it would be done 🤔
XaniceAfcai
[3:34 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Today very good.
All malls are not crowded.
People are staying at home.
XaniceAfcai
[3:35 pm, 10/04/2020] : Now off peak hr. Need to monitor those peak hr m
[3:35 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: After dinner monitor again.
[3:37 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Parks in some areas have some crowds but not crowded.
Also notice that many parks have been crossed out and not allow to visit.
Very good.
Satellite maps and mobile signals have been used effectively to do crowd mapping and crowd monitoring.
Joeann
[3:38 pm, 10/04/2020] : Wah! Why u monitoring everyday si
[3:38 pm, 10/04/2020] : Sia
[3:41 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Of course lah.
Proposed something good, and when government implement - must put to good used mah.
Otherwise all efforts and money spent wasted.
Also proof that REACH is a serious platform that implement good ideas not play play masak masak type.
Joeann
[3:41 pm, 10/04/2020] : Aiseh! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Carol
[3:41 pm, 10/04/2020] : 👍
[3:42 pm, 10/04/2020] : Reach logo should comes with this.... 🙄
Blue and White Flag Guy
[3:42 pm, 10/04/2020] : Hi all,
I just finished calling SBS Transit, SMRT Corporation, Tower Transit Singapore, Go-Ahead Singapore and the Land Transport Authority.
Here is the summary.
Q: What are the social distancing measures put in place with regards to public transport?
SBST: (Acting on forwarded SMRT post) Quota might be placed on number of passengers in a bus
SMRT: Addressed that forwarded post is inaccurate and not implemented but mentioned that it might happen on the direction of the LTA
TTS: Stickers have been pasted on seats of buses but none on the floors of buses for now, though not all, due to the short time frame of notice.
GAS: Stickers have been pasted on seats of buses, same as TTS, not all have it but their Engineering Department has been working overtime to push out the stickers across all buses as quickly as possible.
LTA: CSO seemed unaware of the forwarded SMRT post but I told him that SMRT has mentioned that it is inaccurate
Q: Will the implementation of passenger counters at the entrance and exit doors (for buses) be considered?
SBST: -
SMRT: (Internal reference)
TTS: CSO engaged with me on a personal level and agreed with my perspective of what's going on
GAS: (Internal reference)
LTA: (Internal reference)
Q: What about quota for trains?
SBST: Nothing from LTA
SMRT: Stickers have been used
TTS: N/A
GAS: N/A
LTA: Point taken
Q: Are masks available for all frontline public transport staff such as drivers, ambassadors and on-site managers? What about TransCom and Transit Security officers?
SBST: Masks are available for all staff
SMRT: Masks are available for all drivers, not too sure about other staff
TTS: Masks are available for all staff
GAS: Masks are available for all staff
LTA: Masks are available
Q: Will the thermal/temperature screening measures be implemented across all stations?
SBST: -
SMRT: Asserts that it's a trial
TTS: N/A
GAS: N/A
LTA: -
Q: What is the protocol for passengers detected to have a high temperature or a fever? Will they be turned away or referred to a medical team?
SBST: No info
SMRT: No info
TTS: N/A
GAS: N/A
LTA: Passengers will be denied entry to the station and referred to the nearest clinic. No medical team or personnel is on-site to assist.
Q: Is the thermal/temperature screening at Serangoon implemented at all entrances?
SBST: No info
SMRT: No info
TTS: N/A
GAS: N/A
LTA: No info
Q: Are frequencies for bus and train services affected as a result of the Circuit Breaker measures?
SBST: No
SMRT: No but mentioned about suspension of CBD services
TTS: No but mentioned about suspension of CBD services though I did mention about 974
GAS: No, asked for particular service but I said I needed this info in general
LTA: -
I will be happy to answer any other questions which I might have left out from my collation before the call. Thank you to those who participated!
I have also provided all 4 PTOs and the LTA my contact details for them to follow up with me in the immediate future.
Eugene
[4:01 pm, 10/04/2020] : How about the point of making wearing masks compulsory for all commuters on all public transport
Jimmy Chew
[4:01 pm, 10/04/2020] : Just to ask, is it compulsory now to wear mask or strongly encourage, I am getting confusing messages
Blue and White Flag Guy
[4:05 pm, 10/04/2020] : I have highlighted this case, the LTA will keep this in view
[5:57 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend contribution :-
To keep ourselves positive and united, we need the followings
(1) Stay Informed. Good news or bad news, we should know. Show people gov knows where the problems, has the solutions and resources to act. What has the gov done and is doing and what are results Then we can continually trust the gov.
(2) Obey the rules. There has been a lot of discussion on this. Covid is a serious problem. We are one Singapore. As more and more people fall, the rest will be less and less safe. As an individual, if I cannot help, the least I can do is not to add to the problem. So obey rules and don't fall prey to covid.
(3) Volunteer and contribute
There are many assistance provided by other organisations, help to report them. This is an invaluable opportunity to do good. Research has shown that people derive happiness by helping others. So more could be done to garner constituents (Singaporeans, PRs, pass holders) to act positively.
E.g.
a. Create a channel for constituents to submit photos of people who flout rules. We can do this from our flat, car camera. It's not about how clear the photos are and whether they are admissible in court to bring those people to task but it can be a form of deterrent. What if I'm caught by someone? Better don't take risk
B. Link community improvement efforts together that we can be aware what we can help. If people have time to complain, how about using the time more effectively? During the circuit breaker period, can we not help to cook for our elderly neighbour who is living alone?
C. Help to come up with fun messages, rhymes or songs why we should stay at home and obey rules. The Chinese in China had come up with lots of good punchlines to ask people stay at home. Then the true essence will sink into people's minds.
D. Share foresight, hindsight and problems on the ground. Don't blame, someone else might just have answers to those problems.
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[6:20 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend contribution :-
China's efforts to turnaround their covid situation is highly commendable. One thing that it did differently was the combined use of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine across the country. It has statistics to support the combined formulation is more effective in treat ing mild cases, reducing mild cases from developing into more serious cases etc.
Question : Has singapore gov consider China's treatment approach?
There was a survey circulating around to gather Singaporeans willingness on the use of tcm for covid 19. Question: is moh aware of this?
While I personally have benefited from tcm and am open to the use of tcm for treatment of covid, I have concerns if this initiative is taken without a holistic approach. If we have covid infected persons separately seeking tcm treatments, will we be missing out on cases and allow them to move around within the community and spread? Hope gov can address or embrace this in its containment strategy.
Carol
[6:23 pm, 10/04/2020] : World knew about this from what I read from an article but cannot be applied. I think is through WHO approval I guess... All I know is cannot.
[6:57 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Clarification by my close friend on TCM :-
I mean we cannot allow private tcm to separately do this outside of the larger containment strategy.
If gov has a posit.ion, then cannot let covid cases go untrack through tcm route and spread.
[8:22 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Caveat :- Not sure if this notice is real or fake - but it sing the same tune as post.
重要通知
新加坡中医学院全体学员：
当前，COVID-19疫情严峻，政府正投入大量人财物力，广泛动员，紧锣密鼓地组织全民抗疫，并已取得显著的成绩。
近日有人未经新加坡中医师公会批准，擅自以“中医自愿抗疫组”的名义在网上发放调查表，也有在学生中转发，这种做法是极其错误的，我们坚决反对，有关人员必须立即停止该做法。
在此，学院郑重通知我院全体学员，抗击疫情是由政府统一领导组织和指挥的，作为新加坡中医学院的全体师生员工（包括合约教师）应绝对服从政府的统一指挥和安排，努力争取早日战胜疫情。不得参加和转发任何未经政府、中医师公会或中医学院批准的调查等活动，以免对整体抗疫工作带来不利影响。
特此通知，请遵照执行。
新加坡中医学院院长 项平
2020年4月10日
[6:58 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: Loudspeaker come out already
Eugene
[7:00 pm, 10/04/2020] : Where is this market?
[7:12 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: I have no idea. Someone sent to me.
Richard Wong
[7:24 pm, 10/04/2020] : This is at Jurong west bk 505 hawker center . I recognised the stalls and the POSB atms.
[7:25 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: Oh. Wonder this no wear mask no coming to market extending to other markets?
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[7:23 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Peak hours after dinner.
All malls and parks have very little crowd.
Every one observing circuit breaker measures and stay at home.
Good !
Eugene
[7:23 pm, 10/04/2020] : 👍 considerate people out there
Leonard Lau
[7:25 pm, 10/04/2020] : Some of these building have business offices .. so it goes crowded on working day . Check on Monday
[7:50 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: Will check on the weekdays and see how people behave.
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[8:00 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心:
Coronavirus: Should the world worry about Singapore's virus surge?
By Anna Jones
BBC News, Singapore
7 hours ago
Singapore had been a master class in how to handle the Covid-19 outbreak.
Before the disease even had a name, the country had stringent travel restrictions and an efficient contact-tracing operation which contained the virus's spread.
But in recent days, the number of confirmed cases has rocketed. Thursday brought the highest day of new infections to date at 287, up from 142 the day before.
Mostly, these are coming from densely-packed migrant worker accommodation.
Having avoided it for months, Singapore is now under a partial lockdown, with schools and non-essential businesses closed, and people urged to stay at home.
Experts say one of the world's wealthiest nations - which seemed to be doing everything right - has important lessons for poorer countries, and there's still time to put them in place.
What was going well in Singapore?
Singapore had its first case of the new coronavirus very early on. It was a Chinese tourist who arrived from Wuhan on 23 January, the same day the virus epicentre was put into a total lockdown.
By the time the disease caused by the virus got its official name - Covid-19 - it was already spreading among the population here. But a well-rehearsed response was in place.
In addition to health checks at airports, Singapore carried out extensive testing of every suspected case; tracked down anyone who'd come into contact with a confirmed case; and confined those contacts to their homes until they were cleared.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called it "a good example of an all-of-government approach".
Everyone who arrives in Singapore now has to quarantine in a government facility for 14 days
For weeks, Singapore managed to keep its numbers low and trackable, with only small, easily contained clusters, without any real restrictions to daily life.
But Prof Dale Fisher, chair of the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and a professor at the National University of Singapore, told the BBC that whenever he heard people say Singapore was doing well, he'd reply: "So far."
"This is a really hard disease to contain," he says.
When did things start to get worse?
The system worked until mid-March, says Prof Yik-Ying Teo, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health in Singapore.
That's when, as the gravity of the situation became clear around the world, countries started urging their citizens to get home.
Thousands returned to Singapore from countries which had not been as proactive - among them more than 500 people who unwittingly brought the virus back with them.
It was by then mandatory for returnees to stay at home for two weeks. But other people in their household were told they could carry on with their lives, as long as no-one showed any symptoms.
Singapore quarantines 20,000 migrant workers
How Singapore stayed one step ahead of the virus
While new cases had been increasing incrementally, by mid-March there were many dozens a day. The majority were imported or linked to imported cases, but for the first time, not all domestic cases could be easily traced.
Prof Teo says it's easy to say with hindsight that it was a mistake to not limit returnees' interactions. But the reality is "right now, we know a lot more about the disease compared to back in March".
"We now know that asymptomatic spread is entirely possible - it does happen and could be the main driver of transmission for Covid-19," says Prof Teo.
Precisely because Singapore has kept such detailed records of all cases, it's been able to learn from the domestic spread.
"The measures have evolved with the understanding of where the cases are coming from," says Prof Teo.
That means, he adds, that countries should be cautious of relying too much on information we have now - for example, believing that people who've recovered are immune from future infection, when it is still far from certain that's the case.
What does Singapore tell us about where the virus spreads?
The problem of importation is now being dealt with by all new arrivals being sent directly to government quarantine. With a tiny number of people now entering, the number of imported cases has dropped into single figures in recent days.
And on Tuesday evening, Singapore passed a new law, which - although it's not using the term - is effectively a partial national lockdown.
Cordoned off tables at a food court in SingaporeImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Singapore's famous hawker centres are off limits for all but takeaways now
Everyone is prohibited from leaving their homes except for essential activities and exercise, with fines of up to S$10,000 ($7,000; £5,600) or six months in prison.
Prof Teo says this will be effective, and stresses that while there may still be an increase in numbers in the short term, it "is a reflection of what happened in the past seven days - it doesn't mean the measures taken are not working".
But the alarming exponential rise in the last week has been around Singapore's migrant worker population - the hundreds of thousands of men from poorer countries employed in construction, shipping, and maintenance.
Singapore is utterly dependent on these workers to keep its economy operating, but they are jobs in which social distancing is all but impossible.
On top of that, the workers are required by law to live in dormitories - privately-run facilities which house up to 12 men per room, with shared bathroom, cooking and social facilities.
It seems almost inevitable that these dorms would become clusters, and indeed they did. Close to 500 cases have now been confirmed in several dormitory clusters - one facility alone makes up 15% of all cases nationally.
Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong said on Thursday that if it had been known earlier how quickly the virus could spread "I would have done things differently", but that many workers continued at their jobs despite having symptoms.
The fear is that in the next week or so, these numbers will explode.
Prof Teo says what has happened in the dorms "is an indication of what will happen in some other countries, particularly the lower middle income, less well-resourced countries".
"All you have to do is look at many countries in South Asia, South East Asia, parts of Africa - there are many communities where the living conditions are very similar to dorms."
He says the need now is for all governments to look at their countries with "a frank and transparent lens" in terms of what they can do to "minimise the risk of an uncontrollable outbreak where people are living very closely packed together".
Prof Li Yang Hsu, also at SSH, says there is also a lesson going forward about social equality.
"The virus has been very efficient at highlighting to us the weaknesses of our societies - that's certainly the case for the migrant worker communities," he says.
The dorms exceed all international requirements for space per resident, says Prof Hsu, but a situation like this "just shows that they [the requirements] are inadequate".
"Perhaps a high income country like Singapore can do better to protect the health and improve the welfare of people that are so crucial to our society," he says.
Media captionThe BBC visited a dormitory for 17,000 people in 2015
More than 24,000 workers are now confined to their dorms - on full pay and with meals provided. The government says it is also "aggressively" testing and has started moving some virus-free residents to empty properties or army camps to try to reduce the density.
Comparing the dorms to the cruise ships which have generated such large clusters around the world, advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too has called this "a risky strategy", saying the "infection rate in the dorm could increase dramatically" and has called for urgent action to provide better accommodation.
Manpower Minister Josephine Teo has committed to raising standards in dorms overall, calling it "the right thing to do".
Does Singapore show the virus cannot be contained?
Despite some accusations that it was too slow to bring about a partial lockdown, Prof Fisher says Singapore actually acted far earlier than other countries, while case numbers were still only just above 100 daily.
But for a lockdown to be effective, he says, three things need to happen. Firstly for transmission to stop - which will happen if everyone stays home. Then the healthcare system needs the time and space to recover - for beds to be freed up, and medical staff to be able to take time off.
"Third is to get all systems in place - all isolation facilities, quarantine capacity, laws, contact tracing.
"If you just do one and two and then you reopen, history is going to repeat," he warns.
Singapore is fortunate in this respect - unlike the UK and the US, for example, it has at no point seen its medical system overwhelmed.
It also has one completely dominant political party and a compliant media, but Prof Dale says even with "clear, crisp messaging to a community that trusts the government" he is concerned that "the average Singaporean still isn't quite grasping the importance of their individual role".
"They're probably saying yes Singapore should do this, but I am going to visit my mum."
Within the first two days of the new law, more than 10,000 warnings were issued for infractions like sitting down to eat in a food court instead of taking away, or socialising in public spaces.
For countries with bigger populations and more complex politics, it may be many weeks or months before they start to turn a corner.
The porous borders where the virus cannot be controlled
Clothing makers in Asia give stark virus warning
As China opens up, a remote border town locks down
A dazed city emerges from the harshest of lockdowns
All countries are looking for signs of hope, but the lesson from Singapore is that there is no room for complacency, and that all countries must be prepared to face a second - and possibly third or fourth - wave of infection.
Prof Teo says that if reported global coronavirus cases are a fair reflection of its real spread, "many countries still have a window of opportunity to really try to prepare", by ring-fencing their vulnerable or overcrowded communities and "trying to minimise anyone who has the disease interacting with communities".
"I can only say the world has to look at Singapore very clearly, particularly on the dormitory issue, and start exploring what is happening.
"We need to start preparing the world - even in Europe and America there are communities where people are living very closely packed together. What happens when Covid-19 enters?"
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52232147
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Valli
[8:38 pm, 10/04/2020] : Thanks for sharing Danny. 👌
[9:16 pm, 10/04/2020] ☸️ Danny 心: No problem.
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REACH
[9:41 pm, 10/04/2020] : Coronavirus: 198 new cases of infections on Friday, seventh death reported; 2,108 cases now
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/coronavirus-198-new-cases-of-infections-on-friday-seventh-death-reported-2108-cases?xtor=CS3-18&utm_source=STiPhone&utm_medium=share&utm_term=2020-04-10%2021%3A04%3A42
Carol
[9:41 pm, 10/04/2020] : 1 died.... 😞
Dongliang
[9:45 pm, 10/04/2020] : 71 unlinked cases are really worrying.
Poh S Lim
[9:46 pm, 10/04/2020] : Numbers climbing up
Sam
[9:47 pm, 10/04/2020] : Unlink just mean one thing. There is community spread. So instead of everything in control, the spread is out of control. To curb further spread, we must isolate from others. Stay home please.
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Eugene
[9:52 pm, 10/04/2020] : and 3 new clusters reported today - Sungei Kadut Dorm, ICA Building and NUH Renovation Site
Adam
[9:54 pm, 10/04/2020] :
Why some die some survive because of Covid 19?
The answer I was looking for was finally found. We know that the younger the person infected with covid , the better the chance of cure . But there are many young patients in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who also died of the virus. I first thought it might be because of different personal built and immunity but I had no real answer.
I found the answer today in this article, written by an English doctor. I think he is right. He said that when a person infected with the virus, how sick he was going to be depends on how much the viral load ( amount of virus )( of course there are other factors ) . A person who gets a viral infection has an incubation period, explaining why there may be no symptoms for the first 1 to 14 days. This is because the symptoms will not occur until the amount of viruses is sufficient to cause the symptoms . This explains why it is necessary to quarantine for 14 days .One may be infected with the virus but with no symptoms. !
If you were in a very crowded place, like a room, a classroom, a religious gathering , if many people inside carried the virus, they could spread a large amount of viruses onto your body at once. Because of the large amount, the virus multiplies quickly, and your body do not have enough time to produce antibodies to fight the virus! So one dies of the viral infection .
The immunity of young people is relatively stronger . But if the virus comes in a large amount at one time , the body doesn’t have enough time to produce the immunity , to fight it. So young people also succumb to the decease! The article also explained that some elderly people may only have a little viral load when they got it, so their bodies could have sufficient time to produce antibodies to fight the virus. So they recovered . This explains why at the hugh religious gathering in KL last month , so many people got them, so many people die. It also explained why so many people on some cruise ships got very sick and many died . This is because they were in a very crowded place. The viral load on contact was too much for the body to mount an appropriate large enough immune response in time .
The above explanation was provided by a British doctor. I think his deduction is very logical.
He finally advised everyone to be isolated and keep their social distance. Don't involve in large gatherings .
So , if you were unlucky to be infected with the virus and it is only passed to you by one person. The amount of virus load is small and your have sufficient time to mount an adequate immune response . Chance of recovery is a lot higher .
I am so happy to come across this article which gave me the answer I was searching for . Although I believe there were many other factors ( heart disease , diabetes etc ) as to why some die some survive, the viral load is certainly one of the. explanations .
Clement
5/4/2020
REACH
[9:54 pm, 10/04/2020] : [Sent by Gov.sg]
COVID-19: 10 Apr update
New cases: 198
- Imported: 0
- Local cases (linked): 127 (79 cases linked to clusters at foreign worker dorms; 48 linked to non-dorm clusters/cases)
- Pending contact tracing: 71
Total cases: 2,108
- Hospitalised: 875 (32 in ICU)
- In isolation, private hospitals*: 734
- Fatalities: 7
- Total discharged: 492 (Discharged today: 32)
Another death due to COVID-19
An 86-year old female Singapore Citizen has passed away from complications due to COVID-19 on 9 Apr 2020 night. She was admitted to NCID on 1 Apr, and was confirmed to have the infection on the same day. NCID has reached out to her family and is extending assistance to them.
More: go.gov.sg/moh10apr
*Patients doing well but still testing positive for the virus are moved to Community Isolation Facilities and private hospitals
Carol
[9:55 pm, 10/04/2020] : Let's hope Foreign workers spread stop, otherwise we will need extend ..
Eugene
[9:56 pm, 10/04/2020] : but the number of unlinked cases in our community is increasing each day too which is scary
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