REACH 434 -  White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response!

(SK)

 08 Mar 2023 (10am - 7pm)

REACH

[0:14 pm, 08/03/2023] +REACH: 📢REACH QuickSense📢

We would love to hear your thoughts on the White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response!

👉🏼 You may submit your responses here: https://go.gov.sg/covid19wp

This form will close today at 6pm.

After three years battling the COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to take stock and learn from the experiences we have been through. The Government had committed to undertaking an After-Action Review (AAR) of its pandemic response and is now presenting its findings and lessons as a White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response.

The next pandemic is not a question of if, but when. The Government will take active steps to strengthen Singapore’s preparedness and resilience for the future. Some of the lessons mentioned in the White Paper have already been set in motion, as agencies constantly adapted their responses over the last three years and took steps to strengthen their processes and structures. Other learnings arising from the AAR process may require more time to translate into plans, and the Government will share these plans in due course.

You may read more on the White Paper:

👉🏼 White Paper on Singapore’s Response to COVID-19

https://www.gov.sg/article/covid-19-white-paper

👉🏼 The gist: Tackling ‘crisis within a crisis’ and other Covid-19 lessons for future pandemics

https://str.sg/ikhM

[0:59 pm, 08/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬  White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response

Megan 😊

[1:06 pm, 08/03/2023] +REACH: 👉🏼 What Singapore did well in handling the Covid-19 pandemic and where there were lapses

https://str.sg/ikhA

👉🏼 Singapore flags errors, good calls and lessons from the ‘complex and wicked’ Covid-19 pandemic

https://str.sg/ikhg

👉🏼 Vaccination strategy kept Covid-19 death rates low; migrant worker outbreak could have been disastrous

https://str.sg/ikhQ

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[1:26 pm, 08/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: The measures taken by our government was fantastic. Very happy with it. Agree with what was highlighted. 

One item to add is that the ICA web master and the Covid communications team has to be tighter.  I was in UK at that time and was about to fly back to SG. Covid communications announced that inbound flights from UK can SHN at home from date/time, just need to register with ICA website.  At the appointed date/time, ICA website form still not updated and didn't have UK option!  Thank God we knew someone who's in the thick of things and informed the person. ICA website was updated few hours later and we managed to register just before our plane took off.

[1:27 pm, 08/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: Had the website not been updated, we would be poorer by a couple of thousand dollars SHN in a hotel.

[1:28 pm, 08/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: Just a minor oversight which can be costly to citizens.

[1:28 pm, 08/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: SHN=quarantine

[1:32 pm, 08/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Areas where we do well

1. Appropriate vaccination strategy to help Singapore recover from the pandemic to endemic - and keep majority of the Singaporeans and residents safe.

2. Timely financial assistance to individual households, workers and business - to keep everyone afloat and financially sustainable when tying over the 3 years pandemic.

3. Well executed exit plan - to ensure smooth exit from pandemic to endemic - with minimal impact to our Economy, livelihood and social well beings.

4. Able to ensure our Economy, jobs remain intact post pandemic.

[1:35 pm, 08/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Areas where we can do better

1. We should have adopted improvised reusable cloth mask in the very early stage - to curb rapid spread of covid and serious illness - when surgical masks are in wide shortage.

2. Dorm management for foreign workers can be done better to prevent outbreak.

Luckily, no outbreak in student dorms.

[1:41 pm, 08/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Areas where we should keep for future pandemics or emergency

1. REACH Whatsapp forum - is a very good 2 way communication medium - for government to disseminate time critical information and receive immediate feedback, response and suggestions..

Public participation will help government to fine-tuning emergency health policies that directly impact their lives, health, livelihood and social interaction.

Public-Private partnership (PPP) - is the best approach to fight an existential crisis - as there are immediate buy-in to fight the crisis hand-in-hand - and build trust.

2. Lessons learned should be recorded and studied by civil servants - to ensure pertinent points in crisis management are not forgotten - and can be immediately put in place - if another pandemic crisis break out - to prevent runaway outbreak.

As different viruses can have different behaviour, civil service must be able to adapt and adjust the policies as future viruses evolved to hit the population.

[1:42 pm, 08/03/2023] +~L: Overall very happy with the response to Covid-19. Gov took swift but measured action. Kept people paid and in work. Kept people in medical care. Opened borders quickly. Lock downs were minimal.

[1:44 pm, 08/03/2023] +~L: Less happy with the impact on kids. HBL was awful - back to back online lessons, no break. Can't expect 8 year olds to keep focused for 2hrs+; no support to maintain social activities for kids; overly restrictive sports measures (4 players only on a football pitch); too slow to remove mask mandate in schools - these are just a few examples.

[1:53 pm, 08/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Pushing U-turn in using reusable cloth facemask - is the suggestions from the REACH WhatsApp participants.

Luckily, Mdm Ho Ching come out very strongly to support - to force a U-turn.

Else we will suffer more casualties.

Thus REACH WhatsApp forum play a very positive role in this covid pandemic fight.

[2:03 pm, 08/03/2023] +REACH: 📢REACH QuickSense📢

We would love to hear your thoughts on the White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response!

👉🏼 You may submit your responses here: https://go.gov.sg/covid19wp

This form will close today at 6pm.

After three years battling the COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to take stock and learn from the experiences we have been through. The Government had committed to undertaking an After-Action Review (AAR) of its pandemic response and is now presenting its findings and lessons as a White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response.

The next pandemic is not a question of if, but when. The Government will take active steps to strengthen Singapore’s preparedness and resilience for the future. Some of the lessons mentioned in the White Paper have already b…

[2:24 pm, 08/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

And this trigger a worldwide adoption of improvised reusable cloth facemask - as the world face global shortage of surgical masks.

[2:26 pm, 08/03/2023] +Rama: We educated the world!

[2:52 pm, 08/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: When will WHO remove Covid-19?

[4:05 pm, 08/03/2023] +REACH: 📢REACH QuickSense📢

We would love to hear your thoughts on the White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response!

👉🏼 You may submit your responses here: https://go.gov.sg/covid19wp

This form will close today at 6pm.

After three years battling the COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to take stock and learn from the experiences we have been through. The Government had committed to undertaking an After-Action Review (AAR) of its pandemic response and is now presenting its findings and lessons as a White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response.

The next pandemic is not a question of if, but when. The Government will take active steps to strengthen Singapore’s preparedness and resilience for the future. Some of the lessons mentioned in the White Paper have already b…

[4:40 pm, 08/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 White Paper on Singapore’s COVID-19 Response

We have had good feedback and hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!

Megan 😊

[4:48 pm, 08/03/2023] +Caleb: where to read the white paper?

[4:48 pm, 08/03/2023] +Caleb: it's 86 pages, give us some time to read la

[4:49 pm, 08/03/2023] +Rama: 😁😳🤷‍♂️

[4:50 pm, 08/03/2023] +Caleb: I agreed fully to all the points reported.

[4:53 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: "The past, now and the future are interrelated. And now, money, trades, technologies and unintended consequences are four organisms of this digital ecosystems. So what's the future, from neolithic to egalitarianism and onto socialism? There will be a big change to the entire spectrum of the human and earth ecosystems (the last 150 million years) and how fast these changes will be and human adaptability, it's really hard to predict because it will be highly complex, these interrelated changes!"

- - anonymity

[4:54 pm, 08/03/2023] +Rama: Wow!

[4:56 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Andrew, good afternoon!

Hope you comprehend (spend some time) these deeper thoughts and things that are coming...

Thank you.

[4:57 pm, 08/03/2023] +Rama: Bring them on

[4:57 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: Share it with the Americans and the Chinese, hopefully not too late doing so...

Thank you.

[4:57 pm, 08/03/2023] +Grace: May we keep freedom, humanity and kindness at the core of all decisions

[4:57 pm, 08/03/2023] +Rama: My sentiments exactly

[4:58 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Grace, it's been a while, good afternoon!

We need empathy and compassion to see beyond reality...

Thank you.

[4:59 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: "some people took a lifetime to understand...while some took a couple of years to get it into their head... and a handful got it sooner than all of the above...!"

- - anonymity

[4:59 pm, 08/03/2023] +Rama: Yeah

[4:59 pm, 08/03/2023] +Rama: Peace, communication and a level head too.

[5:00 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: Thank you, Andrew!

[5:00 pm, 08/03/2023] +Rama: Dialogue to prevent war!

[5:02 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: presumptuous...no more round table talk!

Thank you.

[5:03 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: Mask or unmask...

Forestation or deforestation...

Does it matter?

[5:05 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: One more....wait

[5:06 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: "The next 10 years we shall increase our wealth by 50%. The profound question is, does this means we will be 50% richer in real sense, 50% better-off, 50% happier,...?"

- - President Richard Nixon, 1970 State of the Union address

[5:18 pm, 08/03/2023] +Grace: True true

[5:18 pm, 08/03/2023] +Grace: I am encouraged that most are measured and balanced in our approach to matters that are very complex

[5:23 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: 8 March, 2023

"Does it matter...?"

Predicaments?

By 2035-2040, our GDP will hit up to 10x (reference period from 2020-2040).

Your flats bought today or yesterday will be worth 2x/3x! It doesn't matter if it was a leasehold property into the 30th years out of 99 years!

It means all the past unhappiness and anxieties will see fruition by 2040. By then, should you monetize your flats for whatsoever reasons, you will benefit from staying for free and most importantly, a bucket full of Cash which will amount to more than what you paid for this HDB dwelling of yours, regardless of size and location. 

The past, the present and the prospect. That's what most fairy tales would begin with "once upon a time"! Isn't it?

Thank you, everyone!

[5:39 pm, 08/03/2023] +AdMinister: Tackling 'crisis within a crisis' as much adverse impact after Covid19; 

I indeed proud of our Governance and public as whole, regardless of race, language or religion, to build our democratic society, that tackle in a peaceful manner, providing amicable solutions with every issues, my hope and ambition, we as public, to follow up implementation and "visions to Alternative Disputes Resolution" by all stakeholder to Mediate in a peaceful impartially, (especially society neighbour and/or businesses disputes to secure relationship) We are role model to the World as Upholding Singapore named under the 'Singapore Convention on Mediation' with United Nations.. 

Linkedin.com/in/shahibmaricar

[6:45 pm, 08/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[6:50 pm, 08/03/2023] +Smiley face: 8 March, 2023

To: Our Distinguished Leaders and All Honorable Members 

"some people took a lifetime to understand...while some took a couple of years to get it into their head... and a handful got it sooner than all of the above...!"

- - anonymity

The Past, The Present, The Prospect?

Healthcare has never been so critical to the global economy than during the past two/three years. 

Now and the future, global healthcare systems will need to commence the uphill battles of mounting backlog of all medical cares in front of the rising demands and costs due to the stubborn inflation and the ongoing supplies chain issues.

"Health expenditure will outpace GDP growth over the next 15 years in almost every OECD country, according to new OECD forecasts. Health spending per capita will grow at an average annual rate of 2.7% across the OECD and will reach 10.2% of GDP by 2030, up from 8.8% in 2018, according to a new OECD report." (Source- OECD)

Past Covid, now, policymakers are facing with new challenges to mitigate vulnerability, manage sustainability and improve the value of health ecosystems to bridge the economic and development in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG),  that's "Good Health and Well-being". 

Are preventions better than cures? Will technology saves humanity or the reverse? How about India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Europe, UK, Sweden, Denmark, US and Australia, their respective data, analytics and particularly the shortfalls?

The matter of fact is the ratio of doctors per thousand patients in Asia is less than the OECD average, worse still the world is short of 9 millions nurses and counting. How many more doctors, medical specialists, better medicines, facilities and diagnostic equipments we need to meet the demands of now and the future? 

Deaths and damages done, what are the prospectives given many constraints and unknowns? How can the public, hospitals and policymakers together pursue more resilient, nimble and sustainable solutions to ensure continuity (or minimal disruptions) of all cares. And when will be the next crisis with it an unique medical emergency, a big natural calamity or even an enlarge bloody war?

So much said, the final answer and solutions are clear - Are we well prepared for the three scenarios, "Yes or No"?

https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals#:~:text=The%20Sustainable%20Development%20Goals%20(SDGs)%2C%20also%20known%20as%20the,people%20enjoy%20peace%20and%20prosperity.

https://www.oecd.org/health/health-spending-set-to-outpace-gdp-growth-to-2030.htm        

     - - in progress - -

[7:00 pm, 08/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

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