News

Amid the evolving COVID-19 situation, the Singapore government is no longer discouraging people from wearing masks when they are well. The new evidence suggests that infected people may be able to spread the virus to others for two to three days before becoming ill, says Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Programme Leader (Infectious Diseases). He said, “By wearing a mask — even a cloth mask — these pre- or asymptomatic persons may be a little less likely to spread the virus to others.” When removing their masks, people should beRead more

On 3 April, Singapore announced a set of ‘circuit breaker’ measures to reduce local transmission of COVID-19 here. These include closure of workplace premises and schools shifting to full home-based learning. The latest measures work like a ‘circuit breaker’ as they restrict the number of people that are moving in the community and in public spaces, said Dean, Professor Teo Yik Ying. Referring to the closing of schools, Prof Teo said, “This is not a u-turn in any measures. The coronavirus situation constantly evolves, and our measures as a nation

With an escalating number of unlinked cases, Singapore is likely to see a surge in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks. New cases with no apparent links to existing cases are a cause for concern as they signal greater community transmission, said Vice Dean (Research), Associate Professor Alex Cook. He said: “We have three different kinds of cases. We’ve got imported cases and these are ones that are perhaps not so much of a concern because they are issued stay-home notices, which isolates them from creating secondary cases in the

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore has crossed 1,000 recently. Members of the public are urged to observe the increasingly stringent measures implemented to contain the outbreak. In his interviews with The Straits Times and Channel 8, Dean, Professor Teo Yik Ying emphasised the importance of each individual following these measures: Wash your hands regularly with soap Take your temperature twice daily Refrain from going out unless necessary (for example, to exercise as part of keeping fit, or to purchase groceries) Observe safe distancing in public areas Cover

With the increase in clusters and unlinked cases here, Singapore faces the threat of an uncontrollable spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. As imported cases taper off, the country is entering a new phase of community transmission, with local cases set to dominate yet again. This is of concern because it means the virus is becoming more entrenched in the community. The next two weeks are crucial in this battle. If the number of cases can be held in check, it bodes well for the longer term, said