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“You cannot fight a fire blindfolded and we cannot stop this pandemic if we don’t know who is infected. We have a simple message for all countries; test, test, test.” This was the message from the World Health Organization to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries have imposed mass lockdowns and ordered people to stayRead more

Effective today (24 March), all short-term visitors will be barred from entering or transiting through Singapore, in view of the recent surge in imported COVID-19 cases. To date, more than half of the 509 confirmed cases were imported. The travel restrictions are also extended to all work pass holders and their dependents with exception to

With the rapidly evolving situation, China is no longer the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak and the virus has spread to many other countries around the world. To minimise the risk of widespread community transmission, contact tracing and enhanced surveillance (such as enhanced pneumonia surveillance and testing of patients in intensive care units) is essential.

Singapore has reported 455 cases and two fatalities in exactly two months since its first confirmed case on 23 January. Assistant Professor Clarence Tam attributed the relatively well-controlled outbreak in both Hong Kong and Singapore to our small size and reinforced border control, which allowed for intensive contact tracing and screening. “Testing early and extensively,

From painkillers to antibiotics, China has been a major supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for a range of medicines. In this established supply system, companies have become increasingly reliant on lower-cost manufacturers in China. But the current outbreak could prompt overseas drug makers to consider diversifying their source of supply. “The trade-off between concentration

A spike in COVID-19 cases globally has resulted in numerous countries taking stricter measures to control the spread, including Malaysia, who declared a nationwide lockdown that begun on Wednesday, 18 March. On 20 March, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong dispelled rumours that Singapore was going into a lockdown. “Can I just make it very clear?

Beijing and Hong Kong have stepped up quarantine measures in the face of a second wave of infection, fuelled by incoming citizens and visitors, and threatening to undo previous efforts. COVID-19 cases reported in China and Hong Kong recently were mostly imported, with the number of domestic cases in the mainland dropping to zero for

Over 5,000 people here would have been infected with COVID-19 by now, if not for Singapore’s tough measures such as contact tracing and quarantines. As of 19 March, the total number of cases in Singapore is 345. “Right now, cases are sufficiently low, so the Government is able to put a lot of effort into