covid-19

Tighter measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Singapore were introduced this past week. These include shutting our borders to tourists and short-term visitors, banning large gatherings, and ordering pubs and entertainment outlets to close from tonight (26 March) 11.59pm until 30 April. This has left some people wondering if the country is inRead more

Among the 558 confirmed cases in Singapore, 326 were imported. Out of these, 111 cases were young adults aged between 20 and 29, with more than half returning from the United Kingdom. “The number of young people being infected reflects the demographics of people returning to Singapore as a result of the global situation, where

Associate Professor Jeremy Lim, Co-Director of Global Health was invited by Milken Institute to be part of their COVID-19 Conference Call Series discussing global efforts and approaches in combatting the coronavirus pandemic. Assoc Prof Lim shared and attributed Singapore’s relatively well-controlled outbreak to the following points: Timely formation of multi-ministry task force, Transparency which earned

“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 stay

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