31/12/2020

New Year's Eve 2020


Bid goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021 with these New Year countdown events
Celebrate the end of a challenging year with these social distancing compliant events

Time flies. And because of Covid-19, this year feels like it flew by even faster. In less than two weeks, we will be bidding goodbye to 2020 and welcoming the new year.

While we don’t have the opportunity to travel for an overseas New Year Eve experience, there are still plenty of interesting offline and online events that promise a wholesome (and social distancing compliant) time on New Year’s Eve.

For those who are looking to end with a loud bang (but still keeping safe), here are 10 countdown ideas for you to consider:
  • Marina Bay Countdown 2021
  • Fireworks in the heartlands
  • Big Hit Entertainment New Year’s Eve virtual event
  • New Year’s Eve @ Times Square
  • Countdown To 2021 with Tomorrowland
  • Adios 2020 by Super Loco
  • Disco Loco by Super Loco
  • 3-course New Year Eve dinner at Marriott Cafe
  • Cable car sky dining
  • New Year’s Eve @ Faber Peak


What Does 'Auld Lang Syne' Really Mean?

The grand finale to the holiday season, New Year's Eve, comes with watching the ball drop live and mixing up New Year's drinks, but of course there's also plenty of emotional reflection on the past year and the year ahead (we've got New Year's quotes for that!). While things may look very different this year, the traditional New Year's Eve song "Auld Lang Syne" will likely still find its way to your ears sometime during the holiday season as the world rings in 2021.

Chances are, you've been part of a festive, heartfelt "Auld Lang Syne" singalong when someone breaks out New Year's songs, but do you know the real meaning behind the song? Here, a quick refresher on the traditional tune you'll hear on December 31:

What does "Auld Lang Syne" mean? Originally written in a language called Scots, which is an ancient twist on English barely recognizable to modern-day English speakers, the phrase literally translates to "old long since," but has adopted a more fluid definition along the lines of "for old time's sake" or "the olden days."

Where does "Auld Lang Syne" come from? The phrase technically dates from the 16th century (think 1580s—truly vintage), but was solely an oral tradition for the first few hundred years. It was not formally written down until around 1788, when the poet Robert Burns incorporated the phrase into one of his works. (Burns is the most commonly credited poet, though other names have appeared in various histories of the phrase.) He was so enamored with the phrase and its esteemed place in Scottish traditions that he submitted his poem to the Scots Musical Museum to preserve it forever.

30/12/2020

Minimum legal smoking age in Singapore

To be raised to 21 from 1 Jan 2021

Beginning from Jan. 1, 2021, the minimum legal age for smoking in Singapore will be raised to 21 years of age. As of Jan. 1, 2020, the minimum legal age is currently 20 years old.

The gradual increase in age limit over the years is part of the Ministry Of Health (MOH)’s anti-smoking laws passed in 2017.

MOH said that it aims to prevent Singaporean youths from picking up smoking by limiting access to tobacco products, and to also further de-normalise smoking for those below 21.


S’poreans Must Be Aged 21 & Above To Buy & Smoke Cigarettes From 1 Jan 2021

Singapore Raises Minimum Legal Age For Smoking To 21 From 1 Jan 2021. For young adults turning 20 in 2021 and are looking forward to being of legal age for smoking, they’d have to wait another year.

This is because Singapore will be raising the legal age for smoking from 20 to 21 next year.

In other words, those who are aged 20 and below won’t be allowed to buy, use, and even own tobacco products. Minimum legal age for smoking & buying cigarettes raised to 21.


Why Singapore raised the legal age limit for smoking

Starting 1 January 2021, the minimum legal age to smoke in Singapore will be raised to 21 years old. This is part of the Ministry of Health’s continued efforts to de-normalise smoking and reduce smoking prevalence in youths.

Commenting on the rationale behind the raised legal age limit, Assistant Professor Yvette van der Eijk said that such measures reduce access to cigarettes for those aged between 18 and 21, especially during a crucial time period before ‘early experimentations’ turn into an addiction. She added that smoking affects every organ and system of the body.  In the short term, it affects fitness and causes addiction; in the long term, it may cause cancer and serious chronic diseases.

On the difference between the legal age limits for smoking and alcohol consumption, Dr van der Eijk explained that cigarettes are an extremely addictive product. The addictiveness for smoking is “far, far more severe” than alcohol, even comparable to that of heroin and cocaine.

28/12/2020

Singapore enters Phase 3 on 28 Dec 2020

Update 8 May 2021: Singapore back to phase 2 from 8 May 2021

Singapore is gearing up for a temporary disruption to its re-opening plans, as it raises its defences against the coronavirus following the worst spate of Covid-19 community infections in close to a year.

Pre-schools will impose curbs on parents entering their premises, restaurants are scrambling to rearrange bookings made for Mother's Day this weekend while more people will start working from home even before restrictions are tightened on Saturday (May 8).

At firms such as UOB and power generation company Senoko Energy, workers who are able to do so are already telecommuting full-time. They had embarked on these arrangements earlier this week.



Cap of 5 people for social gatherings as Singapore returns to phase 2 amid rising Covid-19 cases

Rules on social gatherings will be tightened starting this Saturday (May 8), as Singapore takes stricter measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the wider community.

First, people will be allowed to gather only in groups of five, down from eight currently. These restrictions also apply to households, which will be able to receive only five distinct visitors a day, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Tuesday (May 4).

In addition, more people will be required to work from home. Under the new rules, no more than 50 per cent of employees who are able to work from home should be in the office at any one time, down from 75 per cent at present.


5 more COVID-19 cases linked to TTSH cluster, 12 new imported infections

Five new community cases were among 17 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (May 4), said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

All of the cases were detected from proactive testing of patients, visitors and staff members at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) or their close contacts, and had already been placed under quarantine, said the ministry.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 61,252 COVID-19 cases and 31 fatalities from the disease.



Singapore to ease COVID-19 restrictions from 5 Apr 2021

More employees may return to the workplace from Apr 5 and split team arrangements will no longer be mandatory as Singapore eases some COVID-19 measures.

The country will shift from working-from-home as a default mode to a more “flexible and hybrid way” of working, announced co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force Lawrence Wong on Wednesday (Mar 24).

Up to 75 per cent of the employees who are presently able to work from home can now be at the workplace at any one time, up from the current 50 per cent, he said at a press conference. The current cap on the time an employee spends at the workplace will also be lifted.


17 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

There were 17 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Monday (Apr 5), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All the new infections were imported and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,495 COVID-19 cases.


10 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

10 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (Apr 4), all imported, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All the cases were placed on stay-home notice upon their arrival in Singapore, said the ministry.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,478 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities from the disease.


1 community case among 18 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One community case was among the 18 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Saturday (Apr 3).

The remaining 17 cases were imported and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of ​​​​​​​60,468 COVID-19 cases.


43 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Forty-three new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Friday (Apr 2), all imported infections.

This is the highest daily count of new cases since Jan 30, when 58 new infections were reported.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,450 COVID-19 cases.


26 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Twenty-six new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Apr 1), all imported infections.

All the cases were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,407 COVID-19 cases.


1 community case among 34 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One community case was among the 34 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Wednesday (Mar 31).

The remaining cases were imported and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,381 COVID-19 cases.


26 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Twenty-six new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Mar 30), all imported infections.

All the cases were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,347 COVID-19 cases.


21 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Twenty-one new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Monday (Mar 29), all imported cases.

All the new cases were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,321 COVID-19 cases.


12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

There were 12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (Mar 28), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All the new infections were imported and placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,300 COVID-19 cases.


1 community case among 23 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Singapore reported 23 new COVID-19 infections as of noon on Saturday (Mar 27), including one community case.

The rest are imported cases and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,288 COVID-19 cases.


1 community case among 12 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore; first such case in 2 weeks

Singapore reported one locally transmitted COVID-19 case as of noon on Friday (Mar 26), the first of such infections in two weeks.

The community case was among 12 new infections reported on Friday, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,265 COVID-19 cases.


17 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 17 new COVID-19 cases, all imported, as of noon on Thursday (Mar 25).

No new cases were found in the community and in foreign workers' dormitories, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,253 COVID-19 cases.


15 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 15 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Wednesday (Mar 24), all imported infections.

No new cases were found in the community and in foreign workers' dormitories, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,236 COVID-19 cases.


13 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 13 new COVID-19 cases, all imported, as of noon on Tuesday (Mar 23).

No new cases were found in the community and in foreign workers' dormitories, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of60,221 COVID-19 cases.


12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, all imported, as of noon on Monday (Mar 22).

No new cases were found in the community and in foreign workers' dormitories for the 10th straight day.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,208 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities from the disease.


12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, all imported, as of noon on Sunday (Mar 21).

The imported cases were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon their arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,196 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities from the disease.


17 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Seventeen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Saturday (Mar 20).

All the new infections were imported and placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,184 COVID-19 cases.


15 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Fifteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Friday (Mar 19).

All the new infections were imported and placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,167 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities.


15 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Fifteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Mar 18).

All the new infections were imported and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,152 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities.


9 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Nine new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Wednesday (Mar 17).

All the new infections were imported and were placed on stay-home notice upon their arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,137 COVID-19 cases.


11 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Eleven new COVID-19 infections were reported in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Mar 16).

All the new cases were imported and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon their arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,128 COVID-19 cases.


12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

A total of 12 new COVID-19 infections were reported in Singapore as of noon on Monday (Mar 15), and all were imported cases, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All were placed on stay-home notice upon their arrival in Singapore, said the ministry.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,117 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities.


17 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Seventeen new COVID-19 infections were reported in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (Mar 14), all imported cases, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

They were all placed on stay-home notice upon their arrival in Singapore, said the ministry.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,105 COVID-19 cases.


61-year-old man is Singapore's 30th COVID-19 fatality

A 61-year-old man died on Friday (Mar 12) from complications due to the coronavirus, becoming Singapore's 30th COVID-19 fatality, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Saturday.

The Singaporean man, known as Case 59858, had a "past history" of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and gout, added the Health Ministry. He is Singapore's first COVID-19 fatality in more than three months.

The last COVID-19 death in Singapore was reported on Nov 28, when a 68-year-old man died from complications due to the coronavirus.


Singapore reports 8 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death

Singapore reported eight new COVID-19 cases and one death as of noon on Saturday (Mar 13).

All the new infections were imported and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,088 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities from the disease.


1 community case among 10 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One community case was among the 10 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Friday (Mar 12).

The remaining nine cases were imported infections and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,080 COVID-19 cases.


1 community case among 8 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One community case is among eight new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Mar 11).

The remaining seven cases were imported infections and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,070 COVID-19 cases.


10 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 10 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Wednesday (Mar 10), all imported infections.

All of the imported cases were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,062 COVID-19 cases.


6 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported six new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Tuesday (Mar 9), all of which were imported.

All of the cases were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,052 COVID-19 cases.


13 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 13 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Monday (Mar 8), all imported infections.

The 13 cases were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,046 COVID-19 laced on scases.


13 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 13 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Sunday (Mar 7), all of them imported.

All 13 cases were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,033 COVID-19 cases.


Indonesian domestic worker among 13 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Singapore reported one community case among its 13 new COVID-19 infections reported on Saturday (Mar 6).

The remaining 12 cases were imported and has been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,020 COVID-19 cases.


Singapore's COVID-19 cases cross 60,000 mark with 9 new imported infections

The number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore has crossed the 60,000 mark, with nine new cases reported as of noon on Friday (Mar 5).

All nine new cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,007 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


1 community case among 19 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One community case was among the 19 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore on Thursday (Mar 4).

The remaining 18 cases were imported infections and were all placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Thursday, Singapore reported a total of 59,998 COVID-19 cases.


Coronavirus vaccine: your questions answered

Information for people with heart conditions:
  • Is the vaccine safe for people with heart conditions?
  • Is the vaccine safe for people taking blood thinners like warfarin and other anticoagulants?
  • Is the vaccine safe for people taking blood thinners like clopidogrel and other antiplatelet drugs?
  • Is the vaccine safe for people taking heart medications?
  • I have a heart or circulatory condition - when will I get the vaccine?
  • I am in the shielding group, how soon will I get the vaccine?
  • Why are people with heart conditions not a higher priority?


2 community cases among 23 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Two community cases were among the 23 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore on Wednesday (Mar 3).

The remaining 21 cases were imported infections and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,979 COVID-19 cases.


8 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

There were eight new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Mar 2), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All the new cases were imported and were placed on stay-home notice upon their arrival in Singapore.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,956 COVID-19 cases.


12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

There were 12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Monday (Mar 1), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All the new cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon their arrival in Singapore.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,948 COVID-19 cases.


Singapore not exiting Phase 3 'anytime soon'

Since Singapore entered Phase 3 on 28 December, there has been an increase in COVID-19 outbreaks around the world as well as the emergence of more transmissible variants of the coronavirus, said Dr Puthucheary. There was also a rise in unlinked cases and community clusters here several weeks ago.

Due to these factors, community safety measures here were tightened while the pace and scale of the resumption of activities were also recalibrated.

Stressing the need to remain vigilant, Dr Puthucheary said that safe measurement measures would still need to be adjusted from time to time given the "dynamic situation" around the world.


1 dormitory resident among 11 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

A dormitory resident was among the 11 new COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (Feb 28).

The remaining 10 infections were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon their arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its daily update.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,936 COVID-19 cases.


12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

There were 12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Saturday (Feb 27), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All the new cases were imported and placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,925 COVID-19 cases.


13 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

There were 13 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Friday (Feb 26), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All new infections are imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,913 COVID-19 cases.


2 community cases among 10 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Two community cases were among the 10 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Feb 25).

The remaining eight infections were imported cases and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,900 COVID-19 cases.


1 community case among 7 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One community case was among seven new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Wednesday (Feb 24).

The remaining six infections were imported cases and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,890 COVID-19 cases.


1 dormitory resident among 4 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

A dormitory resident was among four new COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Feb 23).

This is the first COVID-19 infection in a dormitory in nearly two weeks – the last dormitory case was reported on Feb 10.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,883 COVID-19 cases.


1 community case among 10 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One locally transmitted community case was among the 10 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Monday (Feb 22).

The remaining nine infections were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,879 COVID-19 cases.


11 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 11 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Sunday (Feb 21).

All the infections were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,869 COVID-19 cases.


12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 12 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday (Feb 20).

All the infections were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,858 COVID-19 cases.


14 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 14 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Friday (Feb 19).

All the cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,846 COVID-19 cases.


11 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 11 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Thursday (Feb 18).

All the cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon their arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,832 COVID-19 cases, with 29 fatalities.


1 community infection among 11 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore

One community case was among the 11 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Wednesday (Feb 17).

The remaining 10 infections were imported cases and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update. MOH added most of the imported cases arrived in Singapore before the requirement for on-arrival serology testing began.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,821 COVID-19 cases, with 29 fatalities.


1 new COVID-19 case in Singapore, lowest daily increase in more than 3 months

Singapore reported one new COVID-19 case as of noon on Tuesday (Feb 16), the lowest total daily increase in more than three months.

The sole infection is an imported case, who had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

Singapore has reported a total of 59,810 cases as of Tuesday.


9 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 9 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Monday (Feb 15).

All the infections were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary update.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,809 COVID-19 cases, with 29 fatalities.


14 new imported COVID-19 infections in Singapore; 1 case was not on placed stay-home notice

Fourteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (Feb 14), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All the new cases were imported, of whom 13 had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the ministry.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,800 COVID-19 cases.


Singapore reports 9 new COVID-19 cases, all imported; lowest daily figure in more than 6 weeks

There were nine new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Saturday (Feb 13), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All the new infections were imported and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,786 COVID-19 cases.


2 community cases among 18 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Singapore reported 18 new COVID-19 cases on Friday (Feb 12), including two cases in the community.

There were 16 imported cases, who were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary update.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,777 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


3 community cases among 12 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Three community cases were among 12 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Feb 11), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

The remaining nine infections were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore. No new infections were reported in foreign worker dormitories.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,759 COVID-19 cases.


Singapore's health worker received 5 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by mistake
A general view of the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). (Photo: Google Street View)

An employee at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was wrongly administered the equivalent of five doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine due to a human error, the public healthcare institution said on Saturday (Feb 6).

The error happened on Jan 14 during a vaccination exercise conducted at SNEC for its staff members. “The error was discovered within minutes of the vaccination when the staff was resting in a designated area after vaccination,” said SNEC in a press release.

“Senior doctors were alerted immediately and the staff was assessed and found to be well, with no adverse reaction or side effects.”


What we know so far about COVID-19 reinfection
A migrant worker undergoes a swab test in Singapore on Apr 28, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Edgar Su)

Over the weekend, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported Singapore’s first likely case of reinfection, a Bangladeshi migrant worker who had tested positive for COVID-19 again after recovering from the disease last year. The 28-year-old work permit holder, who lives in a dormitory at 43 Tech Park Crescent, first tested positive on Apr 12 last year as part of the cluster of infections there.

He recovered and tested negative for COVID-19 but on Jan 25, the man was confirmed to have COVID-19 again after being detected through rostered routine testing. MOH said that the virus detected in his samples taken in January this year was "genetically distinct from that associated with the dormitories outbreak in 2020, suggesting that this is likely a different and new infection", adding that reinfection is "rare".

Singapore now joins a list of places that have reported cases of reinfection, with the first documented case involving a 33-year-old man in Hong Kong in August last year.


Migrant worker in dormitory is first case of Covid-19 reinfection detected in S’pore
A 28-year-old Bangladeshi worker who resides in a dormitory has been detected as Singapore's first case of Covid-19 reinfection

Singapore has detected its first case of likely Covid-19 reinfection, a 28-year-old work permit holder who resides in a dormitory, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Saturday (Feb 6).

MOH said it had identified the reinfection in consultation with an expert panel after a rostered monitoring testing of recovered workers to monitor their post-infection immunity. The case, a Bangladeshi, resides at 43 Tech Park Crescent and had been confirmed to have Covid-19 on April 12 last year.

He subsequently recovered, and consistently tested negative for the coronavirus from June 2020 onwards.But on Jan 25 this year, his test result came back positive for Covid-19 infection, and he was isolated. Numerous repeat tests conducted subsequently were also positive for the virus.


1 dormitory resident among 15 new COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore

A dormitory resident was among the 15 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Singapore as of noon on Wednesday (Feb 10), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its daily preliminary update.

The remaining 14 cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore. No new cases were reported in the community.

Singapore has reported a total of 59,747 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday.


SIA cabin crew member on turnaround flight among 11 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore

A Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew member on a turnaround flight was among the 11 new imported COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Feb 9).

Of the 11 imported cases, 10 were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,732 COVID-19 cases.


2 community infections among 22 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore

Two new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Monday (Feb 8), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

Both cases were in the community, and no new infections were reported in foreign workers' dormitories.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,721 COVID-19 cases.


1 community case among 24 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One community case was among the 24 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (Feb 7), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

The remaining 23 cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,699 COVID-19 cases, with 29 fatalities.


26 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore, all imported

There were 26 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Saturday (Feb 6), said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

All of them were imported cases and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.

As of 12pm on Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,675 COVID-19 cases, with 29 fatalities.


2 locally transmitted cases among 25 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Two locally transmitted cases were among 25 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Friday (Feb 5), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

One new infection was reported in a foreign worker dormitory, while another was a community case.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,649 COVID-19 cases.


22 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

There were 22 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Feb 4), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All the new cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,624 COVID-19 cases.


25 COVID-19 cases with B117 variant found in Singapore
Like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2 mutates in order to maximise its survival chances

Twenty-five cases of a COVID-19 virus variant originally reported by the United Kingdom have been detected in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday (Jan 29). In an email response to CNA's queries, MOH said that of the 25 cases of the B117 variant as of Jan 26, five are community cases and 20 are imported cases from Europe. There are another two imported cases from Europe that have tested "preliminarily positive and are pending confirmatory results", said the ministry.

The B117 SARS-CoV-2 variant is one of a few mutated strains of the coronavirus to have caused concern around the world as it is said to be potentially more contagious. It has spread to 70 countries and territories now.

Singapore reported its first B117 COVID-19 case on Dec 23, a 17-year-old Singaporean student who had returned from the UK on Dec 6 and served her stay-home notice at a dedicated facility.


1 community case among 18 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

One community case was among the 18 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Wednesday (Feb 3), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

The remaining 17 cases were imported infections and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.
As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,602 COVID-19 cases.


19 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

There were 19 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Feb 2), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

All the new infections were imported and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore. No locally transmitted cases were reported for the third consecutive day.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,584 COVID-19 cases.


29 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 29 new COVID-19 infections as of noon on Monday (Feb 1).

All new infections were imported and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,565 COVID-19 cases.


Coronavirus vaccine: in Singapore, 432 report side effects but experts ‘reassured
Singaporeans aged 70 yrs & above wait to get a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Jan 27. Photo:Reuters

Health experts in Singapore say the relatively high rate of adverse effects from the initial Covid-19 vaccinations delivered by the island nation is not alarming, and is in fact reassuring.

Singapore has given more than 113,000 people the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, after which 432 suffered common side effects, including three people who had anaphylaxis, which is a rapid onset of severe allergic reactions. The data was released by the Ministry of Health on Thursday night as the country embarked on inoculating the general population, with those aged 70 and above getting their first shot on Wednesday. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is one of the 50 who has received their second shot of the vaccine.

The ministry said the three cases of anaphylaxis were “quickly resolved” by health care professionals, and had happened to individuals in their 20s and 30s who had a history of allergies, including allergic rhinitis and food allergies such as to shellfish. None had a history of anaphylaxis, which would have precluded them from the vaccine, and all have been discharged from hospital after a day’s observation or treatment. This puts Singapore’s incidence rate of anaphylaxis at about 2.7 per 100,000 doses administered, compared with other jurisdictions’ one to two per 100,000 doses administered. The ministry said initial variations in the incidence rate were expected given the numbers vaccinated in the island nation were relatively small.


Singapore reports 29 new COVID-19 cases, all imported

Singapore reported 29 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Sunday (Jan 31), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All the new infections are imported and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,536 COVID-19 cases.


58 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore, 3 in community; highest number of cases in more than 4 months

Three community cases were among the 58 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Saturday (Jan 30), said the Ministry of Health in its preliminary daily update.

This is the highest number of infections in Singapore since Sep 11 last year, when 86 cases were reported.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,507 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities.


What we know about the COVID-19 cases in Singapore that tested positive for the B117 strain

Four COVID-19 cases in Singapore have so far tested positive for the more virulent B117 strain of the coronavirus.

Three of these cases were reported as community infections earlier this month, and MOH confirmed on Tuesday (Jan 26) night they had tested positive for the new variant. The other case confirmed to have tested positive for the B117 strain is an imported case from December last year.

Besides the four confirmed cases, another 14 cases in Singapore have tested “preliminarily positive” for the new strain. The health ministry has yet to provide an update on their status.

3 more cases in S'pore later confirmed to have UK COVID-19 variant, all in community

Singapore has confirmed three more cases of the more contagious COVID-19 variant identified in the UK. The cases, all community infections that were previously reported, tested positive for the new B.1.1.7 strain based on whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis conducted by the National Public Health Laboratory, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release on Tuesday (26 January).

They include a 24-year-old Korean man, a work permit holder who works at Azur at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, who was confirmed to have COVID-19 on 5 January and had tested preliminarily positive for the B.1.1.7 strain. His job entails delivering pre-packed meals to aircrew and hotel guests. He does not interact with diners at Azur.

The other two cases are a 39-year-old Singaporean man, a worker at Singapore Scouts Association, who was confirmed to have COVID-19 on 15 January, and his 39-year-old Singaporean spouse, an administrative officer at OCBC Tampines Centre One, who was confirmed to be infected on the same day


Annual vaccination against Covid-19 a possibility as coronavirus mutates: Lawrence Wong
Education Minister Lawrence Wong said the pandemic could last four to five years

Singaporeans may have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 yearly, just like how it is for influenza, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said. This is because new vaccines may need to be developed to combat more virulent strains of the coronavirus, given the uncertainties surrounding how the virus could mutate.

In the worst-case scenario, the world could find itself one step behind viral transmissions once again, he said on Monday (Jan 25) during a dialogue hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies. The dialogue was the final event at the think tank’s four-day-long Singapore Perspectives conference titled Reset, which centred around a post-pandemic Singapore.

Early studies suggest that the South African variant of the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus can evade the defences that vaccines build in our bodies, Mr Wong said. The co-chair of the Government’s Covid-19 task force added: “The bottom line is that we live in a shared world and no one is safe until everyone is safe. It could take four to five years before we finally see the end of the pandemic and the start of a post-pandemic normal.”


24 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 24 new COVID-19 infections as of noon on Friday (Jan 29), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All the cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,449 COVID-19 cases.


34 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore; 6th day in a row with no community infections

Singapore reported 34 new COVID-19 infections as of noon on Thursday (Jan 28), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All the cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,425 COVID-19 cases, with 29 fatalities.


25 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore; 5th straight day without community cases

Singapore reported 25 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Wednesday (Jan 27), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All the infections were imported cases who had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,391 COVID-19 cases.


14 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Fourteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Jan 26), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All the infections were imported cases who were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, said the ministry.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,366 COVID-19 cases.


Singapore reports 44 new COVID-19 cases, all imported

Singapore reported 44 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Monday (Jan 25), and all were imported infections, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All cases had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival, the ministry said.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported 59,352 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


48 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore, all imported in 10-month high

Singapore reported 48 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Sunday (Jan 24), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

This is the highest number of imported infections in Singapore since Mar 23, when 48 imported cases were also reported.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,308 COVID-19 cases.


A year of Covid-19: Singapore gears up for next stage in virus war
Mr Ben Ng, who spent 13 days in the ICU at Alexandra Hospital in March because of Covid-19, with nurse clinician Maryana Mohamed (left) and senior staff nurse Ong Chia Yee. PHOTO: ST

He knows the suffering that Covid-19 can inflict and wants to ensure that others do not have to go through it.

This is why Mr Ben Ng, a former coronavirus patient, has taken it upon himself to remind others to observe social distancing.

"I don't care who it is, but if the Government says eight (people can gather in a group), then we cannot have more than eight. It says we can have two tables next to each other and I say... no intermingling," he said in an interview last week.


Singapore confirms first case of Wuhan virus on Jan 23, 2020
Employees at Singapore's National Centre for Infectious Diseases putting on protective gear before carrying out testing for the novel coronavirus

Singapore on Thursday (Jan 23) announced a confirmed case of the Wuhan virus, a new coronavirus that has sickened hundreds of people and killed at least 17.

In a media briefing on Thursday evening, the Ministry of Health said the patient is a 66-year-old Chinese man. The Wuhan resident, who arrived in Singapore with his family on Jan 20, flew from Guangzhou via China Southern flight CZ351.

He is currently in isolation at the Singapore General Hospital and is in stable condition.


Singapore reports 10 new COVID-19 cases, all imported

Singapore reported 10 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday (Jan 23), the Ministry of Health announced (MOH) in its preliminary update.

All of them were imported cases and had been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.

It has been exactly one year since Singapore reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan 23, 2020. The country's total COVID-19 tally as of Saturday was 59,260 with 29 fatalities. 


Singapore reports 1 community case among 15 new COVID-19 infections

One community case was among the 15 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Friday (Jan 22), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

The remaining 14 cases were imported infections who had already been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival, said MOH.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,250 COVID-19 cases.


4 community cases among 38 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore; 1 imported case initially tested negative

Four community cases were among the 38 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Jan 21), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

The remaining 34 cases were imported. Of these, 33 had already been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,235 COVID-19 cases.


4 community cases among 40 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Four community cases were among the 40 new COVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on Wednesday (Jan 20), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

Thirty-six cases of the new cases were imported infections and placed on stay home notice upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,197 COVID-19 cases.


4 community cases among 30 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Singapore reported 30 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Tuesday (Jan 19), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.

Four are locally transmitted cases in the community. There were no cases reported in foreign workers' dormitories.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,157 COVID-19 cases.


14 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, including 2 in community

Singapore reported 14 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Monday (Jan 18), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

Two cases are in the community and there are no new cases in foreign workers' dormitories.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,127 COVID-19 cases.


30 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, including 2 in community

Singapore reported 30 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Sunday (Jan 17), including two infections in the community, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

The remaining 28 cases are imported and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, said MOH.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,113 COVID-19 cases.


24 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, including 4 in the community

Singapore reported 24 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday (Jan 16), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

Five cases are locally transmitted, of which four are in the community and one is a resident of a migrant workers' dormitory.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,083 COVID-19 cases.


30 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, including 1 in the community

Singapore reported 30 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Friday (Jan 15), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

There is one locally transmitted case in the community. None were in foreign workers' dormitories.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,059 COVID-19 cases.


45 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, including 1 in community

Singapore reported 45 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Thursday (Jan 14), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

There is one case in the community and no new cases in foreign workers' dormitories.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,029 COVID-19 cases


1 dormitory case among 38 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore

Singapore reported 38 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Wednesday (Jan 13), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

One case was found in a foreign workers' dormitory, the first since Dec 15. No new cases were reported in the community.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,984 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


17 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 17 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Tuesday (Jan 12), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

No locally transmitted cases in the community or in foreign workers' dormitories were reported.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,946 COVID-19 cases.


22 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 22 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Monday (Jan 11), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

No locally transmitted cases in the community or in foreign workers' dormitories were reported.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,929 COVID-19 cases.


42 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore, highest in more than 9 months

Singapore reported 42 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Sunday (Jan 10), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.


All the cases are imported and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,907 COVID-19 cases.


COVID-19 TraceTogether data may be used for criminal investigations

The Government will introduce legislation setting out seven categories of serious offences for which TraceTogether data can be used for police investigations, said the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) on Friday (Jan 8). These include offences related to terrorism, drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping and serious sexual offences such as rape.

Privacy concerns over the national contact tracing tool for COVID-19 were raised after it emerged in Parliament on Monday that under Section 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the police have the power to order anyone to produce any data - including TraceTogether data - for the purposes of a criminal investigation.

A privacy statement on the TraceTogether website previously said that the data would only be used “for contact tracing purposes”. Following Monday's parliamentary sitting, the website was updated to mention that the Criminal Procedure Code applies to all data under Singapore's jurisdiction. "We acknowledge our error in not stating that data from TraceTogether is not exempt from the Criminal Procedure Code," said SNDGO on Friday.


The COVID-19 Virus Is Mutating. What Does That Mean for Vaccines?
A nurse prepares to vaccinate a health care worker at the Berks Community Health Center in Reading, Pa. Jan 6

As we enter the second year of living with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the virus is celebrating its invasion of the world’s population with yet more mutated forms that help it to spread more easily from person to person.

One, first detected in the UK in December, has already raised alarms about whether the COVID-19 virus is now escaping from the protection that vaccines just being rolled out now might provide. The variant has also been found in the US. Already, U.K. officials have tightened lockdowns in England, Scotland and Wales, and over the holidays, more than 40 countries banned travelers from the region in an effort to keep the new strain from spreading to other parts of the world. Health officials are also concerned about a different strain found in South Africa that could become more resistant to vaccine protection. This variant includes a few mutations in key areas that antibodies, generated by the vaccine, target.

Exactly how the new strains affect people who are infected—such as whether they develop more severe symptoms—and whether they can lead to more hospitalizations and deaths, aren’t clear yet. But scientists are ramping up efforts to genetically sequence more samples from infected patients to learn how widespread they are. So far, there are enough hints to worry public health experts.


Second reported local COVID-19 case who tested 'preliminarily positive' for new B117 strain

A 20-year-old Singaporean man who works at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport is on Friday (Jan 8) the second reported local COVID-19 case who tested preliminarily positive for the new B117 strain.

He is also the third person working at the Azur restaurant in the hotel who tested positive for the coronavirus in the last week.

The man, known as Case 59084, delivered pre-packed meals to air crew members and hotel guests - the same duties that the other two cases linked to the restaurant carried out. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said he did not interact with diners at the restaurant.


29 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Singapore reported 29 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday (Jan 9), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All were imported infections, and had been placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.
As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,865 COVID-19 cases.


Singapore reports 23 new COVID-19 cases, including 2 in the community

A total of 23 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Friday (Jan 8), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

Two are locally transmitted cases in the community and had been placed on quarantine earlier, said the ministry, adding that no new infections were found in foreign workers' dormitories.

As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,836 COVID-19 cases.


Singapore reports 33 new COVID-19 infections, including 2 community cases

Thirty-three new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Jan 7), said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Of these, two are locally transmitted cases in the community, said the ministry, adding that no new infections were found in foreign workers' dormitories.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,813 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


2 community infections among 31 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore

Thirty-one new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Wednesday (Jan 6), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

Two are locally transmitted cases in the community, said the ministry, adding that no new infections were found in foreign workers' dormitories.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,780 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


Singapore reports 28 new COVID-19 infections, including 2 community cases

Twenty-eight new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Jan 5), said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Two of the new cases are local transmissions in the community.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,749 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


Singapore reports 24 new COVID-19 cases, all imported

Twenty-four new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Monday (Jan 4), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

All the cases were imported and placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon their arrival in Singapore, said the ministry.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,721 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


Singapore reports 35 new COVID-19 cases, all imported; highest since Mar 28

Thirty-five new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (Jan 3), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

No new cases were found in the community and in foreign workers' dormitories.
As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,697 COVID-19 cases and 29 fatalities from the disease.


Singapore reports 33 new COVID-19 cases, all imported; highest since Sep 15

Singapore reported 33 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday (Jan 2), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary update.

All of them were imported infections and placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon their arrival in Singapore.

The total number of cases in Singapore now stands at 58,662.


Singapore reports 30 new COVID-19 cases, including 3 in the community

Singapore reported 30 new cases of COVID-19 as of noon on Friday (Jan 1). These include three community cases, with two linked to family clusters involving workers in the marine sector.

One of the community cases is a family member of the PSA Marine harbour pilot whose infection was reported on Dec 31, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

Singapore has reported a total of 58,629 cases of COVID-19 as of Friday.


Singapore reports 5 COVID-19 community cases, forming 2 new clusters

A total of 30 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (Dec 31), including five community cases.

This is the largest number of community infections reported since Aug 30, when there were eight such cases.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,599 COVID-19 cases, with 29 fatalities.


Singapore reports 27 new COVID-19 cases, including SIA pilot who initially tested negative

Singapore reported 27 new cases of COVID-19 as of noon on Wednesday (Dec 30).

One was a community case, while the rest were imported.

As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,569 COVID-19 cases, with 29 fatalities from the disease.


NCID nurse becomes first person in Singapore to receive COVID-19 vaccine
NCID senior staff nurse Sarah Lim, 46, became the first person in Singapore to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, as the country rolled out its vaccination exercise on Dec 30, 2020

Senior staff nurse Sarah Lim became the first person in Singapore to receive a COVID-19 vaccination on Wednesday (Dec 30), with more than 30 other healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases also set to receive the jab.

They are getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by United States pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech. This vaccine requires two injections, given 21 days apart. Those who receive the first dose on Wednesday are scheduled to return for their second dose on Jan 20 next year.

Ms Lim, 46, is stationed at the Special Precaution Area at NCID’s Clinic J, and carries out screening for suspect COVID-19 cases. It was a straightforward process for her to get the jab, with the nurse administering the injection asking her to "relax" as she rolled up her sleeve.


13 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

Thirteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore on Tuesday (Dec 29) said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

All 13 cases were imported and were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon their arrival in Singapore.

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported 58,542 COVID-19 cases.


S’poreans cheer long-awaited get-togethers as bigger groups allowed
Some people took the opportunity to gather in bigger groups on Dec 28, 2020, including Mr Tan Jun Hao (far right) and six friends at Wild Honey cafe in Scotts Square

Mr Tan Jun Hao and six friends from his former workplace have not gathered for almost a year, as Covid-19 restrictions meant they could mingle with one another only in smaller numbers.

But on Monday (Dec 28), when Singapore entered the third and final phase of its reopening after a partial lockdown to combat the virus, the group of seven finally met over a long-awaited lunch at Wild Honey cafe at Scotts Square near the Orchard Road shopping precinct.

And one of his friends took along an eighth member, a three-month-old baby.


Healthcare workers to receive Covid-19 vaccine from Dec 30, S’pore residents aged 70 and older from Feb ’21: MOH
The committee has also assessed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is suitable for use in people aged 16 and above. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Singapore’s Covid-19 vaccination exercise will begin on Dec 30 with healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, followed by the elderly aged 70 and older next February.

Vaccinations will roll out to more healthcare institutions in the coming weeks, with public healthcare institutions and private hospitals to arrange for their staff to be vaccinated at their respective premises.

This is in line with recommendations by an expert committee that front-line and healthcare workers and those most vulnerable to severe complications if they contract Covid-19 should be vaccinated first, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday (Dec 27).


Preliminary tests show two more in Singapore have UK Covid-19 strain

A Singapore Airlines pilot and a work pass holder have tested preliminarily positive for the new B117 strain of the coronavirus that is circulating in the United Kingdom.

They were among 27 new coronavirus cases confirmed on Wednesday (Dec 30), taking Singapore's total to 58,569.

The pilot, a 40-year-old Singaporean man, had travelled to the United Kingdom for work between Dec 19 and 22, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (Dec 30).


Singapore confirms first case of new Covid-19 strain from UK, a 17-year-old student who recently returned from Britain
Attendants at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 handling luggage belonging to passengers from a flight which arrived from London on Dec 22 2020. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

One case of a new coronavirus strain reported in the United Kingdom to be potentially more contagious has been detected here, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (Dec 23).

The patient is a 17-year-old Singaporean girl who had studied in the UK.

The Health Ministry said that with the B117 strain circulating in the UK, the National Public Health Laboratory is performing viral genomic sequencing for confirmed Covid-19 cases who arrived from Europe recently.


Singapore confirms 1 COVID-19 case carrying UK virus strain, 11 others 'preliminarily positive'
Airport staff members are seen in personal protective equipment and protective face masks at Changi Airport Terminal 1. (Photo: Calvin Oh)

Singapore has confirmed its first COVID-19 case carrying the potentially more contagious strain of the virus circulating in the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday (Dec 23).

The case confirmed to be carrying the B117 strain is known as Case 58504. She is a 17-year-old female who had been studying in the UK since August. She returned to Singapore on Dec 6 and served her stay-home notice at a dedicated facility upon arrival.

The student developed a fever on Dec 7, and was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Dec 8, said MOH. She was included among the imported cases reported on that day.


UK detects second potentially 'more transmissible' Covid-19 strain from South Africa
Shoppers walk along Regent Street in the main high-street shopping area of London on Dec 15, 2020. PHOTO: AFP

A new, potentially more infectious variant of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has been found in Britain in cases linked to South Africa, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Wednesday (Dec 23).

South Africa’s health department said last week that a new genetic mutation of the virus had been discovered and might be responsible for a recent surge in infections there.

“Thanks to the impressive genomic capability of the South Africans, we’ve detected two cases of another new variant of coronavirus here in the UK,” Hancock told a media briefing.


Government accepts committee's recommendations on vaccine strategy, to begin vaccinating healthcare workers from Dec 30
A woman holds a small bottle and a medical syringe in this illustration taken Oct 30, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Dado Ruvic)

The Government has accepted in full the recommendations of the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination on the overall vaccination strategy of Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Sunday (Dec 27).

Healthcare workers will be vaccinated first starting Dec 30, beginning with those at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). Vaccinations will subsequently roll out to more healthcare institutions in the coming weeks.

MOH said public healthcare institutions – including acute hospitals, community hospitals and polyclinics – as well as private hospitals, will progressively arrange for their staff members to be vaccinated within their respective premises.



Checks and enforcement to be boosted over festive period
More safe distancing ambassadors and enforcement officers will be deployed at hot spots and popular areas around the island. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID

With the festive season round the corner, the authorities will step up checks and enforcement on the next few weekends, Education Minister Lawrence Wong told the media yesterday.

More safe distancing ambassadors will be deployed, and they will be at hot spots and popular areas around the island together with enforcement officers.

Singapore cannot afford to let its guard down, cautioned Mr Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19.


7 things to know about phase 3: Dining out in larger groups, free Covid-19 vaccinations
Phase 3 of Singapore's reopening will begin in two weeks' time, on Dec 28, 2020. PHOTOS: SHINTARO TAY, REUTERS

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the nation on Monday (Dec 14) to provide an update on the Covid-19 situation and the outlook for next year.

Here are seven key takeaways from his speech:
  • Phase 3 to begin from Dec 28
  • Capacity limits in public places to be eased
  • Free Covid-19 vaccinations
  • HSA approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
  • First shipment of vaccine to reach by end-Dec
  • MOH proposes entire adult population be vaccinated, but on voluntary basis
  • More than $1 billion set aside by Government


Groups of 8 to be allowed for social gatherings

Singapore will enter phase three of its reopening in two weeks, on Dec 28, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Dec 14).

The permitted group size for social gatherings will go up from five to eight, with capacity limits in public places such as malls, attractions and places of worship to be increased.

More details on the reopening will be released shortly, during a press conference chaired by the multi-ministerial task force tackling the crisis.


Singapore approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
Pfizer said the vaccine was 95 per cent effective in preventing illness in its large, late-state trials. PHOTO: AFP

Singapore became on Monday (Dec 14) the first Asian country to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine and said it expects to start receiving doses by the end of the year.

The United States, Canada and a handful of other countries have approved the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, with a mass inoculation programme also underway in Britain.

Pfizer in November said the vaccine was 95 per cent effective in preventing illness in its large, late-state trials.

COVID-19: Singapore's local transmission is so low that we need to import them
5 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, including 1 in community

Five new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Monday (Dec 28), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its daily preliminary update.

Of the new cases, one is in the community. It is the first community case in the country since Dec 21.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,529 COVID-19 cases.


Singapore confirms first case of Wuhan virus on 23 Jan 2020
Guests at Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa yesterday. A man from China who is the first to test positive for the Wuhan virus in Singapore had stayed at the resort, said the Health Ministry. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID

A China national has tested positive for the Wuhan virus in Singapore, with another likely to have the virus.

The 66-year-old man, a Wuhan resident, arrived in Singapore with nine travelling companions on Monday (Jan 20), and stayed at Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa resort, the Ministry of Health said at a briefing on Thursday night (23 Jan 2020).

All the rooms at the hotel where the man and his travelling companions stayed in have been sanitised and sealed off.


COVID-19 infections in Singapore:

Singapore reports deaths from COVID-19



Singapore urges calm after panic buying hits supermarkets
Singapore reports its first cases of local COVID-19 transmission
Singapore confirms cases of COVID-19 Virus