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Serious Many Pappys don't like OngYK..not Team player.
- Thread starter SalahParking
- Start date
OYK chats with former footballer. 
This is Mr V. Khanisen - who grew up in Sembawang, and later played for our National Football Team in the 70s.
He was part of the team that brought home the Malaysia Cup after 12 years in 1976 & 1977. The coach was Mr Choo Seng Quee, still referred to fondly by Mr Khanisen as ‘Uncle Choo’. Mr Khanisen played midfield, although he told me he could play in any position.
He recounted how he learned to play football as a kid in Naval Base Secondary. He listed several Sembawang boys, who later became part of the national team. Those were the days, when football was played in every empty space kids could find. He hopes that football can become a vibrant community sport again.
From the field, Mr Khanisen soared to the sky, and worked as an SIA pilot flying the A380, before recently retired.
#MakeSembawangSpecial #PeopleOfSembawang
Ong Ye Kung
13 hrs ·This is Mr V. Khanisen - who grew up in Sembawang, and later played for our National Football Team in the 70s.
He was part of the team that brought home the Malaysia Cup after 12 years in 1976 & 1977. The coach was Mr Choo Seng Quee, still referred to fondly by Mr Khanisen as ‘Uncle Choo’. Mr Khanisen played midfield, although he told me he could play in any position.
He recounted how he learned to play football as a kid in Naval Base Secondary. He listed several Sembawang boys, who later became part of the national team. Those were the days, when football was played in every empty space kids could find. He hopes that football can become a vibrant community sport again.
From the field, Mr Khanisen soared to the sky, and worked as an SIA pilot flying the A380, before recently retired.
#MakeSembawangSpecial #PeopleOfSembawang
OYK warns of a new unknown.
There is a new unknown, called the B.1.1.529 variant. There have been reports of the new COVID-19 variant circulating in Africa, and particularly detected in South Africa.
So far, Singapore has no cases of this variant.
Globally, scientists are still finding out about the variant – whether it is more transmissible than the Delta variant, whether it will lead to more severe illness, and the efficacy of existing vaccines against it.
Ministry of Health, Singapore is also in touch with our counterparts around the world, and evaluating the data.
But we need to take the necessary precautions to reduce the risks of spread of this new variant, while we find out more about it.
From tomorrow (27 Nov) at 2359hrs, we will put in place restrictions for travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to these places will not be allowed entry to Singapore or transit here. Returning Singaporeans and PR will need to serve a 10 days SHN.
Once we have more data, we will adjust the measures accordingly.
This is a reminder to us that the virus will continue to evolve and pose new challenges and uncertainties to us, and we should not let our guard down.
Ong Ye Kung
6 hrs ·There is a new unknown, called the B.1.1.529 variant. There have been reports of the new COVID-19 variant circulating in Africa, and particularly detected in South Africa.
So far, Singapore has no cases of this variant.
Globally, scientists are still finding out about the variant – whether it is more transmissible than the Delta variant, whether it will lead to more severe illness, and the efficacy of existing vaccines against it.
Ministry of Health, Singapore is also in touch with our counterparts around the world, and evaluating the data.
But we need to take the necessary precautions to reduce the risks of spread of this new variant, while we find out more about it.
From tomorrow (27 Nov) at 2359hrs, we will put in place restrictions for travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to these places will not be allowed entry to Singapore or transit here. Returning Singaporeans and PR will need to serve a 10 days SHN.
Once we have more data, we will adjust the measures accordingly.
This is a reminder to us that the virus will continue to evolve and pose new challenges and uncertainties to us, and we should not let our guard down.
from msn.com:
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A return to stricter COVID-19 curbs in Singapore will be a "last resort", Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Monday, as the city-state partially eased limits on social gatherings and dining out under its calibrated reopening approach.
Ong also said the international travel and tourism hub would continue to open "travel lanes" with more countries for vaccinated visitors.
Singapore is gradually granting small groups of vaccinated people increased liberties, resuming in-person business events and permitting quarantine-free travel from select countries as it ramps up its vaccine booster programme.
"I feel it's important to do it this way, because it minimizes the chance of us having to backpedal too frequently," Ong told Reuters in an interview on Monday for the upcoming Reuters Next https://reutersevents.com/events/next conference.
"You can't rule out having to throttle back sometimes, but it should always be a last resort, because it's extremely frustrating for people."
Singapore has vacillated between tightening and easing restrictions for its population of 5.45 million in recent months as, like many countries, it was hit by a fresh wave of infections fuelled by the Delta variant.
Ong said it was too difficult to put a timeframe on when Singapore would reach a "new normal", but he hoped the country's high vaccination rates and the current roll-out of booster shots meant it would continue to ease restrictions.
"I hope that whatever liberty that we now gradually, progressively can return back to the people, we can keep them for next year, even as a new wave arrives," said Ong.
Singapore was one of several so-called COVID-zero countries that enforced some of the world's strictest measures to keep infections and deaths from the pandemic - at around 252,200 and 662, respectively - relatively low.
This year, it switched to a strategy of living with the virus as endemic. Around 94% of those eligible have been vaccinated, while 23% of the total population has received a booster shot.
Among its latest easing measures, limits on social gatherings and dining out were eased from two to five people, still restrictive compared to many other countries.
Authorities have also tightened measures against unvaccinated people, effectively barring them from dining out or entering malls and will begin to charge them for COVID-19 treatment if they refused a vaccine by choice.
TRAVEL HUB
Singapore has been expanding quarantine free travel from more than a dozen countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Canada and the United States via so-called vaccinated "travel lanes."
It will start these lanes with Malaysia and India at the end of the month. The lanes allow fully vaccinated people to enter the island without quarantining if they pass their COVID-19 tests.
"It is important for us to establish this, as such a small outwardly oriented country, we need to connect with the world," said Ong. "For the foreseeable future, I think vaccinated travel lanes will be the norm."
Singapore health minister says return to strict COVID-19 curbs a last resort
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A return to stricter COVID-19 curbs in Singapore will be a "last resort", Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Monday, as the city-state partially eased limits on social gatherings and dining out under its calibrated reopening approach.
Ong also said the international travel and tourism hub would continue to open "travel lanes" with more countries for vaccinated visitors.
Singapore is gradually granting small groups of vaccinated people increased liberties, resuming in-person business events and permitting quarantine-free travel from select countries as it ramps up its vaccine booster programme.
"I feel it's important to do it this way, because it minimizes the chance of us having to backpedal too frequently," Ong told Reuters in an interview on Monday for the upcoming Reuters Next https://reutersevents.com/events/next conference.
"You can't rule out having to throttle back sometimes, but it should always be a last resort, because it's extremely frustrating for people."
Singapore has vacillated between tightening and easing restrictions for its population of 5.45 million in recent months as, like many countries, it was hit by a fresh wave of infections fuelled by the Delta variant.
Ong said it was too difficult to put a timeframe on when Singapore would reach a "new normal", but he hoped the country's high vaccination rates and the current roll-out of booster shots meant it would continue to ease restrictions.
"I hope that whatever liberty that we now gradually, progressively can return back to the people, we can keep them for next year, even as a new wave arrives," said Ong.
Singapore was one of several so-called COVID-zero countries that enforced some of the world's strictest measures to keep infections and deaths from the pandemic - at around 252,200 and 662, respectively - relatively low.
This year, it switched to a strategy of living with the virus as endemic. Around 94% of those eligible have been vaccinated, while 23% of the total population has received a booster shot.
Among its latest easing measures, limits on social gatherings and dining out were eased from two to five people, still restrictive compared to many other countries.
Authorities have also tightened measures against unvaccinated people, effectively barring them from dining out or entering malls and will begin to charge them for COVID-19 treatment if they refused a vaccine by choice.
TRAVEL HUB
Singapore has been expanding quarantine free travel from more than a dozen countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Canada and the United States via so-called vaccinated "travel lanes."
It will start these lanes with Malaysia and India at the end of the month. The lanes allow fully vaccinated people to enter the island without quarantining if they pass their COVID-19 tests.
"It is important for us to establish this, as such a small outwardly oriented country, we need to connect with the world," said Ong. "For the foreseeable future, I think vaccinated travel lanes will be the norm."
OYK says that we are now fighting two enemies.
We are now fighting two enemies — Delta, that we know and trying to live with, and an unknown Omicron.
Scientists around the world are racing against the clock to learn more about Omicron vis-à-vis Delta.
Is it more or less infectious? Is it more or less harmful? How well do existing vaccines work against it?
In the meantime, we need to take a multi-layered and prudent approach to prevent Omicron from taking root in our community.
For example, we are enhancing our testing protocols for everyone who arrives in Singapore.
We have tightened our borders for those arriving from affected regions. We will monitor and further adjust if need be.
We are running two sets of healthcare protocols — one for Delta, and another for Omicron, where any patient will be isolated at NCID, and there will be full contact tracing and quarantine.
Vaccination and boosters must continue. It is an important insurance when we are faced with an unknown.
Meanwhile, we must learn more about the new variant.
The situation is like a game of Snakes and Ladders. If Omicron is more infectious, more harmful and vaccines do not work well against it, we will snake down many steps and much of our progress can be undone.
If Omicron is more infectious but milder and less harmful, it is actually a positive development. We will ladder up towards living with COVID-19.
Or it may also be a non-event.
We will only get clearer answers in the coming weeks.
Ong Ye Kung
31 mins ·We are now fighting two enemies — Delta, that we know and trying to live with, and an unknown Omicron.
Scientists around the world are racing against the clock to learn more about Omicron vis-à-vis Delta.
Is it more or less infectious? Is it more or less harmful? How well do existing vaccines work against it?
In the meantime, we need to take a multi-layered and prudent approach to prevent Omicron from taking root in our community.
For example, we are enhancing our testing protocols for everyone who arrives in Singapore.
We have tightened our borders for those arriving from affected regions. We will monitor and further adjust if need be.
We are running two sets of healthcare protocols — one for Delta, and another for Omicron, where any patient will be isolated at NCID, and there will be full contact tracing and quarantine.
Vaccination and boosters must continue. It is an important insurance when we are faced with an unknown.
Meanwhile, we must learn more about the new variant.
The situation is like a game of Snakes and Ladders. If Omicron is more infectious, more harmful and vaccines do not work well against it, we will snake down many steps and much of our progress can be undone.
If Omicron is more infectious but milder and less harmful, it is actually a positive development. We will ladder up towards living with COVID-19.
Or it may also be a non-event.
We will only get clearer answers in the coming weeks.
from msn.com:
SINGAPORE — Despite the uncertainties on the effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines on the new Omicron variant, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that this is "absolutely the wrong time" to argue against vaccination.
With the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying the this latest COVID-19 variant has undergone heavy mutations, scientists are racing to find out whether current coronavirus vaccines are effective in protecting against Omicron.
While the scientists are still gathering and analysing information on the new variant, Ong has warned the public against deciding not to take the currently available vaccines, and wait for new ones to arrive in Singapore.
"When we are faced with the unknown, we buy insurance. The insurance now is the existing vaccines," he said during a multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) media conference on Tuesday (30 November).
"It is not the case where existing vaccines do not work, because the human body is much more capable than that, once vaccinated. There is a good chance that existing vaccines will work against Omicron."
He said that very early data from doctors in South Africa – where the Omicron variant was first discovered – showed that, among patients with severe symptoms, 65 per cent are unvaccinated and the remaining 35 per cent are partially vaccinated. This suggests that existing vaccines could still be effective.
Ong also mentioned during the media conference that his ministry is making good progress in preparing for paediatric vaccination for those aged between five and 11 years old, and details will be announced when ready.
No Omicron-linked deaths had yet been reported since the variant was first detected in South Africa on 9 November, but WHO said that further research was needed to assess its potential to resist vaccines and immunity induced by previous infections. US President Joe Biden had said that the new variant "is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic".
'Absolutely wrong' to refuse vaccination because of Omicron variant: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE — Despite the uncertainties on the effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines on the new Omicron variant, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that this is "absolutely the wrong time" to argue against vaccination.
With the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying the this latest COVID-19 variant has undergone heavy mutations, scientists are racing to find out whether current coronavirus vaccines are effective in protecting against Omicron.
While the scientists are still gathering and analysing information on the new variant, Ong has warned the public against deciding not to take the currently available vaccines, and wait for new ones to arrive in Singapore.
"When we are faced with the unknown, we buy insurance. The insurance now is the existing vaccines," he said during a multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) media conference on Tuesday (30 November).
"It is not the case where existing vaccines do not work, because the human body is much more capable than that, once vaccinated. There is a good chance that existing vaccines will work against Omicron."
He said that very early data from doctors in South Africa – where the Omicron variant was first discovered – showed that, among patients with severe symptoms, 65 per cent are unvaccinated and the remaining 35 per cent are partially vaccinated. This suggests that existing vaccines could still be effective.
Ong also mentioned during the media conference that his ministry is making good progress in preparing for paediatric vaccination for those aged between five and 11 years old, and details will be announced when ready.
No Omicron-linked deaths had yet been reported since the variant was first detected in South Africa on 9 November, but WHO said that further research was needed to assess its potential to resist vaccines and immunity induced by previous infections. US President Joe Biden had said that the new variant "is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic".
OYK attends JJ Lin's concert. 
from msn.com:
The event is one of the first to have new Covid-19 protocols in place.
It was attended by about 2,000 fans who flocked to the theatres each night, according to The Straits Times.
Fans could also attend the concert virtually on the second day (Nov. 28) as it was streamed on YouTube, Weibo, Douyin and TikTok.
During the concert, he performed fan favourites like Twilight, After The Rain and Bedroom.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was spotted among the concert-goers in a photo posted on JJ Lin's Facebook on Nov. 28.
© Provided by Mothership Minister Ong Ye Kung on the extreme right. Image via 林俊傑 JJ Lin/FB.
The singer gave those at home a glimpse of the lively atmosphere through his Instagram stories, where he included a clip of fans waving towards the camera.
© Provided by Mothership Image via Mandy How.
© Provided by Mothership Image via Mandy How.
On Nov. 16, Marina Bay Sands announced in a Facebook post that the concert piloted the “VDS+Test” protocol, where all attendees had to be fully vaccinated and provide a valid negative Pre-Event Test (PET).
Lin also reminded fans to "please remember to do your PET before coming" in his social media posts on Nov. 24.
On-site testing is available as MBS and each PET costs S$40. Guests will receive their test results within 30 minutes via SMS.
Throughout the concert, fans had to be fully masked and observe prevailing Safe Management Measures (SMMs).
While they were not allowed to take off their masks or eat and drink during the event, they also did not have to sit 1m apart from one another, as capacity limits and zoning requirements were eased.
from msn.com:
JJ Lin performs at sold-out physical concert attended by health minister Ong Ye Kung
The event is one of the first to have new Covid-19 protocols in place.
The concert
"After The Rain" A Charity Live Special was held over two days (Nov. 27 and 28) at the Marina Bay Sands Theatre.It was attended by about 2,000 fans who flocked to the theatres each night, according to The Straits Times.
Fans could also attend the concert virtually on the second day (Nov. 28) as it was streamed on YouTube, Weibo, Douyin and TikTok.
During the concert, he performed fan favourites like Twilight, After The Rain and Bedroom.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was spotted among the concert-goers in a photo posted on JJ Lin's Facebook on Nov. 28.
© Provided by Mothership Minister Ong Ye Kung on the extreme right. Image via 林俊傑 JJ Lin/FB.
The singer gave those at home a glimpse of the lively atmosphere through his Instagram stories, where he included a clip of fans waving towards the camera.
“VDS+Test” protocol
While physical concerts are currently allowed, guests had to follow vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS).On Nov. 16, Marina Bay Sands announced in a Facebook post that the concert piloted the “VDS+Test” protocol, where all attendees had to be fully vaccinated and provide a valid negative Pre-Event Test (PET).
Lin also reminded fans to "please remember to do your PET before coming" in his social media posts on Nov. 24.
On-site testing is available as MBS and each PET costs S$40. Guests will receive their test results within 30 minutes via SMS.
Throughout the concert, fans had to be fully masked and observe prevailing Safe Management Measures (SMMs).
While they were not allowed to take off their masks or eat and drink during the event, they also did not have to sit 1m apart from one another, as capacity limits and zoning requirements were eased.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - The governance systems of the United States and China are fundamentally different, having been forged through their own unique circumstances, but both systems do have goals and challenges in common, said Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung.
Both share a sense of purpose and accountability to the people they serve, and seek to achieve global peace and prosperity, create better lives for their people, embrace science and technology, as well as uphold a vibrant international trading system, Mr Ong noted at a conference on governance at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel on Monday (Nov 22).
They can also find common ground in tackling climate change, pandemics and inequality brought about by globalisation, among other things - global challenges that require the two great powers to tackle together, he added.
In terms of challenges, both systems are also being reshaped by the advent of social media, which is changing society and the texture of politics.
"In a governance system based on individual liberty and freedom, imagine, it will become even more challenging now to forge consensus and act for the long term. In a system with centralised authority, we must expect rising aspirations for agency and involvement among the population," said Mr Ong.
"In Singapore, we are experiencing probably both aspects."
Mr Ong listed the commonalities between the two powers during his keynote speech at the two-day hybrid Lien International Conference on Good Governance, as he sought to make the point that two very different systems of governance can have areas of overlap and can provide good governance in their own way.
Governance systems are the outcomes of history, culture and philosophies of living and are deeply personal to a country, Mr Ong added.
He said Singapore could exist as a multicultural nation because of its governance system.
"Over the last 56 years, generations of Singaporeans have put their faith in this system because it can better secure their and their children's future. So either we hang together or hang separately. Over time, that sense of commitment and responsibility to each other grew stronger," he added.
On the US, Mr Ong said the first immigrants had arrived to seek new economic opportunities and freedom to practise their religion, building up a society that emphasised individualism, freedom and enterprise.
These are the values that lie at the heart of the US as it evolved into the well-developed democracy it is today, he added.
While this has helped the US attract talent from around the world and make technological breakthroughs in areas from nuclear power to the Internet and Covid-19 vaccines, it has also resulted in a very competitive society with stark inequality and polarised politics, he noted.
China, meanwhile, has had a far longer history, with the Qin dynasty in 221 BC uniting the warring territories into a single empire, bringing peace and unity and starting the empire on the trajectory towards a consolidated system of governance, said Mr Ong.
China also developed the first merit-based bureaucracy in the world.
Thus, centralisation of authority has been viewed positively, and in modern China, the Communist Party of China continues to rule with unquestionable authority and exercises a strict and disciplined system of appointing government officials by merit, noted Mr Ong.
He said the Chinese system has delivered impressive results, with China rising to become the second-largest economy, among other things.
Mr Ong added: "It knows that without a one-person, one-vote system adopted by the West, change of power can be messy, even violent if it involved people's uprising. It therefore takes its mandate very seriously."
The differences that exist in the governance systems are as profound as the differences between Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, said Mr Ong.
"If we understand how institutions of governance come about in mature societies like the US and China, we will also realise that it will be inappropriate, or in fact foolhardy, for anyone to conclude which is better than the other, which is more superior than the other, or worse, which is right and which is wrong," he added.
"We live in an unprecedented time in history, with two great powers seeking to find a modus vivendi of engagement. In this process, we have to recognise that their governance systems are fundamentally different, and it is impossible for one to convert the other."
At the conference organised by the Nanyang Technological University's Nanyang Centre for Public Administration, the panellists also spoke about how the battle against Covid-19 had underscored the importance of good governance.
NTU Provost Ling San, in his address, noted that governments had to scramble to develop policy in response to the evolving pandemic.
He added that research has been critical in providing the trustworthy data as well as sound analytics required for coherent policies.
China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention director-general Gao Fu, who delivered a keynote speech on China's experience in combating the pandemic, noted there has been much speculation about the origins of the Sars-COV-2 virus and urged people to seek the truth through science.
While many experts believe the coronavirus emerged naturally, others have postulated that it may be the result of an accidental leak from a laboratory.
Pointing to other coronaviruses that affect humans, Dr Gao said these viruses had typically moved through several animal hosts before mutating to infect humans.
"The search for the origins is a scientific issue, and requires time to figure out," he added.
Despite different governance systems, US, China share some goals and challenges: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - The governance systems of the United States and China are fundamentally different, having been forged through their own unique circumstances, but both systems do have goals and challenges in common, said Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung.
Both share a sense of purpose and accountability to the people they serve, and seek to achieve global peace and prosperity, create better lives for their people, embrace science and technology, as well as uphold a vibrant international trading system, Mr Ong noted at a conference on governance at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel on Monday (Nov 22).
They can also find common ground in tackling climate change, pandemics and inequality brought about by globalisation, among other things - global challenges that require the two great powers to tackle together, he added.
In terms of challenges, both systems are also being reshaped by the advent of social media, which is changing society and the texture of politics.
"In a governance system based on individual liberty and freedom, imagine, it will become even more challenging now to forge consensus and act for the long term. In a system with centralised authority, we must expect rising aspirations for agency and involvement among the population," said Mr Ong.
"In Singapore, we are experiencing probably both aspects."
Mr Ong listed the commonalities between the two powers during his keynote speech at the two-day hybrid Lien International Conference on Good Governance, as he sought to make the point that two very different systems of governance can have areas of overlap and can provide good governance in their own way.
Governance systems are the outcomes of history, culture and philosophies of living and are deeply personal to a country, Mr Ong added.
He said Singapore could exist as a multicultural nation because of its governance system.
"Over the last 56 years, generations of Singaporeans have put their faith in this system because it can better secure their and their children's future. So either we hang together or hang separately. Over time, that sense of commitment and responsibility to each other grew stronger," he added.
On the US, Mr Ong said the first immigrants had arrived to seek new economic opportunities and freedom to practise their religion, building up a society that emphasised individualism, freedom and enterprise.
These are the values that lie at the heart of the US as it evolved into the well-developed democracy it is today, he added.
While this has helped the US attract talent from around the world and make technological breakthroughs in areas from nuclear power to the Internet and Covid-19 vaccines, it has also resulted in a very competitive society with stark inequality and polarised politics, he noted.
China, meanwhile, has had a far longer history, with the Qin dynasty in 221 BC uniting the warring territories into a single empire, bringing peace and unity and starting the empire on the trajectory towards a consolidated system of governance, said Mr Ong.
China also developed the first merit-based bureaucracy in the world.
Thus, centralisation of authority has been viewed positively, and in modern China, the Communist Party of China continues to rule with unquestionable authority and exercises a strict and disciplined system of appointing government officials by merit, noted Mr Ong.
He said the Chinese system has delivered impressive results, with China rising to become the second-largest economy, among other things.
Mr Ong added: "It knows that without a one-person, one-vote system adopted by the West, change of power can be messy, even violent if it involved people's uprising. It therefore takes its mandate very seriously."
The differences that exist in the governance systems are as profound as the differences between Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, said Mr Ong.
"If we understand how institutions of governance come about in mature societies like the US and China, we will also realise that it will be inappropriate, or in fact foolhardy, for anyone to conclude which is better than the other, which is more superior than the other, or worse, which is right and which is wrong," he added.
"We live in an unprecedented time in history, with two great powers seeking to find a modus vivendi of engagement. In this process, we have to recognise that their governance systems are fundamentally different, and it is impossible for one to convert the other."
At the conference organised by the Nanyang Technological University's Nanyang Centre for Public Administration, the panellists also spoke about how the battle against Covid-19 had underscored the importance of good governance.
NTU Provost Ling San, in his address, noted that governments had to scramble to develop policy in response to the evolving pandemic.
He added that research has been critical in providing the trustworthy data as well as sound analytics required for coherent policies.
China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention director-general Gao Fu, who delivered a keynote speech on China's experience in combating the pandemic, noted there has been much speculation about the origins of the Sars-COV-2 virus and urged people to seek the truth through science.
While many experts believe the coronavirus emerged naturally, others have postulated that it may be the result of an accidental leak from a laboratory.
Pointing to other coronaviruses that affect humans, Dr Gao said these viruses had typically moved through several animal hosts before mutating to infect humans.
"The search for the origins is a scientific issue, and requires time to figure out," he added.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - The Covid-19 situation in Singapore can be compared to a game of snakes and ladders with the Omicron variant determining if the country remains on track to living with the virus, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Tuesday (Nov 30).
If it is more infectious or harmful than other existing variants, and if current vaccines do not work well against it, the country will have landed on a “snake”.
“We will go down, and it will set us back a long way,” said Mr Ong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling the pandemic.
If the variant proves to be milder but more infectious, it could become dominant over the Delta variant – a positive sign which could enable Singapore to leap forward in its efforts to treat Covid-19 as an endemic disease.
“We don't know what’s the next throw of the dice and which square we will land in,” the minister said at a press conference chaired by the task force.
“It may just be another variant that makes no great impact. You land on the boring square and we continue our current path to transit to living with Covid-19 as a resilient nation.”
As Singapore and the world work to find out more about the new variant, Mr Ong said the country will take a prudent approach by implementing measures to prevent the Omicron variant from establishing itself in the community.
Little is known about the variant, which was first detected in South Africa and has not yet been reported in Singapore.
Scientists have reported a large number of mutations in the variant’s spike protein – the part of the virus that latches on to human cells. This has raised concerns that vaccine efficacy may be impacted as a result.
The authorities are monitoring the situation closely, said the Health Ministry in a statement on Tuesday.
In particular, they are looking out for information on the new variant's transmissibility and incubation period, as well as how long patients remain infectious, the severity of the illness and if existing vaccines are effective against it.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said border measures are Singapore’s first line of defence against the Omicron variant.
They buy the country time to shore up its other defences.
Even so, experience has shown that the country cannot rely solely on such measures to stop the new variant, given that countries with very strict border regimes, such as China and New Zealand, saw Delta outbreaks, he said.
This means that vaccination and boosters, as well as contact tracing and safe management measures remain critical, he added.
Singapore’s approach has been to stay nimble and adjust measures quickly based on new information that emerges, in order to ensure its various lines of defence hold, Mr Wong said.
“This will not be the last variant of concern. There will be new mutations and we just have to be prepared. It may well turn out that Omicron will be not so threatening, a bit of a non-event. It may, we hope. It may turn out to be worse.
“But there may also be a possibility that another mutation down the road, next year, turns out to be far more threatening.”
The minister acknowledged that people will feel “a certain level of weariness or fatigue” upon hearing news of this new variant, given that the world is now entering the third year of the pandemic.
“But I hope we can also draw strength from our responses throughout the past two years – how we have kept faith with one another and supported each other throughout this journey,” he said.
“And if we continue with that approach, we can stay united, rally together and all do our part to get through this pandemic as one people.”
Singapore facing 'snakes and ladders' situation over Omicron variant: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - The Covid-19 situation in Singapore can be compared to a game of snakes and ladders with the Omicron variant determining if the country remains on track to living with the virus, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Tuesday (Nov 30).
If it is more infectious or harmful than other existing variants, and if current vaccines do not work well against it, the country will have landed on a “snake”.
“We will go down, and it will set us back a long way,” said Mr Ong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling the pandemic.
If the variant proves to be milder but more infectious, it could become dominant over the Delta variant – a positive sign which could enable Singapore to leap forward in its efforts to treat Covid-19 as an endemic disease.
“We don't know what’s the next throw of the dice and which square we will land in,” the minister said at a press conference chaired by the task force.
“It may just be another variant that makes no great impact. You land on the boring square and we continue our current path to transit to living with Covid-19 as a resilient nation.”
As Singapore and the world work to find out more about the new variant, Mr Ong said the country will take a prudent approach by implementing measures to prevent the Omicron variant from establishing itself in the community.
Little is known about the variant, which was first detected in South Africa and has not yet been reported in Singapore.
Scientists have reported a large number of mutations in the variant’s spike protein – the part of the virus that latches on to human cells. This has raised concerns that vaccine efficacy may be impacted as a result.
The authorities are monitoring the situation closely, said the Health Ministry in a statement on Tuesday.
In particular, they are looking out for information on the new variant's transmissibility and incubation period, as well as how long patients remain infectious, the severity of the illness and if existing vaccines are effective against it.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said border measures are Singapore’s first line of defence against the Omicron variant.
They buy the country time to shore up its other defences.
Even so, experience has shown that the country cannot rely solely on such measures to stop the new variant, given that countries with very strict border regimes, such as China and New Zealand, saw Delta outbreaks, he said.
This means that vaccination and boosters, as well as contact tracing and safe management measures remain critical, he added.
Singapore’s approach has been to stay nimble and adjust measures quickly based on new information that emerges, in order to ensure its various lines of defence hold, Mr Wong said.
“This will not be the last variant of concern. There will be new mutations and we just have to be prepared. It may well turn out that Omicron will be not so threatening, a bit of a non-event. It may, we hope. It may turn out to be worse.
“But there may also be a possibility that another mutation down the road, next year, turns out to be far more threatening.”
The minister acknowledged that people will feel “a certain level of weariness or fatigue” upon hearing news of this new variant, given that the world is now entering the third year of the pandemic.
“But I hope we can also draw strength from our responses throughout the past two years – how we have kept faith with one another and supported each other throughout this journey,” he said.
“And if we continue with that approach, we can stay united, rally together and all do our part to get through this pandemic as one people.”
OYK provides some stats,
https://www.facebook.com/ongyekung?__tn__=<<*F
#DidYouKnow – more than 11 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in #Singapore.
A month ago, we had close to 60,000 unvaccinated seniors who are 60 years and above. We continue to vaccinate as many as we can, and also did a debasing of the population.
Today, that number has come down to around 41,000.
Every week, we still have about 1,000 to 2,000 seniors coming forward for their first shots.
Here is a chart of the vaccination rates across the different eligible age groups.
And we are now working on vaccination for children aged 5 to 11. It has already started in a few countries. It will be important for our children, especially with the new Omicron variant.
#Vaccination remains our best defence against COVID-19.
https://www.facebook.com/ongyekung?__tn__=<<*F
Ong Ye Kung
6 hrs ·#DidYouKnow – more than 11 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in #Singapore.
A month ago, we had close to 60,000 unvaccinated seniors who are 60 years and above. We continue to vaccinate as many as we can, and also did a debasing of the population.
Today, that number has come down to around 41,000.
Every week, we still have about 1,000 to 2,000 seniors coming forward for their first shots.
Here is a chart of the vaccination rates across the different eligible age groups.
And we are now working on vaccination for children aged 5 to 11. It has already started in a few countries. It will be important for our children, especially with the new Omicron variant.
#Vaccination remains our best defence against COVID-19.
OYK thanks Mr Peh for being caring.
https://www.facebook.com/ongyekung?__tn__=<<*F
Mr Peh operates Lucky Market at 511 Canberra Road. Back in May, the wet market caught fire which caused considerable damage to some stalls, though thankfully no one was hurt. This affected not just the livelihoods of the stall holders but also the surrounding residents who relied on the market for their daily grocery supplies.
With the support of the community and agencies, the market was restored and back in business within 1.5 months. But biggest credit I think goes to Mr Peh, who really cared for the stall holders and residents.
I visited the newly renovated market when it reopened and found it brighter and more spacious than before. The kampung spirit and sense of community and resilience seen from this experience are heartening.
https://www.facebook.com/ongyekung?__tn__=<<*F
Ong Ye Kung
16 hrs ·Mr Peh operates Lucky Market at 511 Canberra Road. Back in May, the wet market caught fire which caused considerable damage to some stalls, though thankfully no one was hurt. This affected not just the livelihoods of the stall holders but also the surrounding residents who relied on the market for their daily grocery supplies.
With the support of the community and agencies, the market was restored and back in business within 1.5 months. But biggest credit I think goes to Mr Peh, who really cared for the stall holders and residents.
I visited the newly renovated market when it reopened and found it brighter and more spacious than before. The kampung spirit and sense of community and resilience seen from this experience are heartening.
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