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Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.
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from yahoo.com:
Cabinet reshuffle: Lawrence Wong to be Finance Minister; Ong Ye Kung, Chan Chun Sing in new roles
SINGAPORE — Lawrence Wong has been appointed Singapore's new Finance Minister, taking over from former PM-designate Heng Swee Keat, by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a Cabinet reshuffle less than a year since his team took office.
Wong will relinquish his role as Education Minister, the Prime Minister's Office said on Friday (23 April). His and all other Cabinet appointments will take effect from 15 May.
Several other leading fourth-generation leaders will also assume new ministerial posts.
Among them, Ong Ye Kung will be appointed Health Minister and relinquish his appointment as Transport Minister. He will co-chair the multi-ministerial taskforce on COVID-19, together with Lawrence Wong.
Chan Chun Sing will be appointed Education Minister and relinquish his appointment as Trade and Industry Minister.
The other key ministerial appointments are:
Gan Kim Yong will be appointed Trade and Industry Minister and relinquish his appointment as Health Minister.
S Iswaran will be appointed Transport Minister. He will remain as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and relinquish his appointment as Communications and Information Minister.
Josephine Teo will be appointed Communications and Information Minister, and remain as Second Minister for Home Affairs. She will relinquish her appointment as Manpower Minister.
Dr Tan See Leng will be appointed Manpower Minister and remain as the Second Minister for Trade and Industry.
Reactions from Lee and Heng
At a virtual news conference on Friday to announce the appointments, Lee was asked if the changes are disruptive, as some of the ministers are changing their portfolios after less than a year.
Lee said, "It is not desirable to move ministers after less than a year. Sometimes, it is necessary. And then you think very carefully and if it can't be helped, you do it. And next time you will have to think very carefully again. You cannot say that this is a precedent, because last minister served a few months, the next minister likewise."
He added that the ministerial changes came about after "extensive consultations" with ministers, including Heng.
"I talked to many of the ministers, including DPM Heng, before I settled the moves, and then I had to discuss with each of the ministers to make sure that they understood what their new mission was and what the purpose of the deployments was before settling. That's why it has taken me two weeks rather than just doing it the day after my previous press conference."
Heng also spoke about the new appointments in a post on his Facebook page.
On Wong replacing him as Finance Minister, Heng said, "He is not new to MOF, having been Second Minister since 2016. Indranee Rajah will also remain in MOF to support Lawrence. We worked closely together on the five COVID-19 Budgets last year. Looking ahead, Lawrence will have the big task of continuing to invest for the long-term, while maintaining fiscal discipline."
Speaking of Chan's new role as Education Minister, Heng added, "He was an invaluable deputy when I was leader of the 4G, and helped me drive economic transformation as part of the Future Economy Council. Jobs and skills will be a key part of our economic agenda, and I look forward to working with him when he is in MOE."
Other political appointments
Sim Ann will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She will continue as the Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development, and relinquish her appointment as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information.
Chee Hong Tat will continue as the Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, and relinquish his appointment as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr Koh Poh Koon will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Manpower and continue as the Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health.
Tan Kiat How will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information. He will continue as the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development, and relinquish his appointment as Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Rahayu Mahzam will be appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Information and continue as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health.
Additional responsibilities
Josephine Teo will also be appointed as Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, taking over from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister-in-charge of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, taking over from S Iswaran.
Edwin Tong will also be appointed Deputy Chairman of the People’s Association, taking over from Chan Chun Sing.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has accepted the proposal for Chee Hong Tat to join the NTUC, as Dr Koh Poh Koon will be returning to the government full-time.
Heng Swee Keat stepping aside two weeks back
Singapore's well-oiled leadership succession was abruptly brought to a halt two weeks ago, when Deputy PM Heng Swee Keat stepped aside as leader of the Republic's fourth-generation leadership team and designated successor to Lee. Heng, 59, cited his age and the disruptions caused by the pandemic as the key reasons for his decision at a media conference.
In response, Heng's 4G colleagues said in a statement that his decisions had been an "unexpected turn of events" and said they would need "more time" to select another leader. Lee said at the same conference that the process of choosing his successor would take "more than a few months", and "should not take more than a couple of years", with a clear outcome before the next general election.
Singapore held its previous General Election (GE) on 10 July last year. Following the GE, Lee unveiled his previous Cabinet on 25 July.
The next GE is scheduled to be held in Singapore by 23 August 2025.
Full list of Cabinet and other appointments (from 15 May):
Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Prime Minister: Heng Swee Keat
Senior Ministers: Teo Chee Hean, Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Prime Minister’s Office – Ministers: Indranee Rajah, Maliki Osman
Defence – Minister: Ng Eng Hen Senior Ministers of State: Zaqy Mohamad, Heng Chee How
Foreign Affairs – Minister: Vivian Balakrishnan Second Minister: Maliki Osman Senior Minister of State: Sim Ann
Home Affairs – Minister: K Shanmugam Second Minister: Josephine Teo Ministers of State: Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Desmond Tan
Trade and Industry – Minister: Gan Kim Yong Second Minister: Tan See Leng Ministers of State: Low Yen Ling, Alvin Tan (Note: S Iswaran in charge of Trade Relations)
Finance – Minister: Lawrence Wong Second Minister: Indranee Rajah
Manpower – Minister: Tan See Leng Senior Ministers of State: Koh Poh Koon, Zaqy Mohamad Minister of State: Gan Siow Huang
Transport – Minister: S Iswaran Senior Ministers of State: Amy Khor, Chee Hong Tat Senior Parliamentary Secretary: Baey Yam Keng
National Development – Minister: Desmond Lee Second Minister: Indranee Rajah Senior Minister of State: Sim Ann Ministers of State: Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Tan Kiat How
Communication and Information – Minister: Josephine Teo Senior Minister of State: Janil Puthucheary Minister of State: Tan Kiat How Parliamentary Secretary: Rahayu Mahzam
Sustainability and Environment – Minister: Grace Fu Senior Minister of State: Amy Khor Minister of State: Desmond Tan
Law – Minister: K Shanmugam Second Minister: Edwin Tong.
Health – Minister: Ong Ye Kung Second Minister: Masagos Zulkifli Senior Ministers of State: Koh Poh Koon, Janil Puthucheary Parliamentary Secretary: Rahayu Mahzam
Education – Minister: Chan Chun Sing Second Minister: Maliki Osman Ministers of State: Sun Xueling, Gan Siow Huang
Social and Family Development – Minister: Masagos Zulkifli Minister of State: Sun Xueling Parliamentary Secretary: Eric Chua (Note: Desmond Lee in charge of Social Services Integration)
Culture, Community and Youth – Minister: Edwin Tong Ministers of State: Alvin Tan, Low Yen Ling Parliamentary Secretary: Eric Chua
Other appointments, concurrent responsibilities:
Mayors – Central Singapore District: Denise Phua North East District: Desmond Choo North West District: Alex Yam South East District: Mohd Fahmi Aliman South West District: Low Yen Ling
Heng Swee Keat: Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Strategy Group, Future Economy Council, National Research Foundation (assisting PM), Productivity Fund Administration Board (assisting PM)
Teo Chee Hean: Coordinating Minister for National Security, Smart Nation and Digital Government Group, National Security Coordination Secretariat, National Population and Talent Division, National Climate Change Secretariat
Tharman Shanmugaratnam: Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Monetary Authority of Singapore, National Jobs Council
Indranee Rajah: Population matters (assisting Teo Chee Hean)
Josephine Teo: Smart Nation and Cybersecurity
Tan Kiat How: REACH
Janil Puthucheary: GovTech
Edwin Tong: People's Association
Ong Ye Kung: Aging issues
Sim Ann: Municipal Services Office
Masagos Zulkifli: Muslim affairs, CDC matters (assisting Edwin Tong)
Chan Chun Sing: Public Service Division
Low Yen Ling: Coordinator of Mayors
Cabinet reshuffle: Lawrence Wong to be Finance Minister; Ong Ye Kung, Chan Chun Sing in new roles
SINGAPORE — Lawrence Wong has been appointed Singapore's new Finance Minister, taking over from former PM-designate Heng Swee Keat, by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a Cabinet reshuffle less than a year since his team took office.
Wong will relinquish his role as Education Minister, the Prime Minister's Office said on Friday (23 April). His and all other Cabinet appointments will take effect from 15 May.
Several other leading fourth-generation leaders will also assume new ministerial posts.
Among them, Ong Ye Kung will be appointed Health Minister and relinquish his appointment as Transport Minister. He will co-chair the multi-ministerial taskforce on COVID-19, together with Lawrence Wong.
Chan Chun Sing will be appointed Education Minister and relinquish his appointment as Trade and Industry Minister.
The other key ministerial appointments are:
Gan Kim Yong will be appointed Trade and Industry Minister and relinquish his appointment as Health Minister.
S Iswaran will be appointed Transport Minister. He will remain as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and relinquish his appointment as Communications and Information Minister.
Josephine Teo will be appointed Communications and Information Minister, and remain as Second Minister for Home Affairs. She will relinquish her appointment as Manpower Minister.
Dr Tan See Leng will be appointed Manpower Minister and remain as the Second Minister for Trade and Industry.
Reactions from Lee and Heng
At a virtual news conference on Friday to announce the appointments, Lee was asked if the changes are disruptive, as some of the ministers are changing their portfolios after less than a year.
Lee said, "It is not desirable to move ministers after less than a year. Sometimes, it is necessary. And then you think very carefully and if it can't be helped, you do it. And next time you will have to think very carefully again. You cannot say that this is a precedent, because last minister served a few months, the next minister likewise."
He added that the ministerial changes came about after "extensive consultations" with ministers, including Heng.
"I talked to many of the ministers, including DPM Heng, before I settled the moves, and then I had to discuss with each of the ministers to make sure that they understood what their new mission was and what the purpose of the deployments was before settling. That's why it has taken me two weeks rather than just doing it the day after my previous press conference."
Heng also spoke about the new appointments in a post on his Facebook page.
On Wong replacing him as Finance Minister, Heng said, "He is not new to MOF, having been Second Minister since 2016. Indranee Rajah will also remain in MOF to support Lawrence. We worked closely together on the five COVID-19 Budgets last year. Looking ahead, Lawrence will have the big task of continuing to invest for the long-term, while maintaining fiscal discipline."
Speaking of Chan's new role as Education Minister, Heng added, "He was an invaluable deputy when I was leader of the 4G, and helped me drive economic transformation as part of the Future Economy Council. Jobs and skills will be a key part of our economic agenda, and I look forward to working with him when he is in MOE."
Other political appointments
Sim Ann will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She will continue as the Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development, and relinquish her appointment as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information.
Chee Hong Tat will continue as the Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, and relinquish his appointment as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr Koh Poh Koon will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Manpower and continue as the Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health.
Tan Kiat How will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information. He will continue as the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development, and relinquish his appointment as Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Rahayu Mahzam will be appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Information and continue as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health.
Additional responsibilities
Josephine Teo will also be appointed as Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, taking over from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister-in-charge of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, taking over from S Iswaran.
Edwin Tong will also be appointed Deputy Chairman of the People’s Association, taking over from Chan Chun Sing.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has accepted the proposal for Chee Hong Tat to join the NTUC, as Dr Koh Poh Koon will be returning to the government full-time.
Heng Swee Keat stepping aside two weeks back
Singapore's well-oiled leadership succession was abruptly brought to a halt two weeks ago, when Deputy PM Heng Swee Keat stepped aside as leader of the Republic's fourth-generation leadership team and designated successor to Lee. Heng, 59, cited his age and the disruptions caused by the pandemic as the key reasons for his decision at a media conference.
In response, Heng's 4G colleagues said in a statement that his decisions had been an "unexpected turn of events" and said they would need "more time" to select another leader. Lee said at the same conference that the process of choosing his successor would take "more than a few months", and "should not take more than a couple of years", with a clear outcome before the next general election.
Singapore held its previous General Election (GE) on 10 July last year. Following the GE, Lee unveiled his previous Cabinet on 25 July.
The next GE is scheduled to be held in Singapore by 23 August 2025.
Full list of Cabinet and other appointments (from 15 May):
Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Prime Minister: Heng Swee Keat
Senior Ministers: Teo Chee Hean, Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Prime Minister’s Office – Ministers: Indranee Rajah, Maliki Osman
Defence – Minister: Ng Eng Hen Senior Ministers of State: Zaqy Mohamad, Heng Chee How
Foreign Affairs – Minister: Vivian Balakrishnan Second Minister: Maliki Osman Senior Minister of State: Sim Ann
Home Affairs – Minister: K Shanmugam Second Minister: Josephine Teo Ministers of State: Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Desmond Tan
Trade and Industry – Minister: Gan Kim Yong Second Minister: Tan See Leng Ministers of State: Low Yen Ling, Alvin Tan (Note: S Iswaran in charge of Trade Relations)
Finance – Minister: Lawrence Wong Second Minister: Indranee Rajah
Manpower – Minister: Tan See Leng Senior Ministers of State: Koh Poh Koon, Zaqy Mohamad Minister of State: Gan Siow Huang
Transport – Minister: S Iswaran Senior Ministers of State: Amy Khor, Chee Hong Tat Senior Parliamentary Secretary: Baey Yam Keng
National Development – Minister: Desmond Lee Second Minister: Indranee Rajah Senior Minister of State: Sim Ann Ministers of State: Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Tan Kiat How
Communication and Information – Minister: Josephine Teo Senior Minister of State: Janil Puthucheary Minister of State: Tan Kiat How Parliamentary Secretary: Rahayu Mahzam
Sustainability and Environment – Minister: Grace Fu Senior Minister of State: Amy Khor Minister of State: Desmond Tan
Law – Minister: K Shanmugam Second Minister: Edwin Tong.
Health – Minister: Ong Ye Kung Second Minister: Masagos Zulkifli Senior Ministers of State: Koh Poh Koon, Janil Puthucheary Parliamentary Secretary: Rahayu Mahzam
Education – Minister: Chan Chun Sing Second Minister: Maliki Osman Ministers of State: Sun Xueling, Gan Siow Huang
Social and Family Development – Minister: Masagos Zulkifli Minister of State: Sun Xueling Parliamentary Secretary: Eric Chua (Note: Desmond Lee in charge of Social Services Integration)
Culture, Community and Youth – Minister: Edwin Tong Ministers of State: Alvin Tan, Low Yen Ling Parliamentary Secretary: Eric Chua
Other appointments, concurrent responsibilities:
Mayors – Central Singapore District: Denise Phua North East District: Desmond Choo North West District: Alex Yam South East District: Mohd Fahmi Aliman South West District: Low Yen Ling
Heng Swee Keat: Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Strategy Group, Future Economy Council, National Research Foundation (assisting PM), Productivity Fund Administration Board (assisting PM)
Teo Chee Hean: Coordinating Minister for National Security, Smart Nation and Digital Government Group, National Security Coordination Secretariat, National Population and Talent Division, National Climate Change Secretariat
Tharman Shanmugaratnam: Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Monetary Authority of Singapore, National Jobs Council
Indranee Rajah: Population matters (assisting Teo Chee Hean)
Josephine Teo: Smart Nation and Cybersecurity
Tan Kiat How: REACH
Janil Puthucheary: GovTech
Edwin Tong: People's Association
Ong Ye Kung: Aging issues
Sim Ann: Municipal Services Office
Masagos Zulkifli: Muslim affairs, CDC matters (assisting Edwin Tong)
Chan Chun Sing: Public Service Division
Low Yen Ling: Coordinator of Mayors
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from yahoo.com:
Lawrence Wong: Heng Swee Keat leaves behind big shoes to fill at MOF
SINGAPORE — Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has “left behind big shoes to fill” at the Ministry of Finance (MOF), said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Friday (23 April).
Wong, who will helm MOF next month, paid tribute to Heng as the outgoing Finance Minister in a post on Facebook. “He has helped steer our economy during this pandemic, and delivered five budgets over the past year alone. I have learnt a lot from him over the years, and value greatly his guidance and mentorship,” Wong said.
Acknowledging that Singapore’s economy remains weak, Wong added that the country must continue to find ways to sustainably finance its spending needs.
His comments come shortly after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a Cabinet reshuffle that will see seven ministers assuming new roles. All appointments will take effect on 14 May.
Among them, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing will become the next Education Minister.
Wong said he will leave the Ministry of Education (MOE) in good hands to Chan. He also expressed “some sadness” about leaving his current role at MOE, saying that he enjoys the chance to visit schools, chat with educators, and interact with students.
Chan said in a separate Facebook post that he is looking forward to continue serving Singapore in his new role.
“I will build on this system of ours to enable every generation of Singaporeans to realise their aspirations, whatever their starting circumstances and stations in life,” he added.
Chan said his successor as the head of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, has “vast experience”, and that he will continue to drive Singapore’s economic strategies, and help businesses and workers emerge stronger from the current crisis.
Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong will be succeeding Chan as Deputy Chairman of The People's Association (PA).
On Tong’s new role, Chan said, “He will find at PA a dedicated team of colleagues, working shoulder to shoulder with our many selfless grassroots leaders, volunteers and advisers, as well as community partners.”
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, who will be the next Health Minister, also acknowledged Gan’s huge contributions at the Ministry of Health in a Facebook post.
“As public servants, we go where we are needed...The Ministry is leading the effort to fight COVID-19, and in the long term, we need to ensure that even as our population ages, we will deliver quality and affordable healthcare to Singaporeans,” said Ong, will co-chair the multi-ministerial taskforce on COVID-19, together with Wong.
Ong also spoke about his stint at the Ministry of Transport including opening up air travel to some places, breaking new ground for Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System and closing the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project amicably with Malaysia, and launching sustainability plans for land transport.
Lawrence Wong: Heng Swee Keat leaves behind big shoes to fill at MOF
SINGAPORE — Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has “left behind big shoes to fill” at the Ministry of Finance (MOF), said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Friday (23 April).
Wong, who will helm MOF next month, paid tribute to Heng as the outgoing Finance Minister in a post on Facebook. “He has helped steer our economy during this pandemic, and delivered five budgets over the past year alone. I have learnt a lot from him over the years, and value greatly his guidance and mentorship,” Wong said.
Acknowledging that Singapore’s economy remains weak, Wong added that the country must continue to find ways to sustainably finance its spending needs.
His comments come shortly after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a Cabinet reshuffle that will see seven ministers assuming new roles. All appointments will take effect on 14 May.
Among them, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing will become the next Education Minister.
Wong said he will leave the Ministry of Education (MOE) in good hands to Chan. He also expressed “some sadness” about leaving his current role at MOE, saying that he enjoys the chance to visit schools, chat with educators, and interact with students.
Chan said in a separate Facebook post that he is looking forward to continue serving Singapore in his new role.
“I will build on this system of ours to enable every generation of Singaporeans to realise their aspirations, whatever their starting circumstances and stations in life,” he added.
Chan said his successor as the head of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, has “vast experience”, and that he will continue to drive Singapore’s economic strategies, and help businesses and workers emerge stronger from the current crisis.
Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong will be succeeding Chan as Deputy Chairman of The People's Association (PA).
On Tong’s new role, Chan said, “He will find at PA a dedicated team of colleagues, working shoulder to shoulder with our many selfless grassroots leaders, volunteers and advisers, as well as community partners.”
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, who will be the next Health Minister, also acknowledged Gan’s huge contributions at the Ministry of Health in a Facebook post.
“As public servants, we go where we are needed...The Ministry is leading the effort to fight COVID-19, and in the long term, we need to ensure that even as our population ages, we will deliver quality and affordable healthcare to Singaporeans,” said Ong, will co-chair the multi-ministerial taskforce on COVID-19, together with Wong.
Ong also spoke about his stint at the Ministry of Transport including opening up air travel to some places, breaking new ground for Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System and closing the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project amicably with Malaysia, and launching sustainability plans for land transport.
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from straitstimes.com:
No fixed date set for Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble, launch only when it's safe: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - Singapore and Hong Kong have been discussing the possibility of resuming air travel between the two cities, but no fixed date has been set yet, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (April 22).
Citing this as an example of how the current global Covid-19 situation is fluid, he said new initiatives like travel bubbles can only be launched when it is safe to do so.
He added: "That requires us to monitor the situation. It requires us to ensure that on both sides, for travel, the situation is appropriate and safe before such an initiative can take off.
"Even after the initiative is launched, and travel were to start, things can change after that. You could have cases going up on either side, and it may well happen that along the way, something like this may have to be suspended temporarily, a pause in order for the infection to be controlled on either side."
Mr Wong was speaking during a virtual press conference held by the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19, which he co-chairs with Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
His remarks come after media reports said Singapore and Hong Kong had called off plans to announce the air travel bubble on Thursday. The cancellation was initiated by the Singapore side, according to a Bloomberg report.
In a separate media statement, Singapore's Ministry of Transport said on Thursday the two cities have been in close consultations on the travel arrangement, initially slated to take off in November last year.
It was postponed to this year, after a surge in Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong last November.
"We have not fixed a date to announce the resumption of the bubble, but will do so once we are ready, hopefully very soon," the ministry's spokesman added.
Mr Wong said such delays and changes in plans for safety reasons are the reality in the new normal.
"From time to time, temporary suspensions or temporary stops may well be needed in order for any outbreak or new cases to be properly contained. That's our overall approach and that's certainly the approach that Hong Kong takes as well," he said.
However, he also said there are no changes being made to the easing of attendance caps on events like weddings, business conferences, live performances and sports events from Saturday.
"For now, we have no plans to change the current prevailing rules or to change what has already been announced, but I'm sure you appreciate that this is a dynamic situation that is changing by the day."
Travellers to India risk difficulty in returning to Singapore
People in Singapore who wish to travel to India despite an advisory to defer all travel there can still do so, but they should be prepared to face difficulties in coming back in the short term, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said Thursday.
He said during a virtual news conference: "For someone returning there for the long term, or going there for long-term purposes, we won't restrict that movement, but whoever who goes there and hopes to come back to Singapore soon, I think that would potentially be difficult."
Singapore is restricting travel from the South Asian nation and there are likely to be very few flights from India coming here, Mr Wong noted. Coming back from India would therefore be difficult, at least in the near future.
He said: "We don't know when we will lift this new restriction. It is a temporary freeze on arrivals from India so as to give us time to monitor the situation in India, to understand better the new variants and the risk they pose to us, and at the same time for us to clear up the situation that we have seen recently in the dormitories."
No fixed date set for Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble, launch only when it's safe: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - Singapore and Hong Kong have been discussing the possibility of resuming air travel between the two cities, but no fixed date has been set yet, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (April 22).
Citing this as an example of how the current global Covid-19 situation is fluid, he said new initiatives like travel bubbles can only be launched when it is safe to do so.
He added: "That requires us to monitor the situation. It requires us to ensure that on both sides, for travel, the situation is appropriate and safe before such an initiative can take off.
"Even after the initiative is launched, and travel were to start, things can change after that. You could have cases going up on either side, and it may well happen that along the way, something like this may have to be suspended temporarily, a pause in order for the infection to be controlled on either side."
Mr Wong was speaking during a virtual press conference held by the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19, which he co-chairs with Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
His remarks come after media reports said Singapore and Hong Kong had called off plans to announce the air travel bubble on Thursday. The cancellation was initiated by the Singapore side, according to a Bloomberg report.
In a separate media statement, Singapore's Ministry of Transport said on Thursday the two cities have been in close consultations on the travel arrangement, initially slated to take off in November last year.
It was postponed to this year, after a surge in Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong last November.
"We have not fixed a date to announce the resumption of the bubble, but will do so once we are ready, hopefully very soon," the ministry's spokesman added.
Mr Wong said such delays and changes in plans for safety reasons are the reality in the new normal.
"From time to time, temporary suspensions or temporary stops may well be needed in order for any outbreak or new cases to be properly contained. That's our overall approach and that's certainly the approach that Hong Kong takes as well," he said.
However, he also said there are no changes being made to the easing of attendance caps on events like weddings, business conferences, live performances and sports events from Saturday.
"For now, we have no plans to change the current prevailing rules or to change what has already been announced, but I'm sure you appreciate that this is a dynamic situation that is changing by the day."
Travellers to India risk difficulty in returning to Singapore
People in Singapore who wish to travel to India despite an advisory to defer all travel there can still do so, but they should be prepared to face difficulties in coming back in the short term, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said Thursday.
He said during a virtual news conference: "For someone returning there for the long term, or going there for long-term purposes, we won't restrict that movement, but whoever who goes there and hopes to come back to Singapore soon, I think that would potentially be difficult."
Singapore is restricting travel from the South Asian nation and there are likely to be very few flights from India coming here, Mr Wong noted. Coming back from India would therefore be difficult, at least in the near future.
He said: "We don't know when we will lift this new restriction. It is a temporary freeze on arrivals from India so as to give us time to monitor the situation in India, to understand better the new variants and the risk they pose to us, and at the same time for us to clear up the situation that we have seen recently in the dormitories."
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- Jul 14, 2008
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from straitstimes.com:
4G leaders set out aspirations for new roles after Cabinet reshuffle
PM Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (April 23) announced major changes to his Cabinet. Among the ministers given new roles were (clockwise from top right) Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Lawrence Wong and Mr Ong Ye Kung.
SINGAPORE - Several fourth-generation leaders bade their farewells and set out their aspirations in the wake of Friday's (April 23) major Cabinet reshuffle, which will see seven out of 15 ministries helmed by new ministers.
Among them were Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Lawrence Wong and Mr Ong Ye Kung, all of whom have been tipped as potential candidates to be Singapore's next Prime Minister since Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat stepped aside two weeks ago as the People's Action Party's 4G leader.
The latest reshuffle will see Mr Wong, who is Education Minister, succeed DPM Heng as Finance Minister.
Mr Chan will take over from Mr Wong at the Education Ministry, and relinquish his Trade and Industry portfolio to Mr Gan Kim Yong. Mr Ong Ye Kung, who is currently Transport Minister, will move to take Mr Gan's place at the Health Ministry.
The changes will take place in three weeks' time on May 15, after the next Parliament sitting, which starts on May 10.
In his Facebook post on the new line-up, Mr Heng noted that his successor at the Finance Ministry will have the big task of continuing to invest for the long term while maintaining fiscal discipline.
Mr Wong, in a separate post, said that Mr Heng "has left behind big shoes to fill".
"I have learnt a lot from him over the years, and value greatly his guidance and mentorship," said Mr Wong, who has been Second Minister for Finance since 2016.
He also laid out his belief that there are opportunities to build a better Singapore - one that is more fair and just, greener and more sustainable and more inclusive and united - despite the crisis.
"Finance is a key enabler to seize these opportunities and to advance the well-being of Singapore and Singaporeans," he said.
He added that he leaves the Education Ministry - which he joined after the general election in July last year - with some sadness, but added that the ministry is in good hands with Mr Chan at the helm.
Mr Chan spoke warmly of his new role, setting out how he benefited from the education system as a boy.
The minister grew up in a single-parent household and was awarded a President's Scholarship and a Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship in 1988 to study economics at Cambridge University.
"Given my family circumstances, I managed to pursue what would otherwise be just a dream - getting a good education," he said, pledging to build on the existing system and enable every generation of Singaporeans to realise their aspirations, no matter their starting circumstances or stations in life.
"This is what makes Singapore special - that everyone can have the opportunity to do justice to our respective gifts and in turn pay it forward to the next generation."
Mr Ong, who was at an event to celebrate the Land Transport Authority's 25th anniversary, told reporters that his eight months at the Transport Ministry was "my shortest posting ever", but "we have to go where we are required".
He added that the work he had started, on initiatives such as setting up travel bubbles, will continue under the incoming Transport Minister S. Iswaran.
Asked if Friday's Cabinet reshuffle has provided greater clarity on the topic of leadership succession within the 4G, he replied: "As far as we are concerned, new portfolios, new responsibilities, new opportunities for 4G colleagues to work together."
He drew a distinction between the Cabinet and the corporate world, where he said contenders may move aside or leave the company once a new chief executive has been named. "In our case, we can't afford to do that. It has to be a team. Give it some time for us to select, amongst us, a first among equals."
In a Facebook post later, he said Mr Gan left big shoes to be filled. He added that the Health Ministry is leading the fight against Covid-19, and "in the long term, we need to ensure that even as our population ages, we will deliver quality and affordable healthcare to Singaporeans".
In a statement on Friday, Singapore Business Federation chief executive Lam Yi Young said the business community looks forward to Mr Gan's leadership and support as companies try to seize opportunities to emerge stronger in the next phase of recovery and growth.
He also noted that Mr Gan is not new to economic issues, having been Minister for Manpower from 2008 to 2011.
Mr Lam said Mr Wong, as Second Finance Minister, is familiar with the business community, and added that the community looks forward to "his continued support and partnership in future Budgets".
Mr Lam also welcomed Second Minister for Manpower and Trade and Industry Tan See Leng's appointment as Manpower Minister.
"By now, he is a familiar face to the business community, and we look forward to working with him to strengthen Singapore's manpower strategies to support companies' growth," said Mr Lam.
4G leaders set out aspirations for new roles after Cabinet reshuffle
PM Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (April 23) announced major changes to his Cabinet. Among the ministers given new roles were (clockwise from top right) Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Lawrence Wong and Mr Ong Ye Kung.
SINGAPORE - Several fourth-generation leaders bade their farewells and set out their aspirations in the wake of Friday's (April 23) major Cabinet reshuffle, which will see seven out of 15 ministries helmed by new ministers.
Among them were Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Lawrence Wong and Mr Ong Ye Kung, all of whom have been tipped as potential candidates to be Singapore's next Prime Minister since Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat stepped aside two weeks ago as the People's Action Party's 4G leader.
The latest reshuffle will see Mr Wong, who is Education Minister, succeed DPM Heng as Finance Minister.
Mr Chan will take over from Mr Wong at the Education Ministry, and relinquish his Trade and Industry portfolio to Mr Gan Kim Yong. Mr Ong Ye Kung, who is currently Transport Minister, will move to take Mr Gan's place at the Health Ministry.
The changes will take place in three weeks' time on May 15, after the next Parliament sitting, which starts on May 10.
In his Facebook post on the new line-up, Mr Heng noted that his successor at the Finance Ministry will have the big task of continuing to invest for the long term while maintaining fiscal discipline.
Mr Wong, in a separate post, said that Mr Heng "has left behind big shoes to fill".
"I have learnt a lot from him over the years, and value greatly his guidance and mentorship," said Mr Wong, who has been Second Minister for Finance since 2016.
He also laid out his belief that there are opportunities to build a better Singapore - one that is more fair and just, greener and more sustainable and more inclusive and united - despite the crisis.
"Finance is a key enabler to seize these opportunities and to advance the well-being of Singapore and Singaporeans," he said.
He added that he leaves the Education Ministry - which he joined after the general election in July last year - with some sadness, but added that the ministry is in good hands with Mr Chan at the helm.
Mr Chan spoke warmly of his new role, setting out how he benefited from the education system as a boy.
The minister grew up in a single-parent household and was awarded a President's Scholarship and a Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship in 1988 to study economics at Cambridge University.
"Given my family circumstances, I managed to pursue what would otherwise be just a dream - getting a good education," he said, pledging to build on the existing system and enable every generation of Singaporeans to realise their aspirations, no matter their starting circumstances or stations in life.
"This is what makes Singapore special - that everyone can have the opportunity to do justice to our respective gifts and in turn pay it forward to the next generation."
Mr Ong, who was at an event to celebrate the Land Transport Authority's 25th anniversary, told reporters that his eight months at the Transport Ministry was "my shortest posting ever", but "we have to go where we are required".
He added that the work he had started, on initiatives such as setting up travel bubbles, will continue under the incoming Transport Minister S. Iswaran.
Asked if Friday's Cabinet reshuffle has provided greater clarity on the topic of leadership succession within the 4G, he replied: "As far as we are concerned, new portfolios, new responsibilities, new opportunities for 4G colleagues to work together."
He drew a distinction between the Cabinet and the corporate world, where he said contenders may move aside or leave the company once a new chief executive has been named. "In our case, we can't afford to do that. It has to be a team. Give it some time for us to select, amongst us, a first among equals."
In a Facebook post later, he said Mr Gan left big shoes to be filled. He added that the Health Ministry is leading the fight against Covid-19, and "in the long term, we need to ensure that even as our population ages, we will deliver quality and affordable healthcare to Singaporeans".
In a statement on Friday, Singapore Business Federation chief executive Lam Yi Young said the business community looks forward to Mr Gan's leadership and support as companies try to seize opportunities to emerge stronger in the next phase of recovery and growth.
He also noted that Mr Gan is not new to economic issues, having been Minister for Manpower from 2008 to 2011.
Mr Lam said Mr Wong, as Second Finance Minister, is familiar with the business community, and added that the community looks forward to "his continued support and partnership in future Budgets".
Mr Lam also welcomed Second Minister for Manpower and Trade and Industry Tan See Leng's appointment as Manpower Minister.
"By now, he is a familiar face to the business community, and we look forward to working with him to strengthen Singapore's manpower strategies to support companies' growth," said Mr Lam.
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from straitstimes.com:
Singapore's Cabinet reshuffle: Ong Ye Kung to co-chair Covid-19 task force with Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - As the incoming Health Minister with effect from May 15, Mr Ong Ye Kung will co-chair the task force tackling the Covid-19 pandemic with Mr Lawrence Wong.
He succeeds Mr Gan Kim Yong, who has headed the Health Ministry for nearly a decade and will move to lead the Trade and Industry Ministry (MTI).
Mr Wong, who is currently Education Minister, will take over as Finance Minister next month.
The new Cabinet appointments will take place from May 15, after the next Parliament sitting.
Announcing the changes on Friday afternoon (April 23), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Mr Ong, who is currently Transport Minister, will build on the foundation laid by his predecessor.
He noted how Mr Ong has been dealing with major transport challenges - including working on reopening Singapore's borders and protecting the country's status as an air and sea hub - since he took over the portfolio last year.
"At MOH, he will build on the strong foundation that Gan Kim Yong laid in healthcare," PM Lee said. "Issues like ageing, healthcare infrastructure and healthcare finance need our unremitting efforts spanning many health ministers."
Asked for his expectations of both ministers now co-chairing the task force, Mr Lee replied: "I expect all of them to work closely together and cooperate, to make sure that policies are well-coordinated and nothing slips through the cracks."
This is how the entire Cabinet has to work, he added. "You're doing your part, but at the same time you're covering for one another, so that when a problem comes up, we deal with the problem holistically - not just each person tackling his piece and leaving gaps in between, or overlaps and conflicts between the different ministries."
In his speech, Mr Lee also noted that Mr Gan has been a "point man" in the fight against Covid-19 and implemented many major healthcare reforms in his term as Health Minister.
In his new role at MTI, he will oversee the country's economic recovery and pursue new opportunities, Mr Lee said.
He added that Mr Gan is well-suited for the post, having previously been Manpower Minister and also served in MTI early in his career, before spending 16 years in the private sector.
Singapore's Cabinet reshuffle: Ong Ye Kung to co-chair Covid-19 task force with Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - As the incoming Health Minister with effect from May 15, Mr Ong Ye Kung will co-chair the task force tackling the Covid-19 pandemic with Mr Lawrence Wong.
He succeeds Mr Gan Kim Yong, who has headed the Health Ministry for nearly a decade and will move to lead the Trade and Industry Ministry (MTI).
Mr Wong, who is currently Education Minister, will take over as Finance Minister next month.
The new Cabinet appointments will take place from May 15, after the next Parliament sitting.
Announcing the changes on Friday afternoon (April 23), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Mr Ong, who is currently Transport Minister, will build on the foundation laid by his predecessor.
He noted how Mr Ong has been dealing with major transport challenges - including working on reopening Singapore's borders and protecting the country's status as an air and sea hub - since he took over the portfolio last year.
"At MOH, he will build on the strong foundation that Gan Kim Yong laid in healthcare," PM Lee said. "Issues like ageing, healthcare infrastructure and healthcare finance need our unremitting efforts spanning many health ministers."
Asked for his expectations of both ministers now co-chairing the task force, Mr Lee replied: "I expect all of them to work closely together and cooperate, to make sure that policies are well-coordinated and nothing slips through the cracks."
This is how the entire Cabinet has to work, he added. "You're doing your part, but at the same time you're covering for one another, so that when a problem comes up, we deal with the problem holistically - not just each person tackling his piece and leaving gaps in between, or overlaps and conflicts between the different ministries."
In his speech, Mr Lee also noted that Mr Gan has been a "point man" in the fight against Covid-19 and implemented many major healthcare reforms in his term as Health Minister.
In his new role at MTI, he will oversee the country's economic recovery and pursue new opportunities, Mr Lee said.
He added that Mr Gan is well-suited for the post, having previously been Manpower Minister and also served in MTI early in his career, before spending 16 years in the private sector.
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from yahoo.com:
Singapore warns of 'tougher action' if infections spread wider
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore urged its people to reduce social interactions and warned of tougher action on Friday if coronavirus infections rise further, a day after reporting its highest number of domestically transmitted cases in about seven months.
It confirmed nine new local cases on Friday, following 16 the day before, including a growing cluster at a hospital.
Though those are only a fraction of the number being reported among Singapore's Southeast Asian neighbours, a jump in infections would be a setback for the Asian business hub, which has successfully contained its earlier outbreaks.
Health authorities on Friday said the scale of social interactions should be reduced and more crowd control measures would be imposed over the next two weeks.
"We have to be mentally prepared that if the situation does not improve, and instead continues to worsen over the coming days, then we will not hesitate to take tougher action," said Lawrence Wong, a minister who co-heads Singapore's coronavirus taskforce.
There are 13 cases now linked to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which includes four staff members who had been vaccinated but have had no or mild symptoms.
Authorities have isolated four wards of the hospital, banned visitors and were conducting mass-testing following the cluster, which is the first in a Singapore hospital.
The city-state has reported more than 61,000 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic hit last year, the vast majority of those in dormitories housing low-wage foreign workers. It has recorded 30 deaths.
Most of its subsequent cases have been imported.
Singapore's immunisation programme is in full swing, using vaccines of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. It is on track to inoculate its population of 5.7 million by year-end.
Singapore warns of 'tougher action' if infections spread wider
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore urged its people to reduce social interactions and warned of tougher action on Friday if coronavirus infections rise further, a day after reporting its highest number of domestically transmitted cases in about seven months.
It confirmed nine new local cases on Friday, following 16 the day before, including a growing cluster at a hospital.
Though those are only a fraction of the number being reported among Singapore's Southeast Asian neighbours, a jump in infections would be a setback for the Asian business hub, which has successfully contained its earlier outbreaks.
Health authorities on Friday said the scale of social interactions should be reduced and more crowd control measures would be imposed over the next two weeks.
"We have to be mentally prepared that if the situation does not improve, and instead continues to worsen over the coming days, then we will not hesitate to take tougher action," said Lawrence Wong, a minister who co-heads Singapore's coronavirus taskforce.
There are 13 cases now linked to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which includes four staff members who had been vaccinated but have had no or mild symptoms.
Authorities have isolated four wards of the hospital, banned visitors and were conducting mass-testing following the cluster, which is the first in a Singapore hospital.
The city-state has reported more than 61,000 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic hit last year, the vast majority of those in dormitories housing low-wage foreign workers. It has recorded 30 deaths.
Most of its subsequent cases have been imported.
Singapore's immunisation programme is in full swing, using vaccines of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. It is on track to inoculate its population of 5.7 million by year-end.
- Joined
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from yahoo.com:
COVID-19: Social interactions should be limited to two per day – MTF
SINGAPORE — All individuals should limit their social interactions to two per day, whether visiting another household or meeting with friends or family members in a public place, the multi-ministerial taskforce (MTF) on COVID-19 said at a virtual news conference on Friday (30 April).
In addition, the MTF announced tighter measures for entry into malls and large standalone stores, and other places to be implemented from Saturday onwards for two weeks. This is in light of an uptick in the number of community cases in the past two weeks.
"This is the first time in quite some time that we have seen relatively large clusters in the community, so this is obviously cause for concern," said Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the MTF. He acknowledged that the new restrictions will "create inconvenience for everyone", given that there are three public holidays in the month of May: Labour Day, Hari Raya Puasa and Vesak Day.
"But I seek everyone's cooperation to scale back your social activities and comply with all the prevailing rules. This is the only way we can ensure that we slow down the spread of the virus in the community."
On 22 January, the MTF had announced that visitors to households would be capped at eight unique visitors per day. The following additional measures will be implemented from 1-14 May (unless otherwise stated):
a. Malls and large standalone stores: The occupancy limit will be reduced to one person per 10 sqm of Gross Floor Area (GFA), from one person per 8 sqm of GFA;
b. Popular malls (Lucky Plaza, Peninsula Plaza): The odd and even date entry restrictions on Sundays will be reinstated
c. Outdoor barbecue pits and campsites: These will be closed to the public, and includes barbecue pits in parks, HDB estates, condominiums and country clubs.
d. Attractions: With effect from 7 May through 14 May, all attractions that have received MTI’s prior approval will be permitted to operate at 50 per cent operating capacity, a reduction from 65 per cent. Further details will be released later.
Among the steps people should take: avoiding crowded places and staying home where possible, keeping groups as small as possible, and sticking to a regular group of contacts. Employers should also allow employees to work from home if they are able to do so.
The authorities advised employers to continue to stagger start times of employees who need to return to the workplace, and implement flexible working hours. Social gatherings at the workplace should also be avoided, as these measures will help lower transmission risks by reducing interactions at the workplace and in public places, including public transport.
Wong warned that Singaporeans must be "mentally prepared" that if the situation does not improve in the coming days, tougher action and more stringent measures will be taken to reduce significantly the number of interactions within the community. "We are not there yet, but we strongly encourage every individual, everyone in Singapore to do their part."
He added, "So if we stay disciplined and vigilant, and if we all do our part, I am confident that we can get through this bump and get back on track towards our path of reopening the economy."
The MOH on Friday confirmed 24 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, taking the country's total case count to 61,145. Nine of them are local infections in the community, of whom eight are linked to previous cases.
Among them, four are linked to a fully-vaccinated nurse at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and were detected from testing of patients and staff at the hospital. The cluster, one of eight active COVID-19 clusters in Singapore, now has 13 cases linked to it.
COVID-19: Social interactions should be limited to two per day – MTF
SINGAPORE — All individuals should limit their social interactions to two per day, whether visiting another household or meeting with friends or family members in a public place, the multi-ministerial taskforce (MTF) on COVID-19 said at a virtual news conference on Friday (30 April).
In addition, the MTF announced tighter measures for entry into malls and large standalone stores, and other places to be implemented from Saturday onwards for two weeks. This is in light of an uptick in the number of community cases in the past two weeks.
"This is the first time in quite some time that we have seen relatively large clusters in the community, so this is obviously cause for concern," said Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the MTF. He acknowledged that the new restrictions will "create inconvenience for everyone", given that there are three public holidays in the month of May: Labour Day, Hari Raya Puasa and Vesak Day.
"But I seek everyone's cooperation to scale back your social activities and comply with all the prevailing rules. This is the only way we can ensure that we slow down the spread of the virus in the community."
On 22 January, the MTF had announced that visitors to households would be capped at eight unique visitors per day. The following additional measures will be implemented from 1-14 May (unless otherwise stated):
a. Malls and large standalone stores: The occupancy limit will be reduced to one person per 10 sqm of Gross Floor Area (GFA), from one person per 8 sqm of GFA;
b. Popular malls (Lucky Plaza, Peninsula Plaza): The odd and even date entry restrictions on Sundays will be reinstated
c. Outdoor barbecue pits and campsites: These will be closed to the public, and includes barbecue pits in parks, HDB estates, condominiums and country clubs.
d. Attractions: With effect from 7 May through 14 May, all attractions that have received MTI’s prior approval will be permitted to operate at 50 per cent operating capacity, a reduction from 65 per cent. Further details will be released later.
Among the steps people should take: avoiding crowded places and staying home where possible, keeping groups as small as possible, and sticking to a regular group of contacts. Employers should also allow employees to work from home if they are able to do so.
The authorities advised employers to continue to stagger start times of employees who need to return to the workplace, and implement flexible working hours. Social gatherings at the workplace should also be avoided, as these measures will help lower transmission risks by reducing interactions at the workplace and in public places, including public transport.
Wong warned that Singaporeans must be "mentally prepared" that if the situation does not improve in the coming days, tougher action and more stringent measures will be taken to reduce significantly the number of interactions within the community. "We are not there yet, but we strongly encourage every individual, everyone in Singapore to do their part."
He added, "So if we stay disciplined and vigilant, and if we all do our part, I am confident that we can get through this bump and get back on track towards our path of reopening the economy."
The MOH on Friday confirmed 24 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, taking the country's total case count to 61,145. Nine of them are local infections in the community, of whom eight are linked to previous cases.
Among them, four are linked to a fully-vaccinated nurse at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and were detected from testing of patients and staff at the hospital. The cluster, one of eight active COVID-19 clusters in Singapore, now has 13 cases linked to it.
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- 113
from Lawrence Wong facebook:
Lawrence Wong
6 hrs ·
Covid-19 cases in the community have been rising. We are tightening community measures to slow the spread and break the transmission chains.
Let’s all do our part - avoid going to crowded places, and stay home where possible; limit our social gatherings to 2 per day in total. Employers should also allow their staff to work from home as far as possible.
We have been on a path of controlled reopening since we exited the circuit breaker last year. But this journey is not a one-way street - it will have stops and starts, and bumps along the way. We are encountering one such bump now. But let's take confidence that we have better capabilities and tools to control the infection. If we stay vigilant and do our part, we can get through this, and bring the community cases back down again.
Lawrence Wong
6 hrs ·
Covid-19 cases in the community have been rising. We are tightening community measures to slow the spread and break the transmission chains.
Let’s all do our part - avoid going to crowded places, and stay home where possible; limit our social gatherings to 2 per day in total. Employers should also allow their staff to work from home as far as possible.
We have been on a path of controlled reopening since we exited the circuit breaker last year. But this journey is not a one-way street - it will have stops and starts, and bumps along the way. We are encountering one such bump now. But let's take confidence that we have better capabilities and tools to control the infection. If we stay vigilant and do our part, we can get through this, and bring the community cases back down again.
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
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from straitstimes.com:
'Disastrous' to overreact to vaccinated people getting Covid-19, vaccines do work: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - People should not overreact to cases of vaccinated individuals getting infected with Covid-19, and make the "biggest mistake" of thinking there is no need for vaccinations as they do not work, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong.
"That would be disastrous because the vaccinations do work," he stressed, noting that they protect people from the risk of severe disease and help reduce transmission.
While vaccines are not foolproof, they will have a bigger impact on reducing the overall virus spread in the community when more people are vaccinated, he said, urging every person who is medically eligible to get inoculated.
Mr Wong's remarks at a press conference on Friday (April 30) came after it emerged that four of the five Covid-19 cases who are medical staff working at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The five staff include two doctors, a nurse, one healthcare assistant, and one cleaner who had worked in the ward where this cluster of cases had emerged.
Of the eight hospital patients in the 13-person cluster, one person had received both doses of the vaccine, while another got one dose. Seven of the eight patients were admitted to Ward 9D, while one was admitted to Ward 9C.
The Health Ministry's director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak said those who have been vaccinated have derived some level of immunity.
"But as illustrated by this cluster, vaccination doesn't provide 100 per cent protection, but it increases your resistance to getting symptomatic infection, it reduces the risk of you getting an infection and spreading that," he added.
The vaccinations remain protective for the wide majority of the population and staff who had received them, Prof Mak added.
He said investigations are ongoing to ensure that the Covid-19 cases in the TTSH cluster were properly vaccinated.
So far, no issues associated with vaccine quality or the cold chain supply of vaccines at the vaccination centres have been found.
Describing the cases of vaccinated individuals getting Covid-19 as "breakthrough infections", Mr Wong said the fact that this can happen is "something we already knew about".
"So we should not overreact to the news of breakthrough infections, or worse, make the biggest mistake, which is to say that, 'Oh, vaccinations don't work, and therefore, maybe there is no need for a vaccine'," he added.
The National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) is also testing all cases that have been admitted there to determine their Covid-19 status.
These patients may have been admitted and transferred to NCID because of a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which may mean an active infection or patients who have been previously infected and are persistent viral shedders.
The hospitals are also performing phylogenetic tests to assess whether any of these infections are due to viral variants of concern, Prof Mak said.
The genome of the virus is first sequenced before a phylogenetic analysis is done on it, which allows for cases to be linked to clusters and variants of concerns to be identified.
Numerous variants have been detected globally, such as Britain's B117 strain, Brazilian P1 variant, South Africa's B1351 and India's "double-mutant" variant called B1617.
'Disastrous' to overreact to vaccinated people getting Covid-19, vaccines do work: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - People should not overreact to cases of vaccinated individuals getting infected with Covid-19, and make the "biggest mistake" of thinking there is no need for vaccinations as they do not work, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong.
"That would be disastrous because the vaccinations do work," he stressed, noting that they protect people from the risk of severe disease and help reduce transmission.
While vaccines are not foolproof, they will have a bigger impact on reducing the overall virus spread in the community when more people are vaccinated, he said, urging every person who is medically eligible to get inoculated.
Mr Wong's remarks at a press conference on Friday (April 30) came after it emerged that four of the five Covid-19 cases who are medical staff working at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The five staff include two doctors, a nurse, one healthcare assistant, and one cleaner who had worked in the ward where this cluster of cases had emerged.
Of the eight hospital patients in the 13-person cluster, one person had received both doses of the vaccine, while another got one dose. Seven of the eight patients were admitted to Ward 9D, while one was admitted to Ward 9C.
The Health Ministry's director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak said those who have been vaccinated have derived some level of immunity.
"But as illustrated by this cluster, vaccination doesn't provide 100 per cent protection, but it increases your resistance to getting symptomatic infection, it reduces the risk of you getting an infection and spreading that," he added.
The vaccinations remain protective for the wide majority of the population and staff who had received them, Prof Mak added.
He said investigations are ongoing to ensure that the Covid-19 cases in the TTSH cluster were properly vaccinated.
So far, no issues associated with vaccine quality or the cold chain supply of vaccines at the vaccination centres have been found.
Describing the cases of vaccinated individuals getting Covid-19 as "breakthrough infections", Mr Wong said the fact that this can happen is "something we already knew about".
"So we should not overreact to the news of breakthrough infections, or worse, make the biggest mistake, which is to say that, 'Oh, vaccinations don't work, and therefore, maybe there is no need for a vaccine'," he added.
The National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) is also testing all cases that have been admitted there to determine their Covid-19 status.
These patients may have been admitted and transferred to NCID because of a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which may mean an active infection or patients who have been previously infected and are persistent viral shedders.
The hospitals are also performing phylogenetic tests to assess whether any of these infections are due to viral variants of concern, Prof Mak said.
The genome of the virus is first sequenced before a phylogenetic analysis is done on it, which allows for cases to be linked to clusters and variants of concerns to be identified.
Numerous variants have been detected globally, such as Britain's B117 strain, Brazilian P1 variant, South Africa's B1351 and India's "double-mutant" variant called B1617.
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