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Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.

jw5

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from Lawrence Wong facebook:


May be an image of one or more people



https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceWongST?__tn__=<<*F
Lawrence Wong
4 May at 06:22 ·

The most recent clusters in the community are from the new variants - they appear to be more infectious and causing larger clusters than before. We have tried our best to ring-fence the cases, but we must assume there are still hidden cases out in the community. So we are tightening our measures further.

We are making a robust and preemptive move to try and snuff out the latest outbreak of cases, and break the transmission chain. Effectively the tighter measures will bring us back to Phase 2 for a few weeks till the end of May.

I seek everyone’s cooperation to comply with the latest rules - not just the letter of the law, but the spirit of it. For the next few weeks, scale back your activities and social interactions, and stay home as much as possible. We have brought down infection rates in the community before, and we can do so again - working together and staying disciplined in our fight against the virus.
 

jw5

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Lawrence Wong posting a lot on facebook to protect his boss's policies. LOL....................... :biggrin:

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from straitstimes.com:

Gan Kim Yong to remain co-chair of Covid-19 task force after leaving MOH

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SINGAPORE - Health Minister Gan Kim Yong will continue as a co-chair of the multi-ministry task force (MTF) on Covid-19 even after leaving for the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

This means that there will be three co-chairs from May 15, when new Health Minister Ong Ye Kung takes on the role of co-chair for the MTF. Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who will be Singapore's next Finance Minister, remains as a co-chair.

Mr Gan, who has been helming the Ministry of Health for a decade, has been at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 from Day 1.

He will be taking over the Ministry for Trade and Industry, which is part of the MTF.

He said on Tuesday (May 4): “I’ve discussed with Minister Wong and Minister Ong and we’ve discussed how we can ensure continuity.

“The three of us will continue to be involved in the MTF, to share and support one another. I will continue to work with the two co-chairs to ensure that there is continuity.”
 

jw5

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from Lawrence Wong facebook:


Lawrence Wong
4 hrs ·
Following the detection of a Covid-19 case at Edgefield Secondary School, we mounted an exercise to test everyone in the school. I thank everyone for cooperating with the measures, and adapting quickly to the week of full Home-Based Learning.
I was relieved to learn that the swab tests were negative for 1,500 students, staff and external vendors of the school, including those on quarantine.
Unfortunately, a new Covid-19 case has just been detected in a student at Victoria Junior College.
The same approach will be taken at VJC, to place close contacts of the student under quarantine and to test all the other students, staff, vendors and visitors of the school. As it will take some time to complete and finalise the results of these tests, VJC will conduct full home-based learning from 10 to 14 May.
We continue to take all necessary measures to keep our schools and students safe. Let's continue to stay on our guard - wear a mask, observe safe management measures, and see a doctor if you're unwell.

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jw5

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from theindependent.sg:

Succession question: Nikkei Asia asks if Lawrence Wong is ‘main man to watch’

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Singapore—The ruling People’s Action Party’s succession plan was thrown into confusion with Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat bowing out of contention last month.

Immediately, suggestions as to who might be the next Prime Minister started floating around.

One strong candidate seems to have emerged above the pack, outgoing Education Minister Lawrence Wong.

The case for believing Mr Wong is slated to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was strengthened by his appointment as Finance Minister, a position he will assume on May 15.

Mr Wong, as Minister for National Development last year, co-chaired the multi-ministry task force assigned to tackle the pandemic, and emerged as the Government’s frontman in its Covid-19 response.

He was perceived to have generally done well in this capacity, given the Government’s success in containing infections as well as the low death rate.

Mr Wong’s appointment as Finance Minister should not have come as a surprise to many, given that he was Second Minister in the Ministry of Finance (MOF) already, along with Ms Indranee Rajah.

The Finance Ministry portfolio is indeed an important one as the MOF is “responsible for managing Singapore’s fiscal policies and the structure of its economy”. The MOF also prepares the yearly national Budget.

And now, Mr Wong will be following in the footsteps of some historical political luminaries, including PM Lee, the well-beloved Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and former President Tony Tan, who all helmed the MOF at one point in their careers.

Nikkei Asia quotes Yu Liuqing, country analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit, as saying, “After obtaining the finance minister portfolio, Lawrence Wong has the most comprehensive ministerial experience among all 4G ministers”.

The article also mentions that Mr Wong has had a longer career as an elected parliamentarian than another top contender, outgoing Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung.

“And unlike Ong, he has never lost an election race,” NIkkei Asia ads.

“With opposition politicians making gains, most recently in last year’s general election, the PAP is likely to be looking for a proven winner with broad public support to help maintain its uninterrupted run in power.”
Mr Ong was part of the PAP team that lost to the Workers’ Party in the Aljunied GRC in the 2011 general election.

But Nikkei Asia is not the only international publication to speculate on Mr Wong’s chances of succeeding PM Lee.

In the Malay Mail last month, Ms Surekha A Yadav called the minister “the embodiment of the Singapore dream”.

“He is the son of a teacher and sales representative; he has risen through the ranks via education. Winning a coveted public scholarship to the University of Madison Wisconsin and then winning places at the University of Michigan and Harvard. He is the embodiment of the Singapore dream.

“Though his ascension is not certain, the responsibilities of the Finance Ministry will likely be a final test. If he can manage the economy as well as he has Covid-19, I suspect little will stop him from reaching the No 1 spot.”
 

kaninabuchaojibye

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from theindependent.sg:

Succession question: Nikkei Asia asks if Lawrence Wong is ‘main man to watch’

View attachment 110361



Singapore—The ruling People’s Action Party’s succession plan was thrown into confusion with Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat bowing out of contention last month.

Immediately, suggestions as to who might be the next Prime Minister started floating around.

One strong candidate seems to have emerged above the pack, outgoing Education Minister Lawrence Wong.

The case for believing Mr Wong is slated to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was strengthened by his appointment as Finance Minister, a position he will assume on May 15.

Mr Wong, as Minister for National Development last year, co-chaired the multi-ministry task force assigned to tackle the pandemic, and emerged as the Government’s frontman in its Covid-19 response.

He was perceived to have generally done well in this capacity, given the Government’s success in containing infections as well as the low death rate.

Mr Wong’s appointment as Finance Minister should not have come as a surprise to many, given that he was Second Minister in the Ministry of Finance (MOF) already, along with Ms Indranee Rajah.

The Finance Ministry portfolio is indeed an important one as the MOF is “responsible for managing Singapore’s fiscal policies and the structure of its economy”. The MOF also prepares the yearly national Budget.

And now, Mr Wong will be following in the footsteps of some historical political luminaries, including PM Lee, the well-beloved Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and former President Tony Tan, who all helmed the MOF at one point in their careers.

Nikkei Asia quotes Yu Liuqing, country analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit, as saying, “After obtaining the finance minister portfolio, Lawrence Wong has the most comprehensive ministerial experience among all 4G ministers”.

The article also mentions that Mr Wong has had a longer career as an elected parliamentarian than another top contender, outgoing Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung.

“And unlike Ong, he has never lost an election race,” NIkkei Asia ads.

“With opposition politicians making gains, most recently in last year’s general election, the PAP is likely to be looking for a proven winner with broad public support to help maintain its uninterrupted run in power.”
Mr Ong was part of the PAP team that lost to the Workers’ Party in the Aljunied GRC in the 2011 general election.

But Nikkei Asia is not the only international publication to speculate on Mr Wong’s chances of succeeding PM Lee.

In the Malay Mail last month, Ms Surekha A Yadav called the minister “the embodiment of the Singapore dream”.

“He is the son of a teacher and sales representative; he has risen through the ranks via education. Winning a coveted public scholarship to the University of Madison Wisconsin and then winning places at the University of Michigan and Harvard. He is the embodiment of the Singapore dream.

“Though his ascension is not certain, the responsibilities of the Finance Ministry will likely be a final test. If he can manage the economy as well as he has Covid-19, I suspect little will stop him from reaching the No 1 spot.”
try asking those who has work for him and the ministry he has been overseeing
then u know the truth whether he is ok or not....
 

jw5

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from msn.com:

Singapore ‘on the knife’s edge’ but could get COVID under control: Lawrence Wong

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Singapore’s COVID spiral could be under control by the end of the month, according to a politician charged with helping steer the nation’s response.

In a parliamentary update on the country’s COVID-19 situation, Lawrence Wong said things could get better this month if the public treads carefully and does not spread the disease. His comments come after weeks of steadily rising cases following months during which few were detected.

“I think it’s very important for us to understand that we are now on the knife’s edge and our community cases can go either way over the next few weeks,” he said in Parliament today, referring to case counts that exclude migrant laborers.

“We have the chance of getting things under control by the end of the month but as we know from experience, it only takes one lapse or one irresponsible action for an infection to spread and that infection may end up being a super-spreader event in the community.”

As to why borders have not been completely shut to minimize the spread of infection, Wong said trade and travel are the “lifeblood” of Singapore, which cannot sustain itself in the same way as “resource-rich” countries such as China, Australia, and New Zealand.

He added that Singapore can keep borders closed but “not over a prolonged duration.”

Wong said the country’s capabilities have “significantly strengthened” with larger testing capacities, “more pervasive” use of the contract tracing technologies TraceTogether and SafeEntry, and widespread vaccination of most of the elderly and frontline workers. About 1.8 million people have had at least one shot so far.

Singapore saw the recent outbreaks at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, migrant worker dormitories, among workers from Papua New Guinea, and, most recently, Changi Airport.
Singapore yesterday recorded 19 cases, totalling to 61,378 cases with 31 deaths since the outbreak began.
 

laksaboy

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Asset
Singapore’s COVID spiral could be under control by the end of the month, according to a politician charged with helping steer the nation’s response.

20 more days till the end of this month. If not under control by then what will Laulan Wong do? Resign?

Or give excuses, shift blame, shift goal posts, use strawman arguments to explain away everything? :rolleyes:
 

jw5

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20 more days till the end of this month. If not under control by then what will Laulan Wong do? Resign?

Or give excuses, shift blame, shift goal posts, use strawman arguments to explain away everything? :rolleyes:

Ministars in SG will never resign. The only exception that comes to mind was former Ministar of state Teo Ser Luck. The irony was that he resigned because he was not made a Ministar. :rolleyes::eek::biggrin:
 

jw5

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from msn.com:

Singapore may have to ‘learn to live’ with Covid-19, minister says in call to boost vaccinations


Singapore's
leaders on Tuesday ramped up their calls for residents to be vaccinated, cautioning them that with the emergence of new coronavirus strains, Covid-19 may become endemic and the country would have to end up living with it.


Authorities also stressed that unlike countries such as China and Australia that had the luxury to adopt tighter border restrictions, Singapore - a small and open economy - could not shut itself off forever.

"We are a little red dot, fully plugged into the world, and trade and travel are our lifeblood. For us, these are not just good-to-have. They are existential issues," said education minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the government's Covid-19 task force.

"In other words, we can keep our borders closed for a short time but not over a prolonged duration."

The latest push by the government comes amid a sharp rise in domestic cases over the past few weeks, with 11 new active clusters after months of near zero infections. It has also detected several variants of concern in both local and imported infections, including the B. 1.617 strain first identified in India that is thought to be more transmissible.

Lawrence Wong wearing glasses and looking at the camera: Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs Singapore's Covid-19 task force. Photo: AFP


The country recorded 13 locally transmitted cases on Tuesday, bumping up the number of domestic infections to 78 this month. This is higher than the 55 cases logged in April and just nine for March.

The latest developments could have implications on whether the quarantine-free air travel bubble with Hong Kong, expected to open later this month, as well as in-person conferences like the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in June will go ahead as planned.

Singapore's health minister Gan Kim Yong revealed in parliament on Tuesday that as of May 9, about one-fifth of Singapore's total population of 5.7 million - or 1.2 million people - had been fully vaccinated. Some 1.8 million people have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine since December when the country's vaccination campaign began.

Singapore now has one of the highest vaccination rates in Asia, above cities such as Hong Kong, whose figure stood at 8.7 per cent as of Saturday. The city state's vaccination programme is only open to those aged above 45, but Gan said it would be progressively extended to younger residents from the end of May.

Singapore currently uses the two-shot Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, but a shipment of Sinovac doses that arrived in February drew multiple questions from lawmakers.

Gan, who co-chairs the task force with Wong, said health authorities were still "carefully evaluating" the China-made vaccines and stressed that they were procured as part of Singapore's earlier efforts to secure a diversified portfolio of jabs.

Singapore, he said, also had "several other alternatives", with the government having advanced purchase agreements with other vaccine manufacturers too. However, he said he could not share more details, citing confidentiality.

a man standing in front of a building: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where there is a growing coronavirus cluster, is one of Singapore's largest health care facilities. Photo: EPA


Gan, delivering a 30-minute ministerial statement on Tuesday, also gave updates on a growing cluster at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, one of Singapore's largest health care facilities. As of Monday, the cluster comprised 43 cases, made up of 10 hospital staff and 33 patients and visitors.

Gan said nine of those infected were fully vaccinated and were either asymptomatic or exhibited mild symptoms, and none had required oxygen support. Of the remaining 34, six had required oxygen, two were still in intensive care, and one - an 88-year-old woman - had died.

"While the numbers are too small to draw firm conclusions, the findings do indicate that vaccination provides critical protection even against Covid-19 variants," he said.

"We know vaccination does not eliminate the risks of infection completely, but it does help to reduce the severity of the disease and is also likely to reduce onwards transmission."

Meanwhile, Wong, the education minister, fielded questions on Singapore's border restrictions. The country had in recent days tightened border controls, extending its quarantine period for most inbound travellers - except for those in seven lower-risk jurisdictions (Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau) - from 14 days to 21 days.

Wong said companies in Singapore's construction, marine and process sectors would be especially hard hit by the tighter border controls, while the economy faced a shortage of foreign labour with entry approvals set for prolonged delays.

Wong said Singapore could expect many new build-to-order projects to be delayed by a year or more, while companies in the marine and process sectors "may even have to forgo new opportunities".

He said that any company seeking to bring in foreign workers from higher-risk countries would "now face considerable delays," and the waiting time for an entry approval could be more than six months.

"We are now on the knife's edge and our community case numbers can go either way over the next few weeks," Wong said, adding Singapore has a chance of getting things under control by the end of the month.

Workers cordon off a table to restrict the group size of diners, at a hawker centre in Singapore. Photo: EPA


"Our big concern is that if companies continue to face difficulties or are forced to close, we could then end up with higher unemployment and job losses for Singaporeans."

Singapore, he said, still had a "long road ahead" in its virus fight due to the emergence of mutant strains, and was in a different position to larger and resource-rich countries like China, Australia and New Zealand, which could rely on domestic demand to keep their economies going.

The city state over the weekend tightened some of its measures till the end of this month, including limiting social gatherings to five people from the previous eight, and closing off areas deemed as having a higher chance of virus transmission, like fitness studios and gyms.

"We don't know how the path of the pandemic will evolve, and we must be mentally prepared for a long road ahead, with many curveballs and many more twists and turns," Wong said.

"One scenario is that the virus will never go away. It becomes endemic to the human population. We will then have to learn to live with it."
 

jw5

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from msn.com:

Singapore may have to ‘learn to live’ with Covid-19, minister says in call to boost vaccinations

Singapore's leaders on Tuesday ramped up their calls for residents to be vaccinated, cautioning them that with the emergence of new coronavirus strains, Covid-19 may become endemic and the country would have to end up living with it.


Authorities also stressed that unlike countries such as China and Australia that had the luxury to adopt tighter border restrictions, Singapore - a small and open economy - could not shut itself off forever.

"We are a little red dot, fully plugged into the world, and trade and travel are our lifeblood. For us, these are not just good-to-have. They are existential issues," said education minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the government's Covid-19 task force.

"In other words, we can keep our borders closed for a short time but not over a prolonged duration."

The latest push by the government comes amid a sharp rise in domestic cases over the past few weeks, with 11 new active clusters after months of near zero infections. It has also detected several variants of concern in both local and imported infections, including the B. 1.617 strain first identified in India that is thought to be more transmissible.

You could have prevented the outbreak by closing the borders quickly to people coming from dangerous areas, you subservient dumbass. :rolleyes::FU:
 

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from Lawrence Wong facebook:


Lawrence Wong
10 hrs ·
As part of the Household Support Package announced at Budget 2021, we will give each Singaporean child aged 7 to 20 a one-off top-up of $200 to their Edusave account or Post-Secondary Education Account this month.
This top-up is in addition to the annual Edusave contribution that we give, and can be used for approved fees and enrichment programmes.
Here's what some of our students hope to use the funds for. Triysha from Tampines Secondary is curious about engineering and will use her Edusave top-up for an elective module on Automotive Engineering.
Lucia from ITE College East is in a leadership role at school. She hopes to use her PSEA top-up for Learning Journeys and Leadership Workshops.
Glad that our students will use these top-ups to explore their interests with the full support of their parents!

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jw5

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from Lawrence Wong facebook:

Lawrence Wong
10 hrs ·
Today marks the start of Hari Raya celebrations. With the recently tightened measures in place, it has been understandably disappointing for our Muslim community, especially since celebrations were muted last year too.
I thank the community for understanding the need for these measures - taking them in your stride and finding creative ways to stay connected and to celebrate safely.
May we all continue to draw strength from one another during this festive period. Wishing all Muslim friends a joyous and safe celebration. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

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