Govt to work with unions to keep retrenchments to minimum
By Lim Min Zhang, The Straits Times, 15 Feb 2020
As Singapore's economy is hit by the coronavirus crisis, the Government will ensure that retrenchments are kept to a minimum, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.
"Even as we deal with the viral outbreak, we must ensure that our economy can function to keep jobs and livelihoods for Singapore," he said in his Total Defence Day message yesterday.
"The Government will work with companies and unions to ensure that retrenchments are kept to a minimum, if at all."
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had said earlier that the Government will unveil a support package at Budget 2020 to help businesses affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19.
In his message, Dr Ng recounted how, in 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) had caused sickness and death. The fear of being infected gripped citizens everywhere, tourists stopped travelling and people stayed home, he said.
As a result, jobs were lost and retrenchments went up.
"In some countries, this fear created distrust and divided people. But in Singapore, we rallied through Total Defence, stayed united, overcame the SARS crisis to emerge intact and stronger," he said.
The national defence framework has to come into action again against the coronavirus, Dr Ng said.
As part of social defence, everyone has to practise good hygiene and stay away from others if sick, he urged. "At the same time, we must show empathy and compassion to help those who are infected or under quarantine."
Psychological defence has to be strengthened to withstand the ups and downs from the virus outbreak, he added.
Daily life can go on with sensible precautions, such as washing one's hands and keeping them away from the face, he said.
Singaporeans also have to guard against digital threats such as false information during this period, he added.
The minister said digital defence, the latest pillar of Total Defence, was a timely and necessary addition as dealing with the virus outbreak has shown.
False information about the disease or messages to incite hatred against any group do much harm, he noted. "We must never let these 'drums' - distortions, rumours, untruths, misinformation and smears - be heard, lest they sow discord, divide our people and ultimately weaken our will to defeat the outbreak and defend Singapore."
Total Defence Day is commemorated on Feb 15 every year - the day Singapore fell to Japan in 1942, which was followed by 31/2 years of Japanese Occupation.
Digital defence was added last year as the sixth pillar of Total Defence. Economic, social, psychological, military and civil defence make up the other five pillars of Total Defence.
Dr Ng also said the country's civil and military defences are "in good working order".
He offered his condolences to families of victims who have suffered, and saluted front-line staff, such as doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who treat patients daily.
As Singapore marks Total Defence Day, he said he has every confidence Singaporeans will again rally and win the fight against the coronavirus. "If we maintain that resolve, with each Singaporean committed to doing their part, then Singapore can continue to be a shining example for many years to come."
In a Facebook post yesterday, President Halimah Yacob said this year's Total Defence has a poignant significance, as Singapore is currently dealing with a national and global health crisis.
"It is a timely reminder on the importance of strengthening our social and psychological defence to rally our nation together in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak," she wrote.
By Lim Min Zhang, The Straits Times, 15 Feb 2020
As Singapore's economy is hit by the coronavirus crisis, the Government will ensure that retrenchments are kept to a minimum, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.
"Even as we deal with the viral outbreak, we must ensure that our economy can function to keep jobs and livelihoods for Singapore," he said in his Total Defence Day message yesterday.
"The Government will work with companies and unions to ensure that retrenchments are kept to a minimum, if at all."
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had said earlier that the Government will unveil a support package at Budget 2020 to help businesses affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19.
In his message, Dr Ng recounted how, in 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) had caused sickness and death. The fear of being infected gripped citizens everywhere, tourists stopped travelling and people stayed home, he said.
As a result, jobs were lost and retrenchments went up.
"In some countries, this fear created distrust and divided people. But in Singapore, we rallied through Total Defence, stayed united, overcame the SARS crisis to emerge intact and stronger," he said.
The national defence framework has to come into action again against the coronavirus, Dr Ng said.
As part of social defence, everyone has to practise good hygiene and stay away from others if sick, he urged. "At the same time, we must show empathy and compassion to help those who are infected or under quarantine."
Daily life can go on with sensible precautions, such as washing one's hands and keeping them away from the face, he said.
Singaporeans also have to guard against digital threats such as false information during this period, he added.
The minister said digital defence, the latest pillar of Total Defence, was a timely and necessary addition as dealing with the virus outbreak has shown.
False information about the disease or messages to incite hatred against any group do much harm, he noted. "We must never let these 'drums' - distortions, rumours, untruths, misinformation and smears - be heard, lest they sow discord, divide our people and ultimately weaken our will to defeat the outbreak and defend Singapore."
Total Defence Day is commemorated on Feb 15 every year - the day Singapore fell to Japan in 1942, which was followed by 31/2 years of Japanese Occupation.
Digital defence was added last year as the sixth pillar of Total Defence. Economic, social, psychological, military and civil defence make up the other five pillars of Total Defence.
Dr Ng also said the country's civil and military defences are "in good working order".
He offered his condolences to families of victims who have suffered, and saluted front-line staff, such as doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who treat patients daily.
As Singapore marks Total Defence Day, he said he has every confidence Singaporeans will again rally and win the fight against the coronavirus. "If we maintain that resolve, with each Singaporean committed to doing their part, then Singapore can continue to be a shining example for many years to come."
In a Facebook post yesterday, President Halimah Yacob said this year's Total Defence has a poignant significance, as Singapore is currently dealing with a national and global health crisis.
"It is a timely reminder on the importance of strengthening our social and psychological defence to rally our nation together in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak," she wrote.
The 5Cs of beating the coronavirus outbreak
Practise being calm, cautious, considerate, caring and collectivistic. And use these tools to build up arsenal of psychological defence against the virus threat.
By David Chan, Published The Straits Times, 15 Feb 2020
For a few weeks now, Singapore's news headlines have been dominated practically daily by case updates and control measures related to the coronavirus disease, now officially known as COVID-19.
To tackle public fear and anxiety, our political leaders promptly release information affecting public health and emphasise that health advisories and decisions on control measures are evidence-based. They reassure the public that there is adequate medical and food supplies.
They also warn against irrational, counterproductive or discriminatory behaviours. They highlight societal values of social harmony, civic-mindedness and altruism.
On Friday last week, Singapore raised the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (Dorscon) level to orange after several local cases without links to previous cases or travel history to China were tested positive.
The orange level refers to a situation in which a virus is spreading but not widely. It involves introducing additional precautionary measures and enforcing compliance to contain the spread of the virus.
The next day, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered a televised statement to alleviate fear and anxiety, urge Singaporeans to stay calm and carry on with their lives while taking sensible precautions, and rally the country to "take courage and see through this stressful time together". He highlighted that the ongoing virus outbreak is a test of Singapore's social cohesion and psychological resilience.
In my view, a key message in PM Lee's statement is the importance of psychological preparedness in our fight against the coronavirus.
Today is Singapore's Total Defence Day. Psychological defence is one of the six pillars of our total defence. What is the current state of our psychological defence against the virus threat?
BEING PSYCHOLOGICALLY PREPARED
In the past few days, daily updates from the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported more confirmed cases that do not have recent travel history or links to China. For the public, news of these local transmissions increases the salience of the virus threat.
Understandably, many individuals begin to worry more about themselves, their family members and their friends.
At the media briefing on Wednesday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong (chair of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce) cautioned that we have to be prepared for the worst as there could be patients who may succumb to the viral infection.
This is psychologically important because a death is not just a fatality statistic - it also brings grief to family and friends, affects the morale of medical staff and front-line officers, and increases public fear, anxiety and other negative sentiments.
When it comes to test results, an increase in confirmed cases, recovery and death, we should hope for the best and be prepared for the worst. But psychological resilience is much more than our state of mind as we wait and react to daily updates from MOH.
At the same media briefing, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong (co-chair of the taskforce) acknowledged that the authorities do not know what sort of situation is going to unfold over the next few weeks and whether it will get better or worse.
Put in another way, we are currently in a VUCA situation - one that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.
But we need not be paralysed by the VUCA situation facing us. As individuals and in groups, we can make a positive difference not only to our lived experiences as the situation evolves but also to the type of society that we will become for years to come.
As the virus threat continues to loom, we need to understand psychological defence and shore it up at both the individual and societal levels.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL
Individuals, organisations and communities need to develop "psychological capital", which provides the building blocks for our psychological defence.
Psychological capital is a critical resource for individuals, and society collectively, to solve problems and improve well-being.
Research has shown that four inter-related mindsets - self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resilience - contribute to psychological capital that helps people function in adaptive ways, such as adjusting our lifestyle to take precautions and deal with the various control measures.
Psychological capital can be cultivated through training and education such as clearly explaining what we know and do not know about the coronavirus, what Dorscon risk assessment levels mean and entail, and the rationale for various precautionary measures and public health advisories.
Psychological capital can also be developed through real-life experiences such as working together to solve a problem, being involved in volunteer activities and providing social support to help those in need.
Psychological capital can become a powerful resource and motivation, characterised by a "can-do" spirit and a "will-do" attitude.
We need to pay more attention to self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resilience as individuals adjust to the virus outbreak evolving in a VUCA situation.
PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE BEHAVIOURS
Psychological capital is an action-oriented resource. It produces positive behaviours. The resulting positive outcomes in turn reinforce the development of psychological capital.
There are many positive behaviours that we should or could engage in as we face the evolving virus outbreak situation.
I suggest five principles to guide our behaviours.
BE CALM
We are likely to get more local transmissions in the coming days and weeks, with breaking news of new confirmed cases leading to disruptions in schools or workplaces.
Some cases could be close to home - both physically and figuratively - as cases emerge near where we live, study or work, or when they directly affect our family, friends or colleagues.
When that happens, our fear and anxiety levels will naturally rise. We immediately message one another to express our emotions and reactions.
How do we deal with this? Learn to take a deep breath, pause and reflect. Control our impulse to blame individuals, groups, organisations or the efficacy of containment measures before finding out the facts.
No one wants to be infected or to infect others. With the virus circulating in our population, it is still possible to have an infected case even when sensible precautions are taken.
Being calm should not be confused with behaving in a nonchalant or overconfident manner, which is a negative attitude showing that one is not interested and does not care, downplaying the severity or trivialising the concerns expressed by others who perceive a serious virus threat.
BE CAUTIOUS
By now, everyone is familiar with the basic precautions. Practising good personal hygiene habits is the most important behaviour that each of us can do for ourselves and others.
Instead of seeing it as an inconvenience, we should make it a habit to practise good personal hygiene behaviours for our own health and also out of social responsibility for public health.
The authorities are clearly working very hard to enhance the containment strategy and tighten the various control measures. At schools and workplaces, employers have to make quick decisions and often with incomplete information. Employees have to put up with inconveniences ranging from minor to major adjustments. But it can take just one careless individual to breach the control measures for an infection case and cluster to occur.
We should be cautious and conscientious in adhering to the control measures in place.
BE CONSIDERATE
Fear and anxiety can override rationality and social norms, driving us to do things that we normally will not do or imagine ever doing.
Last week, there was panic buying at supermarkets when the Dorscon level was raised to orange. We should be well-informed and inform others - it is a verifiable fact that Singapore has sufficient supplies of essential food items and an adequate food security system, with diversification of food sources so there is enough food for everyone.
It is understandable and reasonable to buy a little more than usual if we plan to stay at home more in view of the virus outbreak. We should not "demonise" these people who are buying more out of necessity or reasonable convenience. But there is no need to hoard essential groceries and create our own stockpiles. We should be considerate and not deprive others who may be more in need of the items.
Another inconsiderate behaviour is depriving others of seats at the hawker centre or refusing to share common spaces out of fear of potential infection.
Being considerate to others is essentially civic-mindedness. It also applies to maintaining public hygiene such as keeping public places clean after use.
BE CARING
In crisis situations, it is important to care for others who are in need.
The needs and care could be tangible such as distributing masks or hand sanitisers to those who need them and delivering meals or other items to those who have to stay at home to observe mandated leave of absence from work to monitor their health.
Then there are intangible needs and care such as providing social support such as expressing gratitude and encouragement to our healthcare workers, Home Team officers, cleaners and many others who are at the front line working to keep all of us safe.
Our medical workers and other front-line officers are putting in long hours under extremely challenging conditions. Without their courage and perseverance, we would be in a much more dire situation now. To stay the course, what they need from us is our social support, not social ostracism.
When our espoused values of care and compassion for others translate to actual value-driven behaviours, especially in crisis situations where others are most in need of help and support, it becomes truly value-in-action.
BE COLLECTIVISTIC
It is human that fear and anxiety for one's own health will automatically trigger self-preservation behaviours. But humans are also social beings interdependent on one another, capable of altruistic actions rooted in collectivistic values that go beyond individualistic interests.
Collectivism is a personal and social value that emphasises the interests and well-being of the larger group that we are a member of. It prioritises the group's concerns over one's own individual needs and desires. This larger group could be our neighbourhood, school, work organisation and, of course, country.
When we are collectivistic, we value and prioritise social cohesion. We see the strengths of working together in a coordinated, cooperative and collaborative way to achieve collective goals for the common good. Being collectivistic is critical in our battle against the virus outbreak.
CONCLUSION
Psychological capital and guiding principles are mutually reinforcing. For example, when people are optimistic and have the efficacy beliefs that they can make a positive difference to the morale of healthcare workers in difficult times, they are more likely to care and offer social support.
Conversely, collectivistic behaviours guided by commitment to collective goals and trust developed from working together help build resilience in individuals as they persevere and learn to cope with difficult changes and adapt to new demands.
We need to shore up our psychological defence considerably and now, if we are to have a good chance of Singapore seeing through this crisis.
Focus on self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resilience to build psychological capital.
A society with strong psychological capital can defuse an adverse climate and mitigate the impact of negative events and severe crises. It helps prevent negativity and promote positivity.
Along with building psychological capital, adopt the 5C principles of being calm, cautious, considerate, caring and collectivistic to guide our behaviours, so we make a positive difference.
When we do that, we develop robust psychological defence. Then we can be realistically confident that we will defeat our public enemy, the coronavirus, and emerge stronger as individuals and as a society.
David Chan is director of the Behavioural Sciences Institute and Professor of Psychology at the Singapore Management University.
Practise being calm, cautious, considerate, caring and collectivistic. And use these tools to build up arsenal of psychological defence against the virus threat.
By David Chan, Published The Straits Times, 15 Feb 2020
For a few weeks now, Singapore's news headlines have been dominated practically daily by case updates and control measures related to the coronavirus disease, now officially known as COVID-19.
To tackle public fear and anxiety, our political leaders promptly release information affecting public health and emphasise that health advisories and decisions on control measures are evidence-based. They reassure the public that there is adequate medical and food supplies.
They also warn against irrational, counterproductive or discriminatory behaviours. They highlight societal values of social harmony, civic-mindedness and altruism.
On Friday last week, Singapore raised the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (Dorscon) level to orange after several local cases without links to previous cases or travel history to China were tested positive.
The orange level refers to a situation in which a virus is spreading but not widely. It involves introducing additional precautionary measures and enforcing compliance to contain the spread of the virus.
The next day, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered a televised statement to alleviate fear and anxiety, urge Singaporeans to stay calm and carry on with their lives while taking sensible precautions, and rally the country to "take courage and see through this stressful time together". He highlighted that the ongoing virus outbreak is a test of Singapore's social cohesion and psychological resilience.
In my view, a key message in PM Lee's statement is the importance of psychological preparedness in our fight against the coronavirus.
Today is Singapore's Total Defence Day. Psychological defence is one of the six pillars of our total defence. What is the current state of our psychological defence against the virus threat?
BEING PSYCHOLOGICALLY PREPARED
In the past few days, daily updates from the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported more confirmed cases that do not have recent travel history or links to China. For the public, news of these local transmissions increases the salience of the virus threat.
Understandably, many individuals begin to worry more about themselves, their family members and their friends.
At the media briefing on Wednesday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong (chair of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce) cautioned that we have to be prepared for the worst as there could be patients who may succumb to the viral infection.
This is psychologically important because a death is not just a fatality statistic - it also brings grief to family and friends, affects the morale of medical staff and front-line officers, and increases public fear, anxiety and other negative sentiments.
When it comes to test results, an increase in confirmed cases, recovery and death, we should hope for the best and be prepared for the worst. But psychological resilience is much more than our state of mind as we wait and react to daily updates from MOH.
At the same media briefing, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong (co-chair of the taskforce) acknowledged that the authorities do not know what sort of situation is going to unfold over the next few weeks and whether it will get better or worse.
Put in another way, we are currently in a VUCA situation - one that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.
But we need not be paralysed by the VUCA situation facing us. As individuals and in groups, we can make a positive difference not only to our lived experiences as the situation evolves but also to the type of society that we will become for years to come.
As the virus threat continues to loom, we need to understand psychological defence and shore it up at both the individual and societal levels.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL
Individuals, organisations and communities need to develop "psychological capital", which provides the building blocks for our psychological defence.
Psychological capital is a critical resource for individuals, and society collectively, to solve problems and improve well-being.
Research has shown that four inter-related mindsets - self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resilience - contribute to psychological capital that helps people function in adaptive ways, such as adjusting our lifestyle to take precautions and deal with the various control measures.
Psychological capital can be cultivated through training and education such as clearly explaining what we know and do not know about the coronavirus, what Dorscon risk assessment levels mean and entail, and the rationale for various precautionary measures and public health advisories.
Psychological capital can also be developed through real-life experiences such as working together to solve a problem, being involved in volunteer activities and providing social support to help those in need.
Psychological capital can become a powerful resource and motivation, characterised by a "can-do" spirit and a "will-do" attitude.
We need to pay more attention to self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resilience as individuals adjust to the virus outbreak evolving in a VUCA situation.
PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE BEHAVIOURS
Psychological capital is an action-oriented resource. It produces positive behaviours. The resulting positive outcomes in turn reinforce the development of psychological capital.
There are many positive behaviours that we should or could engage in as we face the evolving virus outbreak situation.
I suggest five principles to guide our behaviours.
BE CALM
We are likely to get more local transmissions in the coming days and weeks, with breaking news of new confirmed cases leading to disruptions in schools or workplaces.
Some cases could be close to home - both physically and figuratively - as cases emerge near where we live, study or work, or when they directly affect our family, friends or colleagues.
When that happens, our fear and anxiety levels will naturally rise. We immediately message one another to express our emotions and reactions.
How do we deal with this? Learn to take a deep breath, pause and reflect. Control our impulse to blame individuals, groups, organisations or the efficacy of containment measures before finding out the facts.
No one wants to be infected or to infect others. With the virus circulating in our population, it is still possible to have an infected case even when sensible precautions are taken.
Being calm should not be confused with behaving in a nonchalant or overconfident manner, which is a negative attitude showing that one is not interested and does not care, downplaying the severity or trivialising the concerns expressed by others who perceive a serious virus threat.
BE CAUTIOUS
By now, everyone is familiar with the basic precautions. Practising good personal hygiene habits is the most important behaviour that each of us can do for ourselves and others.
Instead of seeing it as an inconvenience, we should make it a habit to practise good personal hygiene behaviours for our own health and also out of social responsibility for public health.
The authorities are clearly working very hard to enhance the containment strategy and tighten the various control measures. At schools and workplaces, employers have to make quick decisions and often with incomplete information. Employees have to put up with inconveniences ranging from minor to major adjustments. But it can take just one careless individual to breach the control measures for an infection case and cluster to occur.
We should be cautious and conscientious in adhering to the control measures in place.
BE CONSIDERATE
Fear and anxiety can override rationality and social norms, driving us to do things that we normally will not do or imagine ever doing.
Last week, there was panic buying at supermarkets when the Dorscon level was raised to orange. We should be well-informed and inform others - it is a verifiable fact that Singapore has sufficient supplies of essential food items and an adequate food security system, with diversification of food sources so there is enough food for everyone.
It is understandable and reasonable to buy a little more than usual if we plan to stay at home more in view of the virus outbreak. We should not "demonise" these people who are buying more out of necessity or reasonable convenience. But there is no need to hoard essential groceries and create our own stockpiles. We should be considerate and not deprive others who may be more in need of the items.
Another inconsiderate behaviour is depriving others of seats at the hawker centre or refusing to share common spaces out of fear of potential infection.
Being considerate to others is essentially civic-mindedness. It also applies to maintaining public hygiene such as keeping public places clean after use.
BE CARING
In crisis situations, it is important to care for others who are in need.
The needs and care could be tangible such as distributing masks or hand sanitisers to those who need them and delivering meals or other items to those who have to stay at home to observe mandated leave of absence from work to monitor their health.
Then there are intangible needs and care such as providing social support such as expressing gratitude and encouragement to our healthcare workers, Home Team officers, cleaners and many others who are at the front line working to keep all of us safe.
Our medical workers and other front-line officers are putting in long hours under extremely challenging conditions. Without their courage and perseverance, we would be in a much more dire situation now. To stay the course, what they need from us is our social support, not social ostracism.
When our espoused values of care and compassion for others translate to actual value-driven behaviours, especially in crisis situations where others are most in need of help and support, it becomes truly value-in-action.
BE COLLECTIVISTIC
It is human that fear and anxiety for one's own health will automatically trigger self-preservation behaviours. But humans are also social beings interdependent on one another, capable of altruistic actions rooted in collectivistic values that go beyond individualistic interests.
Collectivism is a personal and social value that emphasises the interests and well-being of the larger group that we are a member of. It prioritises the group's concerns over one's own individual needs and desires. This larger group could be our neighbourhood, school, work organisation and, of course, country.
When we are collectivistic, we value and prioritise social cohesion. We see the strengths of working together in a coordinated, cooperative and collaborative way to achieve collective goals for the common good. Being collectivistic is critical in our battle against the virus outbreak.
CONCLUSION
Psychological capital and guiding principles are mutually reinforcing. For example, when people are optimistic and have the efficacy beliefs that they can make a positive difference to the morale of healthcare workers in difficult times, they are more likely to care and offer social support.
Conversely, collectivistic behaviours guided by commitment to collective goals and trust developed from working together help build resilience in individuals as they persevere and learn to cope with difficult changes and adapt to new demands.
We need to shore up our psychological defence considerably and now, if we are to have a good chance of Singapore seeing through this crisis.
Focus on self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resilience to build psychological capital.
A society with strong psychological capital can defuse an adverse climate and mitigate the impact of negative events and severe crises. It helps prevent negativity and promote positivity.
Along with building psychological capital, adopt the 5C principles of being calm, cautious, considerate, caring and collectivistic to guide our behaviours, so we make a positive difference.
When we do that, we develop robust psychological defence. Then we can be realistically confident that we will defeat our public enemy, the coronavirus, and emerge stronger as individuals and as a society.
David Chan is director of the Behavioural Sciences Institute and Professor of Psychology at the Singapore Management University.
Coronavirus: Resilience, selflessness will win this war, not hoarding
By Tan Ooi Boon, Associate Foreign Editor, The Straits Times, 15 Feb 2020
Wear a mask or not? If you grapple with this issue daily, pause a moment to think of all the healthcare workers who are now on the front line battling the coronavirus.
Even as you worry for your health, these selfless workers cast aside theirs first to care for those who are sick. For them, it is no longer just a chance encounter of touching a handrail that is coated with nasal droplets or being coughed at. Their patients have the coronavirus, and yet they have to be in close contact with them to make sure they get well.
The current health crisis cannot be wished away, and neither will it just disappear by everyone hiding in his home.
It is these selfless and resilient healthcare professionals who will win the coronavirus war for us.
Sadly, instead of cherishing their noble deeds, many people choose to view them as the next source of the plague and shun them.
President Halimah Yacob and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong both have come out with strong messages to urge people to support healthcare workers, not shun them. Madam Halimah said: "Why do some of us make their lives so difficult at a time when we need them the most?"
Mr Gan noted that such ugly behaviour also happened during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, adding that he did not wish to see this happening this time.
In 2003, a few healthcare workers died for their patients. One of them, Dr Alexandre Chao, then 37, a vascular surgeon, was away in the United States but he cut short his leave and volunteered to help treat SARS patients. He took all precautions, including staying alone during this period but, sadly, he still caught the virus.
He could not even hug his two young daughters, aged four and one, one last time and could only wave to them from his car as he drove by his home. He died a week later.
Four other unsung Singapore healthcare heroes also died while caring for their patients. It is hoped that Singaporeans will remember and be inspired by the spirit and courage of these selfless heroes.
In a crisis such as this, people should do the right thing and care for one another, and not be consumed by fear and selfishness.
Perhaps due to the mass sharing of both real and untrue information over social media, irrational fear appears to have taken hold of many people, and this has resulted in a nationwide run on essential items - first surgical masks and then groceries - that is unprecedented in recent memory.
For every snaking long queue, there are stories of ungracious people, such as those who abandon their groceries midway after giving up on the long wait. These acts not only result in perishable food being wasted, but also put further strain on many already tired supermarket employees who have to clear or throw these items away.
As if to thumb their noses at those who are not as quick as them, some hoarders even proudly circulate videos and pictures of their hauls.
To make things worse, there are those who seize on the fear to sell essential items at a huge profit. Instead of giving money to these vultures, people should consider donating the same money to The Courage Fund to support healthcare workers.
Then, there are those who are quick to point fingers at both China and Chinese people for bringing a new accursed disease to the world. Some even deride those in Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic, who gathered and shared meals during the Chinese New Year, and, thus, added to the infection number.
These Wuhan residents are not different from everyone else in the world who, too, want to be among family and friends during festive periods. No one chooses to be sick and wants harm to fall on his loved ones - like the family in Hong Kong who had a hot pot dinner that ended with nine people being sick.
In his first remarks on the coronavirus last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong best put it when he said Singapore will stand with China in this crisis. "This is an illness. I don't think the Chinese wished it upon themselves. They are trying very hard to fight it, and I think we should work with them to help make sure this is not a global problem," he said.
In China, more than 1,300 have died and over 60,000 have been infected.
SCENES FROM CHINESE HOSPITALS
Beneath these grim numbers are tens of thousands of valiant Chinese medical workers who battle fatigue and risks to their own lives daily to make sure more people can go home to their loved ones.
A China Global Television Network (CGTN) reporter was allowed to interview the nurses at a Wuhan hospital during their break. In the video report, he noted that each nurse would work in long four-to eight-hour shifts before they could even rest.
As they wore full protective gear, which included goggles, N-95 masks, gloves and full suits that had to be taped up fully, they could not drink, eat or visit the toilet during each shift. For their meals, the nurses were each given bento-like sets that consist of rice, meat and two vegetables, which they wolfed down quickly while bantering with one another in good spirits.
Noting that all the nurses had deep red marks on their faces due to the goggles that they wore tightly for hours, the reporter asked one of them in jest: "Your face looks like a teenage mutant ninja turtle's eye patch. Have your children seen that?"
Her unexpected reply probably caused many who watched the video to shed a tear.
"I haven't been home since my first day here. So I didn't tell my son much about my work. He is only seven," she said, as she broke down.
"We hope this outbreak will pass soon. I believe the entire medical team of Wuhan can defeat this public health hazard."
Another CGTN report focused on Miss Shan Xia, a nurse at People's Hospital in Wuhan University. Ms Shan, 30, a mother of two with jet-black long hair, surprised all her colleagues when she shaved her head bald. She did it so that she could wear her protective garb at her ward quicker.
"I don't think it is a big deal. You can always grow back your hair later," she said.
While the outbreak will be a dark chapter in Wuhan's history, this crisis also turned out to be its people's finest hour.
MASSIVE FEATS
In just weeks, lab technicians there were able to speed up the testing of patients' samples, from just 200 a day to 4,200 a day. This greatly enhances the allocation of already scarce resources so that the sick can be treated faster.
The world also watched with disbelief as the city took barely two weeks to build two makeshift but fully equipped hospitals that can take in a total of 2,600 patients.
In just three days, the city also converted three public facilities, including an exhibition hall, into hospitals that would house 4,400 beds. Ten more of such "converted" hospitals are being set up. More than 130 quarantine sites with over 12,500 beds have also been set up.
Apart from the tens of thousands of healthcare workers already in Wuhan, China President Xi Jinping has deployed a further 20,000 workers to join the "people's war" to contain the epidemic.
While not everyone is equipped to fight on the front line, ordinary folk can certainly help by reducing the risk of being infected by being socially responsible. Do not give in to fear and start hoarding essential goods, as this will add to the strain on not only the authorities, but also the elderly and low-income families who will have problems meeting their daily needs.
As I was driving to work this week, I saw something which also moved me. While waiting at a pedestrian crossing which is located right in front of a supermarket, scores of people, a number with face masks on, walked in front of my car with packs of groceries which they just bought.
Then I saw her - a frail-looking elderly Indian woman with neatly tied silvery hair walking slowly at the crossing. She was not wearing a mask and was carrying only a small packet of food. As she was nearing the other side of the road, she turned around to face me and the motorist beside me, and gave a slight bow with both hands together. It was her gesture of thanks to us for patiently waiting for her to slowly cross the road.
As an elderly person, she would be most vulnerable to the ill effects of the virus, as well as hoarding which will deprive her of her needs.
Despite this, she not only carries on as usual, without mask or fear, but also spreads goodwill by showing her appreciation to those around her. It is acts of kindness and consideration that separate humans from beasts. So if this woman is not afraid to go on living as usual, why should you be?
By Tan Ooi Boon, Associate Foreign Editor, The Straits Times, 15 Feb 2020
Wear a mask or not? If you grapple with this issue daily, pause a moment to think of all the healthcare workers who are now on the front line battling the coronavirus.
Even as you worry for your health, these selfless workers cast aside theirs first to care for those who are sick. For them, it is no longer just a chance encounter of touching a handrail that is coated with nasal droplets or being coughed at. Their patients have the coronavirus, and yet they have to be in close contact with them to make sure they get well.
The current health crisis cannot be wished away, and neither will it just disappear by everyone hiding in his home.
It is these selfless and resilient healthcare professionals who will win the coronavirus war for us.
Sadly, instead of cherishing their noble deeds, many people choose to view them as the next source of the plague and shun them.
President Halimah Yacob and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong both have come out with strong messages to urge people to support healthcare workers, not shun them. Madam Halimah said: "Why do some of us make their lives so difficult at a time when we need them the most?"
Mr Gan noted that such ugly behaviour also happened during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, adding that he did not wish to see this happening this time.
In 2003, a few healthcare workers died for their patients. One of them, Dr Alexandre Chao, then 37, a vascular surgeon, was away in the United States but he cut short his leave and volunteered to help treat SARS patients. He took all precautions, including staying alone during this period but, sadly, he still caught the virus.
He could not even hug his two young daughters, aged four and one, one last time and could only wave to them from his car as he drove by his home. He died a week later.
Four other unsung Singapore healthcare heroes also died while caring for their patients. It is hoped that Singaporeans will remember and be inspired by the spirit and courage of these selfless heroes.
In a crisis such as this, people should do the right thing and care for one another, and not be consumed by fear and selfishness.
Perhaps due to the mass sharing of both real and untrue information over social media, irrational fear appears to have taken hold of many people, and this has resulted in a nationwide run on essential items - first surgical masks and then groceries - that is unprecedented in recent memory.
For every snaking long queue, there are stories of ungracious people, such as those who abandon their groceries midway after giving up on the long wait. These acts not only result in perishable food being wasted, but also put further strain on many already tired supermarket employees who have to clear or throw these items away.
As if to thumb their noses at those who are not as quick as them, some hoarders even proudly circulate videos and pictures of their hauls.
To make things worse, there are those who seize on the fear to sell essential items at a huge profit. Instead of giving money to these vultures, people should consider donating the same money to The Courage Fund to support healthcare workers.
Then, there are those who are quick to point fingers at both China and Chinese people for bringing a new accursed disease to the world. Some even deride those in Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic, who gathered and shared meals during the Chinese New Year, and, thus, added to the infection number.
These Wuhan residents are not different from everyone else in the world who, too, want to be among family and friends during festive periods. No one chooses to be sick and wants harm to fall on his loved ones - like the family in Hong Kong who had a hot pot dinner that ended with nine people being sick.
In his first remarks on the coronavirus last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong best put it when he said Singapore will stand with China in this crisis. "This is an illness. I don't think the Chinese wished it upon themselves. They are trying very hard to fight it, and I think we should work with them to help make sure this is not a global problem," he said.
In China, more than 1,300 have died and over 60,000 have been infected.
SCENES FROM CHINESE HOSPITALS
Beneath these grim numbers are tens of thousands of valiant Chinese medical workers who battle fatigue and risks to their own lives daily to make sure more people can go home to their loved ones.
A China Global Television Network (CGTN) reporter was allowed to interview the nurses at a Wuhan hospital during their break. In the video report, he noted that each nurse would work in long four-to eight-hour shifts before they could even rest.
As they wore full protective gear, which included goggles, N-95 masks, gloves and full suits that had to be taped up fully, they could not drink, eat or visit the toilet during each shift. For their meals, the nurses were each given bento-like sets that consist of rice, meat and two vegetables, which they wolfed down quickly while bantering with one another in good spirits.
Noting that all the nurses had deep red marks on their faces due to the goggles that they wore tightly for hours, the reporter asked one of them in jest: "Your face looks like a teenage mutant ninja turtle's eye patch. Have your children seen that?"
Her unexpected reply probably caused many who watched the video to shed a tear.
"I haven't been home since my first day here. So I didn't tell my son much about my work. He is only seven," she said, as she broke down.
"We hope this outbreak will pass soon. I believe the entire medical team of Wuhan can defeat this public health hazard."
Another CGTN report focused on Miss Shan Xia, a nurse at People's Hospital in Wuhan University. Ms Shan, 30, a mother of two with jet-black long hair, surprised all her colleagues when she shaved her head bald. She did it so that she could wear her protective garb at her ward quicker.
"I don't think it is a big deal. You can always grow back your hair later," she said.
While the outbreak will be a dark chapter in Wuhan's history, this crisis also turned out to be its people's finest hour.
MASSIVE FEATS
In just weeks, lab technicians there were able to speed up the testing of patients' samples, from just 200 a day to 4,200 a day. This greatly enhances the allocation of already scarce resources so that the sick can be treated faster.
The world also watched with disbelief as the city took barely two weeks to build two makeshift but fully equipped hospitals that can take in a total of 2,600 patients.
In just three days, the city also converted three public facilities, including an exhibition hall, into hospitals that would house 4,400 beds. Ten more of such "converted" hospitals are being set up. More than 130 quarantine sites with over 12,500 beds have also been set up.
Apart from the tens of thousands of healthcare workers already in Wuhan, China President Xi Jinping has deployed a further 20,000 workers to join the "people's war" to contain the epidemic.
While not everyone is equipped to fight on the front line, ordinary folk can certainly help by reducing the risk of being infected by being socially responsible. Do not give in to fear and start hoarding essential goods, as this will add to the strain on not only the authorities, but also the elderly and low-income families who will have problems meeting their daily needs.
As I was driving to work this week, I saw something which also moved me. While waiting at a pedestrian crossing which is located right in front of a supermarket, scores of people, a number with face masks on, walked in front of my car with packs of groceries which they just bought.
Then I saw her - a frail-looking elderly Indian woman with neatly tied silvery hair walking slowly at the crossing. She was not wearing a mask and was carrying only a small packet of food. As she was nearing the other side of the road, she turned around to face me and the motorist beside me, and gave a slight bow with both hands together. It was her gesture of thanks to us for patiently waiting for her to slowly cross the road.
As an elderly person, she would be most vulnerable to the ill effects of the virus, as well as hoarding which will deprive her of her needs.
Despite this, she not only carries on as usual, without mask or fear, but also spreads goodwill by showing her appreciation to those around her. It is acts of kindness and consideration that separate humans from beasts. So if this woman is not afraid to go on living as usual, why should you be?
Related
Ministry of Health - Updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Local Situation
Gov.sg: 2019 - COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) situation in Singapore
2019 Novel Coronavirus: Ministerial Statement on Whole-of-Government Response
Wuhan virus: Singapore confirms first case of novel coronavirus infection on 23 January 2020
Wuhan virus: Singapore has to stay vigilant, but has every reason to be confident, says PM Lee Hsien Loong
Wuhan virus: Each Singapore household to get 4 free masks for contingencies; collection starts on 1 Feb till 9 Feb 2020
2019-nCoV: Singapore reports first cases of local coronavirus transmission on 4 February 2020
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DORSCON Orange: Singapore raises coronavirus outbreak alert on 7 February 2020; Singaporeans clear supermarket shelves in panic buying of essentials
Fear and panic can do more harm than coronavirus: PM Lee Hsien Loong
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Ministry of Health - Updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Local Situation
Gov.sg: 2019 - COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) situation in Singapore
2019 Novel Coronavirus: Ministerial Statement on Whole-of-Government Response
Wuhan virus: Singapore confirms first case of novel coronavirus infection on 23 January 2020
Wuhan virus: Singapore has to stay vigilant, but has every reason to be confident, says PM Lee Hsien Loong
Wuhan virus: Each Singapore household to get 4 free masks for contingencies; collection starts on 1 Feb till 9 Feb 2020
2019-nCoV: Singapore reports first cases of local coronavirus transmission on 4 February 2020
2019-nCoV: Singapore employers will receive $100 a day for each worker serving the 14-day Leave of Absence (LOA)
DORSCON Orange: Singapore raises coronavirus outbreak alert on 7 February 2020; Singaporeans clear supermarket shelves in panic buying of essentials
Fear and panic can do more harm than coronavirus: PM Lee Hsien Loong
Singapore to work closely with China to battle novel coronavirus threat: Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat
COVID-19: Show support for healthcare workers on front lines, says Health Minister Gan Kim Yong
$77 million support package for taxi and private hire drivers affected by the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak
Ministry of Home Affairs investigating Singapore religious teacher for xenophobic, racist posts about the coronavirus
Life and Death in a Wuhan Coronavirus ICU
Digital space a new battleground in war against Wuhan virus
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