Employers in Singapore must allow staff to work from home or risk penalties
Manpower Ministry considers increasing penalties for firms which avoid telecommuting option
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
Employers must ensure that staff members work from home as far as possible, said the multi-ministry task force handling the coronavirus outbreak, as it turned its attention to securing workplaces.
Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said her ministry is looking to increase potential penalties - including stop-work orders and fines - for firms which avoid implementing telecommuting. "Employers must allow your employees to work from home as far as reasonably practicable. This applies to all workplaces regardless of size, and it should be for all times, all days, and not some times, some days," she said at a virtual media conference - the first such briefing by the task force.
The Manpower Ministry estimates that only 40 per cent of workers in the Central Business District currently work from home.
The new measures on workplaces came as the task force noted the worrying trend of increasing local cases and stressed the importance of safe distancing to protect vulnerable groups like seniors, who are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill when they are infected.
Yesterday, 31 March, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced 47 new cases. Of these, 31 were local cases, with the rest imported. To date, there have been 926 confirmed cases here.
Among the linked cases, certain patterns have emerged, said MOH director of medical services Kenneth Mak. Many were linked by activities, including social gatherings, workplaces or being members of the same household, he said.
While making it clear the Government was taking a firm stand on the need for companies to implement telecommuting - which would ease the potential spread in workplaces and lower the number of people on public transport - Mrs Teo reassured firms that a "measured approach" will be taken when it comes to punishment meted out.
"It is not our intention to simply issue a stop-work order without considering the circumstances of the companies," she said. "We are looking for evidence that the companies have made serious attempts to implement stay-at-home telecommuting arrangements, but we are also mindful that this is not always possible."
At yesterday's media conference, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who co-chair the task force, also reiterated the need for Singaporeans to observe safe distancing measures, especially to protect vulnerable groups.
People should wash their hands before interacting with the elderly. If ill, they should not visit seniors, the ministers said.
The elderly have shown a higher risk of developing serious conditions when infected. Mr Wong also addressed drastic suggestions such as locking down the country for two weeks, saying there was no magic solution. Singapore was in it for the long haul, he said.
Separately yesterday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) also warned that the Asia-Pacific region faces a long battle. Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific, said: "It is unlikely this virus will disappear next week or even next month."
Even nations like Singapore, South Korea and China that have been gaining ground must not let their guard down, he added, or the "virus will come surging back".
The World Bank, meanwhile, said the pandemic could stop between 24 million and 35 million people in East Asia and the Pacific from escaping poverty.
Manpower Ministry considers increasing penalties for firms which avoid telecommuting option
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
Employers must ensure that staff members work from home as far as possible, said the multi-ministry task force handling the coronavirus outbreak, as it turned its attention to securing workplaces.
Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said her ministry is looking to increase potential penalties - including stop-work orders and fines - for firms which avoid implementing telecommuting. "Employers must allow your employees to work from home as far as reasonably practicable. This applies to all workplaces regardless of size, and it should be for all times, all days, and not some times, some days," she said at a virtual media conference - the first such briefing by the task force.
The Manpower Ministry estimates that only 40 per cent of workers in the Central Business District currently work from home.
The new measures on workplaces came as the task force noted the worrying trend of increasing local cases and stressed the importance of safe distancing to protect vulnerable groups like seniors, who are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill when they are infected.
Yesterday, 31 March, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced 47 new cases. Of these, 31 were local cases, with the rest imported. To date, there have been 926 confirmed cases here.
Among the linked cases, certain patterns have emerged, said MOH director of medical services Kenneth Mak. Many were linked by activities, including social gatherings, workplaces or being members of the same household, he said.
While making it clear the Government was taking a firm stand on the need for companies to implement telecommuting - which would ease the potential spread in workplaces and lower the number of people on public transport - Mrs Teo reassured firms that a "measured approach" will be taken when it comes to punishment meted out.
"It is not our intention to simply issue a stop-work order without considering the circumstances of the companies," she said. "We are looking for evidence that the companies have made serious attempts to implement stay-at-home telecommuting arrangements, but we are also mindful that this is not always possible."
At yesterday's media conference, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who co-chair the task force, also reiterated the need for Singaporeans to observe safe distancing measures, especially to protect vulnerable groups.
People should wash their hands before interacting with the elderly. If ill, they should not visit seniors, the ministers said.
The elderly have shown a higher risk of developing serious conditions when infected. Mr Wong also addressed drastic suggestions such as locking down the country for two weeks, saying there was no magic solution. Singapore was in it for the long haul, he said.
Separately yesterday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) also warned that the Asia-Pacific region faces a long battle. Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific, said: "It is unlikely this virus will disappear next week or even next month."
Even nations like Singapore, South Korea and China that have been gaining ground must not let their guard down, he added, or the "virus will come surging back".
The World Bank, meanwhile, said the pandemic could stop between 24 million and 35 million people in East Asia and the Pacific from escaping poverty.
Those who are unwell urged to stay away from elderly family members
Patients can tap CHAS and Medisave for video consultations for chronic conditions
By Toh Ting Wei, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
If unwell, people should avoid interacting with the elderly members of their family amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Besides adhering to safe distancing measures, family members should also adhere to the practice of washing their hands with soap as this has been proven to be an effective measure against being infected.
Noting that it is difficult to avoid close interaction between members of a family, including the elderly, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong yesterday called for more precautions to be taken to protect the elderly. Mr Gan co-chairs the multi-ministry task force set up to combat the spread of the virus.
COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, has claimed three lives in Singapore - a 70-year-old Singaporean man, a 75-year-old Singaporean woman and a 64-year-old Indonesian man.
While each of them had pre-existing conditions, figures released in international studies have shown that the risk of dying from COVID-19 rises significantly with age.
Ministry of Health director of medical services Kenneth Mak said at a virtual media conference yesterday that it was important for people to do their part to protect seniors by keeping their distance.
Patients can tap CHAS and Medisave for video consultations for chronic conditions
By Toh Ting Wei, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
Besides adhering to safe distancing measures, family members should also adhere to the practice of washing their hands with soap as this has been proven to be an effective measure against being infected.
Noting that it is difficult to avoid close interaction between members of a family, including the elderly, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong yesterday called for more precautions to be taken to protect the elderly. Mr Gan co-chairs the multi-ministry task force set up to combat the spread of the virus.
COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, has claimed three lives in Singapore - a 70-year-old Singaporean man, a 75-year-old Singaporean woman and a 64-year-old Indonesian man.
While each of them had pre-existing conditions, figures released in international studies have shown that the risk of dying from COVID-19 rises significantly with age.
Ministry of Health director of medical services Kenneth Mak said at a virtual media conference yesterday that it was important for people to do their part to protect seniors by keeping their distance.
"If you are not well, please desist from visiting them and exposing them unduly to infection," said Associate Professor Mak. "It is important for us to take reasonable measures to protect our seniors."
In Singapore, all social activities organised by government agencies for seniors have been suspended until April 30. The People's Association, which runs many of these programmes, said the suspension would affect 2,600 classes and 11,000 activities attended by about 290,000 participants.
Mr Gan also announced yesterday that patients would temporarily be able to tap their Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) cards and Medisave to pay for video consultations for seven chronic conditions, starting on Friday.
The conditions are: diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
The measure is being introduced to promote safe distancing amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
"This will allow patients whose conditions are stable to use video consultations and avoid physical visits to the clinic at this period of time," Mr Gan said.
MOH said patients with these conditions can generally be managed through video consultations without physical examination if their conditions are stable.
In Singapore, all social activities organised by government agencies for seniors have been suspended until April 30. The People's Association, which runs many of these programmes, said the suspension would affect 2,600 classes and 11,000 activities attended by about 290,000 participants.
The conditions are: diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
The measure is being introduced to promote safe distancing amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
"This will allow patients whose conditions are stable to use video consultations and avoid physical visits to the clinic at this period of time," Mr Gan said.
MOH said patients with these conditions can generally be managed through video consultations without physical examination if their conditions are stable.
Coronavirus: Preventing an intense spread is in hands of each person as Singapore enters new phase of community transmission, say experts
Singapore entering new phase of community transmission and next two weeks are crucial
By Clara Chong, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
As coronavirus clusters and cases with no known connections mushroom here, Singapore is facing the threat of the virus spreading uncontrollably, experts warned yesterday.
Whether this potential time bomb is defused or not is now firmly in the hands of each individual in the country, they stressed.
People must decide at this point whether they choose to cooperate and listen to the reminders on personal hygiene, physical distancing and to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, or if they continue to behave irresponsibly especially in public, said Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
"Right now, it is really in the hands of ordinary citizens to act responsibly and break any community transmission in Singapore," he told The Straits Times.
"If many in Singapore refuse to follow the simple instructions, then no matter what the Government puts in place, we will see an uncontrollable outbreak."
The next two weeks are crucial in the coronavirus battle.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, who leads Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health's infectious diseases programme, said that if the number of cases can be held in check, it bodes well for the longer term.
"If we can get through this and next week without a dramatic rise in cases - particularly unlinked cases - we should achieve a period of stability again."
As imported cases taper off, the nation is entering a new phase of community transmission, with local cases set to dominate yet again.
This is of concern because it means the virus is becoming more entrenched in the community.
In the last three days, the number of local cases has spiked by 15 per cent, compared with a 5 per cent rise in imported cases.
Local cases look set to overtake imported cases as the number of people returning from abroad shrinks.
Returnees from the United States and Britain, for instance, fell from 1,200 daily last week to 300 a day this week.
Cases here will continue to rise in tandem, said Prof Teo.
While imported cases are a result of the Republic's immigration rules, local cases are firmly linked to citizens' compliance with measures, added infectious diseases expert Leong Hoe Nam.
With 926 people testing positive here so far, the Republic will certainly cross the 1,000 mark within the week, the experts noted.
But this is purely a psychological number and there is no need for alarm, Dr Leong said.
"Many countries have crossed 1,000 and we should not just look at the total number, but the number of unlinked cases."
Globally, the number of cases has surged past 800,000, with more than 40,000 deaths reported.
In Singapore, the number of unlinked cases has seen an upward trend in the last few days, with the Health Ministry conducting contact tracing for 93 locally transmitted cases as of yesterday.
These unlinked cases suggest community spread, something much harder to contain should it become widespread, said infectious diseases expert Annelies Wilder-Smith.
"More stringent and painful measures will then need to be taken," said Professor Wilder-Smith, a visiting professor at Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
Despite the increase in cases, the situation is manageable and contact tracing remains highly relevant and should be done for as long as possible, the experts stressed.
Said Prof Teo: "At the moment, we are not at the stage of widespread local transmission, but we are certainly seeing signs we might be progressing towards that.
"At this point, the outbreak is still manageable for the teams overseeing contact tracing to handle."
He added: "As long as there is capacity for contact tracing, we should continue. This is one important and effective way to manage community transmission.
"However, if local transmission continues to increase significantly, then yes, there will come a time when the ability to contact trace may become strained."
The country's healthcare system has yet to reach a breaking point, as there is still considerable capacity, they said.
The healthcare system will be overwhelmed once demand for intensive care unit (ICU) beds exceeds the number of ICU beds available, noted Prof Wilder-Smith.
"Indeed, what Singapore needs to do, and is in fact already doing, is to increase the number of ICU beds and ventilators," she said.
Nonetheless, the system cannot withstand the onslaught of a dramatic spike in cases. If this happens, an already stretched healthcare system could be overwhelmed in days, Dr Leong warned.
He noted that if people abused their freedoms now, tougher and more painful measures may be instituted to fight the spread.
Ultimately, this could mean a lockdown, such as those in Wuhan and Italy, said Prof Hsu.
He added: "Naturally we would not wish to do this unless truly necessary, but such extreme physical distancing measures will be effective in bringing down the transmission rate of the virus."
Singapore entering new phase of community transmission and next two weeks are crucial
By Clara Chong, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
Whether this potential time bomb is defused or not is now firmly in the hands of each individual in the country, they stressed.
People must decide at this point whether they choose to cooperate and listen to the reminders on personal hygiene, physical distancing and to stay at home unless absolutely necessary, or if they continue to behave irresponsibly especially in public, said Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
"Right now, it is really in the hands of ordinary citizens to act responsibly and break any community transmission in Singapore," he told The Straits Times.
"If many in Singapore refuse to follow the simple instructions, then no matter what the Government puts in place, we will see an uncontrollable outbreak."
The next two weeks are crucial in the coronavirus battle.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, who leads Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health's infectious diseases programme, said that if the number of cases can be held in check, it bodes well for the longer term.
"If we can get through this and next week without a dramatic rise in cases - particularly unlinked cases - we should achieve a period of stability again."
As imported cases taper off, the nation is entering a new phase of community transmission, with local cases set to dominate yet again.
This is of concern because it means the virus is becoming more entrenched in the community.
In the last three days, the number of local cases has spiked by 15 per cent, compared with a 5 per cent rise in imported cases.
Local cases look set to overtake imported cases as the number of people returning from abroad shrinks.
Returnees from the United States and Britain, for instance, fell from 1,200 daily last week to 300 a day this week.
Cases here will continue to rise in tandem, said Prof Teo.
While imported cases are a result of the Republic's immigration rules, local cases are firmly linked to citizens' compliance with measures, added infectious diseases expert Leong Hoe Nam.
With 926 people testing positive here so far, the Republic will certainly cross the 1,000 mark within the week, the experts noted.
But this is purely a psychological number and there is no need for alarm, Dr Leong said.
"Many countries have crossed 1,000 and we should not just look at the total number, but the number of unlinked cases."
Globally, the number of cases has surged past 800,000, with more than 40,000 deaths reported.
In Singapore, the number of unlinked cases has seen an upward trend in the last few days, with the Health Ministry conducting contact tracing for 93 locally transmitted cases as of yesterday.
These unlinked cases suggest community spread, something much harder to contain should it become widespread, said infectious diseases expert Annelies Wilder-Smith.
"More stringent and painful measures will then need to be taken," said Professor Wilder-Smith, a visiting professor at Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
Despite the increase in cases, the situation is manageable and contact tracing remains highly relevant and should be done for as long as possible, the experts stressed.
Said Prof Teo: "At the moment, we are not at the stage of widespread local transmission, but we are certainly seeing signs we might be progressing towards that.
"At this point, the outbreak is still manageable for the teams overseeing contact tracing to handle."
He added: "As long as there is capacity for contact tracing, we should continue. This is one important and effective way to manage community transmission.
"However, if local transmission continues to increase significantly, then yes, there will come a time when the ability to contact trace may become strained."
The country's healthcare system has yet to reach a breaking point, as there is still considerable capacity, they said.
The healthcare system will be overwhelmed once demand for intensive care unit (ICU) beds exceeds the number of ICU beds available, noted Prof Wilder-Smith.
"Indeed, what Singapore needs to do, and is in fact already doing, is to increase the number of ICU beds and ventilators," she said.
Nonetheless, the system cannot withstand the onslaught of a dramatic spike in cases. If this happens, an already stretched healthcare system could be overwhelmed in days, Dr Leong warned.
He noted that if people abused their freedoms now, tougher and more painful measures may be instituted to fight the spread.
Ultimately, this could mean a lockdown, such as those in Wuhan and Italy, said Prof Hsu.
He added: "Naturally we would not wish to do this unless truly necessary, but such extreme physical distancing measures will be effective in bringing down the transmission rate of the virus."
CORONAVIRUS: 7 Points to Note Beyond the Headline Numbers
By Clement Yong, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
Another 47 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore yesterday, but the briefing by the multi-ministry task force went beyond the headline numbers.
Here are seven points highlighted during the session that explain why Singapore is doing what it is doing, and indicate what the future holds for the country's efforts to overcome the coronavirus.
TOURISTS FROM SOME CHINESE CITIES COULD BE ALLOWED ENTRY INTO SINGAPORE
Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong said that if current rates of infection in China continue, Singapore could consider lifting travel restrictions for tourists from some cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai.
In recent days, the number of cases in China has plateaued, with almost all new cases imported by returning citizens. Sunday's figure of 31 new cases were all imported save for one. And zero new local cases had been registered in several instances before that.
Mr Wong said any changes to Singapore's travel restrictions will be based strictly on data and evidence, with priority placed on keeping the country's borders safe.
NO WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION
Singapore's top medical authority, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, director of medical services at the Health Ministry, said local transmissions have occurred in a limited context that is traceable.
On whether Singapore is on the verge of widespread community transmission, he said the success of contact tracing so far has given the authorities confidence that they can continue to account for how the virus is spreading.
The virus is not spreading in a random and uncontrolled fashion, he said, adding that he believes many of the established clusters are themselves linked.
HOTELS FOR RETURNEES ON STAY-HOME NOTICE NOT AN INDULGENCE
Mr Wong said providing dedicated facilities, including hotels, for returnees from the United States and Britain serving their 14-day stay-home notices is not an indulgence and certainly not unnecessary spending by the Government.
"It is a critical health measure," he said, noting that the Government would like to secure such an arrangement for all returnees but is still checking if there are enough beds.
"We will spend what is necessary to keep Singaporeans safe," he said.
NO ONE HAS TESTED POSITIVE A SECOND TIME
As for reports on Chinese patients testing positive for COVID-19 a second time after recovering, Prof Mak said this has so far not happened in Singapore.
He said in some overseas cases, patients were discharged when their symptoms cleared up, rather than after ascertaining they had shed the virus.
In Singapore, individuals are discharged after two consecutive negative results. The health authorities also do follow-ups and will ask patients to return, if required.
Prof Mak said no patient has been called back so far.
MASK ADVISORY, LIKE ALL MEASURES, UNDER REVIEW
When asked if the Government is considering changing its advice that only those who feel unwell or come into close contact with patients wear masks, Prof Mak said this, like the effectiveness of safe distancing measures, is under review.
He said the recommendations will be made public after the review is completed.
He added that the decision is based not just on evidence from other countries, but also on literature and Singapore's own experience.
ANTIBODY TESTS COULD BE ROLLED OUT SOON
Some countries have deployed antibody tests, which test if an individual has developed immunity to the virus, as part of their arsenal to fight the virus.
Prof Mak said these tests are being validated, but they should be used in a different way from the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests that doctors are using now.
For one thing, antibody tests have a limited role in diagnosis, as it takes the body at least four days after infection to produce antibodies, which is too late for the purposes of quick detection and contact tracing.
But they could be used to determine when a patient can be discharged, and when the time comes, guidelines will be given to doctors here on how best to use them.
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?
Mr Wong said success does not mean zero cases, but the stopping of further transmissions that present themselves as unlinked cases or new clusters.
He also warned that Singapore's borders remain porous as it is an international air hub, which means the possibility of new cases - and with that, new connected infections - remains high.
By Clement Yong, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
Another 47 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore yesterday, but the briefing by the multi-ministry task force went beyond the headline numbers.
Here are seven points highlighted during the session that explain why Singapore is doing what it is doing, and indicate what the future holds for the country's efforts to overcome the coronavirus.
TOURISTS FROM SOME CHINESE CITIES COULD BE ALLOWED ENTRY INTO SINGAPORE
Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong said that if current rates of infection in China continue, Singapore could consider lifting travel restrictions for tourists from some cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai.
In recent days, the number of cases in China has plateaued, with almost all new cases imported by returning citizens. Sunday's figure of 31 new cases were all imported save for one. And zero new local cases had been registered in several instances before that.
Mr Wong said any changes to Singapore's travel restrictions will be based strictly on data and evidence, with priority placed on keeping the country's borders safe.
NO WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION
Singapore's top medical authority, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, director of medical services at the Health Ministry, said local transmissions have occurred in a limited context that is traceable.
On whether Singapore is on the verge of widespread community transmission, he said the success of contact tracing so far has given the authorities confidence that they can continue to account for how the virus is spreading.
The virus is not spreading in a random and uncontrolled fashion, he said, adding that he believes many of the established clusters are themselves linked.
HOTELS FOR RETURNEES ON STAY-HOME NOTICE NOT AN INDULGENCE
Mr Wong said providing dedicated facilities, including hotels, for returnees from the United States and Britain serving their 14-day stay-home notices is not an indulgence and certainly not unnecessary spending by the Government.
"It is a critical health measure," he said, noting that the Government would like to secure such an arrangement for all returnees but is still checking if there are enough beds.
"We will spend what is necessary to keep Singaporeans safe," he said.
NO ONE HAS TESTED POSITIVE A SECOND TIME
As for reports on Chinese patients testing positive for COVID-19 a second time after recovering, Prof Mak said this has so far not happened in Singapore.
He said in some overseas cases, patients were discharged when their symptoms cleared up, rather than after ascertaining they had shed the virus.
In Singapore, individuals are discharged after two consecutive negative results. The health authorities also do follow-ups and will ask patients to return, if required.
Prof Mak said no patient has been called back so far.
MASK ADVISORY, LIKE ALL MEASURES, UNDER REVIEW
When asked if the Government is considering changing its advice that only those who feel unwell or come into close contact with patients wear masks, Prof Mak said this, like the effectiveness of safe distancing measures, is under review.
He said the recommendations will be made public after the review is completed.
He added that the decision is based not just on evidence from other countries, but also on literature and Singapore's own experience.
ANTIBODY TESTS COULD BE ROLLED OUT SOON
Some countries have deployed antibody tests, which test if an individual has developed immunity to the virus, as part of their arsenal to fight the virus.
Prof Mak said these tests are being validated, but they should be used in a different way from the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests that doctors are using now.
For one thing, antibody tests have a limited role in diagnosis, as it takes the body at least four days after infection to produce antibodies, which is too late for the purposes of quick detection and contact tracing.
But they could be used to determine when a patient can be discharged, and when the time comes, guidelines will be given to doctors here on how best to use them.
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?
Mr Wong said success does not mean zero cases, but the stopping of further transmissions that present themselves as unlinked cases or new clusters.
He also warned that Singapore's borders remain porous as it is an international air hub, which means the possibility of new cases - and with that, new connected infections - remains high.
Why contact tracing is critical in identifying and stemming coronavirus clusters
By Clara Chong, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
Groups of linked coronavirus cases have emerged in places such as pubs, schools and dormitories, with almost half of all the known local COVID-19 clusters appearing in the last two weeks.
Singapore has had 14 clusters since Jan 23, when the first confirmed infection was reported in the country, with six of the clusters emerging only in the last 10 days. Some of the 14 have been closed - when all the transmission chains are deemed to be broken and no further infections arise from them.
Contact tracing has been critical in identifying and stemming clusters. Being able to join together seemingly random dots into a connected network provides an understanding of how the infection is being transmitted in the country, Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, explained.
It tells a story of whether there was a single source that can be contained, or there are multiple unlinked cases.
The former scenario would be more encouraging because it means there is a very good likelihood that the outbreak can be contained, while the latter is indicative of deep-seated community transmission, Prof Teo said.
If the clusters are known, targeted responses to these clusters can be made, said visiting professor Annelies Wilder-Smith of Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, who leads the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health's infectious diseases programme, said: "Each cluster and its location also tells us about where the virus is spreading and the at-risk groups of people, some of whom might belong to vulnerable groups."
The nature of the setting also affects the speed and extent of the spread, experts said, with some clusters spreading slowly over long periods of time while others grow rapidly.
Some clusters grow over a longer period of time, if there is subsequent transmission from the index cases to their primary contacts, such as people in the same location or workplace. "This may subsequently spread to secondary and tertiary contacts - such as family members and friends," said Prof Teo.
In clusters that flare up rapidly with many cases within a short period of time, the question is whether enough time has passed for secondary and tertiary spread to emerge, he said.
With mass events being halted, the risk of large clusters has decreased significantly, said Prof Hsu.
"Instead of looking at the number of days the cluster has existed, which can vary depending on the incubation period for each person, it is more important to look at how many generations of transmission there have been within each cluster," he added. A generation of transmission refers to the people who have been infected by the same source.
Should the number of clusters continue to rise at a sharp rate in the coming days, it would be a sign of increasing community transmission, experts said.
"Singapore has done well in identifying clusters. As soon as a new cluster forms, everything needs to be done to break transmission from that cluster. Clusters that grow quickly are more worrying as it will be harder to break the chains of human-to-human transmission," Professor Wilder-Smith added.
By Clara Chong, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
Groups of linked coronavirus cases have emerged in places such as pubs, schools and dormitories, with almost half of all the known local COVID-19 clusters appearing in the last two weeks.
Singapore has had 14 clusters since Jan 23, when the first confirmed infection was reported in the country, with six of the clusters emerging only in the last 10 days. Some of the 14 have been closed - when all the transmission chains are deemed to be broken and no further infections arise from them.
Contact tracing has been critical in identifying and stemming clusters. Being able to join together seemingly random dots into a connected network provides an understanding of how the infection is being transmitted in the country, Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, explained.
It tells a story of whether there was a single source that can be contained, or there are multiple unlinked cases.
The former scenario would be more encouraging because it means there is a very good likelihood that the outbreak can be contained, while the latter is indicative of deep-seated community transmission, Prof Teo said.
If the clusters are known, targeted responses to these clusters can be made, said visiting professor Annelies Wilder-Smith of Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, who leads the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health's infectious diseases programme, said: "Each cluster and its location also tells us about where the virus is spreading and the at-risk groups of people, some of whom might belong to vulnerable groups."
The nature of the setting also affects the speed and extent of the spread, experts said, with some clusters spreading slowly over long periods of time while others grow rapidly.
Some clusters grow over a longer period of time, if there is subsequent transmission from the index cases to their primary contacts, such as people in the same location or workplace. "This may subsequently spread to secondary and tertiary contacts - such as family members and friends," said Prof Teo.
In clusters that flare up rapidly with many cases within a short period of time, the question is whether enough time has passed for secondary and tertiary spread to emerge, he said.
With mass events being halted, the risk of large clusters has decreased significantly, said Prof Hsu.
"Instead of looking at the number of days the cluster has existed, which can vary depending on the incubation period for each person, it is more important to look at how many generations of transmission there have been within each cluster," he added. A generation of transmission refers to the people who have been infected by the same source.
Should the number of clusters continue to rise at a sharp rate in the coming days, it would be a sign of increasing community transmission, experts said.
"Singapore has done well in identifying clusters. As soon as a new cluster forms, everything needs to be done to break transmission from that cluster. Clusters that grow quickly are more worrying as it will be harder to break the chains of human-to-human transmission," Professor Wilder-Smith added.
MOM will crack down on firms which lack telecommuting arrangements
Ministry to step up enforcement; potential penalties include fines and stop-work orders, says Josephine Teo
By Clement Yong, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will come down harder on companies that have not made serious efforts to put in place work-from-home arrangements, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said yesterday.
Speaking at a multi-ministry task force briefing, she warned that MOM is looking at amending laws to increase potential penalties, including imposing fines and stop-work orders, for businesses that fail to follow its advisories, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also said there will be a five-fold increase in the number of enforcement officers conducting checks on companies to more than 100.
"Telecommuting is a critical part of safe distancing, particularly in workplaces... There is a lot of scope for us to do more, especially the private sector firms," she said.
"MOM will be stepping up enforcement in the coming weeks. We will look at the nature of work and make an assessment... We will require companies to up their game."
Recommendations announced earlier had called on employers to adopt telecommuting where possible, stagger work hours for employees who need to be in the office, and reduce close contact at work.
Last Friday, MOM said it had issued 34 stop-work orders and 36 remedial orders over four days to companies that did not meet safe distancing standards.
Mrs Teo said public sector organisations are taking the lead in adapting to the changed work environment amid the pandemic, with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Infocomm Media Development Authority allowing 90 per cent of their employees to telecommute.
She said that while some private companies have done "exceedingly well", she estimates that most in the Central Business District are still recalling 60 per cent of their workers back to the office.
"I want to emphasise this. Employers must allow employees to work from home as far as is reasonably practicable... This should be for all timings and all days, not just sometimes and some days."
She sought to reassure companies that a "measured approach" will be taken when it comes to meting out punishment in what is already a period of economic hardship for many businesses.
"I should say it is not our intention to simply issue a stop-work order without considering the circumstances of the companies.
"We are looking for evidence that companies have made serious attempts to implement stay-at-home, telecommuting arrangements, but we are also mindful that this is not always possible," said the minister, citing manufacturing companies.
"But one thing is very clear - 100 per cent is better than 80, 80 is better than 60... So even if companies have implemented some telecommuting measures, we will ask the important question of whether we can do more," she said.
Ministry to step up enforcement; potential penalties include fines and stop-work orders, says Josephine Teo
By Clement Yong, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will come down harder on companies that have not made serious efforts to put in place work-from-home arrangements, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said yesterday.
Speaking at a multi-ministry task force briefing, she warned that MOM is looking at amending laws to increase potential penalties, including imposing fines and stop-work orders, for businesses that fail to follow its advisories, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also said there will be a five-fold increase in the number of enforcement officers conducting checks on companies to more than 100.
"Telecommuting is a critical part of safe distancing, particularly in workplaces... There is a lot of scope for us to do more, especially the private sector firms," she said.
"MOM will be stepping up enforcement in the coming weeks. We will look at the nature of work and make an assessment... We will require companies to up their game."
Recommendations announced earlier had called on employers to adopt telecommuting where possible, stagger work hours for employees who need to be in the office, and reduce close contact at work.
Last Friday, MOM said it had issued 34 stop-work orders and 36 remedial orders over four days to companies that did not meet safe distancing standards.
Mrs Teo said public sector organisations are taking the lead in adapting to the changed work environment amid the pandemic, with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Infocomm Media Development Authority allowing 90 per cent of their employees to telecommute.
She said that while some private companies have done "exceedingly well", she estimates that most in the Central Business District are still recalling 60 per cent of their workers back to the office.
"I want to emphasise this. Employers must allow employees to work from home as far as is reasonably practicable... This should be for all timings and all days, not just sometimes and some days."
She sought to reassure companies that a "measured approach" will be taken when it comes to meting out punishment in what is already a period of economic hardship for many businesses.
"I should say it is not our intention to simply issue a stop-work order without considering the circumstances of the companies.
"We are looking for evidence that companies have made serious attempts to implement stay-at-home, telecommuting arrangements, but we are also mindful that this is not always possible," said the minister, citing manufacturing companies.
"But one thing is very clear - 100 per cent is better than 80, 80 is better than 60... So even if companies have implemented some telecommuting measures, we will ask the important question of whether we can do more," she said.
MAS lets people defer home loans, insurance outlays
SMEs also get cash flow support, such as continuing access to bank credit and insurance cover
By Aw Cheng Wei, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
In a bid to reduce the financial strain from COVID-19 outbreak, individuals can apply to their banks and insurers to defer payment of property loans and premium payments for life and health insurance plans.
This forms part of a package of measures announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) yesterday, which also offers cash-flow support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as ensuring continued access to bank credit and insurance cover.
People with home loans can defer either the principal payment or both principal and interest payments on their property loans until Dec 31.
Interest will accrue only on the deferred principal amount, and no interest will be charged on the deferred interest payments, the MAS said.
Housing loans make up about three-quarters of consumer lending.
Applicants do not need to show that they had been hit by the fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak, but they must not have been in debt for more than 90 days when applying for the relief.
Those with unsecured loans who have suffered a loss of a quarter or more of their monthly income after Feb 1 can apply to convert their outstanding balances into term loans at a reduced rate of interest capped at 8 per cent, far lower than the 26 per cent typically charged on credit cards.
Life and health insurance policyholders can apply to defer premium payments for up to six months while maintaining insurance coverage.
General insurance policyholders, such as for property and vehicles, may apply to their insurers for instalment payment plans too.
For SMEs, they can choose to defer principal payments on their secured term loans up to Dec 31, subject to banks' and finance companies' assessment of the quality of the SMEs' security.
They can also extend the tenure of their loans up to the corresponding period of deferment.
This option is open to SMEs that continue to pay interest and are in good standing with their banks and finance companies, MAS said, estimating that some $40 billion of loans are likely to qualify for this relief scheme.
"In the months ahead, many individuals and SMEs in Singapore will continue to face challenges in managing their cash flows and meeting their financial obligations, such as loan repayments and insurance premiums," said the MAS.
But it warned that "deferring payments increases future obligations... Borrowers and policy-holders should weigh their options carefully".
The regulator worked with the Association of Banks in Singapore, the Life Insurance Association, the General Insurance Association and the Finance Houses Association of Singapore on the measures.
The MAS noted that the global outbreak is intensifying, and stringent measures are being adopted around the world to contain the virus, severely curtailing economic activity.
"Uncertainty about the trajectory of the pandemic and the depth and duration of an economic recession have also created strains in financial markets globally, which can in turn accentuate the economic crunch," the central bank said.
The Financial Times reported last month that if the virus continued to spread, fragilities in the financial system have the potential to trigger a new debt crisis as global debt continues to spiral.
MAS managing director Ravi Menon said: "These measures will complement the Government's broader fiscal initiatives and help the Singapore economy recover more quickly and emerge stronger when the pandemic passes - as it surely must."
Association of Banks in Singapore chairman Samuel Tsien said that extraordinary measures must be taken to address what has developed to become a deep, global economic crisis.
"The measures are broad-based and standardised, to provide prompt and direct relief to affected individuals and businesses, particularly SMEs," said Mr Tsien, who is group chief executive of OCBC Bank.
Applications open today for insurers, and on April 6 for banks.
SMEs also get cash flow support, such as continuing access to bank credit and insurance cover
By Aw Cheng Wei, The Straits Times, 1 Apr 2020
In a bid to reduce the financial strain from COVID-19 outbreak, individuals can apply to their banks and insurers to defer payment of property loans and premium payments for life and health insurance plans.
This forms part of a package of measures announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) yesterday, which also offers cash-flow support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as ensuring continued access to bank credit and insurance cover.
People with home loans can defer either the principal payment or both principal and interest payments on their property loans until Dec 31.
Interest will accrue only on the deferred principal amount, and no interest will be charged on the deferred interest payments, the MAS said.
Housing loans make up about three-quarters of consumer lending.
Applicants do not need to show that they had been hit by the fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak, but they must not have been in debt for more than 90 days when applying for the relief.
Those with unsecured loans who have suffered a loss of a quarter or more of their monthly income after Feb 1 can apply to convert their outstanding balances into term loans at a reduced rate of interest capped at 8 per cent, far lower than the 26 per cent typically charged on credit cards.
Life and health insurance policyholders can apply to defer premium payments for up to six months while maintaining insurance coverage.
General insurance policyholders, such as for property and vehicles, may apply to their insurers for instalment payment plans too.
For SMEs, they can choose to defer principal payments on their secured term loans up to Dec 31, subject to banks' and finance companies' assessment of the quality of the SMEs' security.
They can also extend the tenure of their loans up to the corresponding period of deferment.
This option is open to SMEs that continue to pay interest and are in good standing with their banks and finance companies, MAS said, estimating that some $40 billion of loans are likely to qualify for this relief scheme.
"In the months ahead, many individuals and SMEs in Singapore will continue to face challenges in managing their cash flows and meeting their financial obligations, such as loan repayments and insurance premiums," said the MAS.
But it warned that "deferring payments increases future obligations... Borrowers and policy-holders should weigh their options carefully".
The regulator worked with the Association of Banks in Singapore, the Life Insurance Association, the General Insurance Association and the Finance Houses Association of Singapore on the measures.
The MAS noted that the global outbreak is intensifying, and stringent measures are being adopted around the world to contain the virus, severely curtailing economic activity.
"Uncertainty about the trajectory of the pandemic and the depth and duration of an economic recession have also created strains in financial markets globally, which can in turn accentuate the economic crunch," the central bank said.
The Financial Times reported last month that if the virus continued to spread, fragilities in the financial system have the potential to trigger a new debt crisis as global debt continues to spiral.
MAS managing director Ravi Menon said: "These measures will complement the Government's broader fiscal initiatives and help the Singapore economy recover more quickly and emerge stronger when the pandemic passes - as it surely must."
Association of Banks in Singapore chairman Samuel Tsien said that extraordinary measures must be taken to address what has developed to become a deep, global economic crisis.
"The measures are broad-based and standardised, to provide prompt and direct relief to affected individuals and businesses, particularly SMEs," said Mr Tsien, who is group chief executive of OCBC Bank.
Applications open today for insurers, and on April 6 for banks.
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