New COVID-19 variants: Do the UK and South Africa virus strains pose a danger to Singapore? Toggle share menu
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New COVID-19 variants: Do the UK and South Africa virus strains pose a danger to Singapore?
Airport staff members are seen in personal protective equipment and protective face masks at Changi Airport Terminal 1. (Photo: Calvin Oh)
18 Jan 2021 07:01PM) Share this content
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SINGAPORE: Two new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have raised alarm around the world as they are said to be more contagious, making it even harder to stop the spread of the disease.
While variants of SARS-CoV-2 are to be expected as they replicate and adapt to their human hosts, these particular strains are “of concern”, said the World Health Organization (WHO).
ST Podcasts of the week (Jan 18)
Health Check Ep 52: Addressing Covid-19 vaccine safety with Prof Ooi Eng Eong (featuring Prof Ooi Eng Eong from the Duke-NUS Medical School)
Asian Insider Ep 56: Trump’s presidency - how Asia will view his legacy (featuring Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at NUS, Professor C Raja Mohan from NUS Institute of South Asian Studies & Mr Ankit Panda from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
Lunch With Sumiko Ep 28: Opposition Leader & Workers Party chief Pritam Singh
#PopVultures Ep 39: GOT7 and longevity of pop idol groups
The Big Story Ep 69: Expert says rise in imported Covid-19 cases not threatening healthcare system yet (featuring Associate Professor Alex Cook of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health)
€19.95
Text: Junior Tay and GM Kevin Goh
Pictures (if not otherwise indicated): Junior Tay and GM Kevin Goh
Internet chess events have truly taken off in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and even though the virus is somewhat (knock on wood) under control here, the Singapore government has been cautiously and gradually removing the different anti-Covid measures. While we look forward to the lifting of all these safe-distancing measures, #ChessAgainstCovid (“CAC”), which raised nearly US$120,000 for Lakeside Family Service’s “Caring Amidst Covid-19 fund), has initiated plans to launch a brand-new chess club at the grassroots level. After a couple of months of planning and reconnaissance, Grandmaster Kevin Goh and his team decided on Yuhua Community Centre, located in the West of Singapore due to its proximity to where many of the CAC members spent most of their childhood growing up.
The Straits Times
Figures reflect lifting of border curbs, point to success of screening measures
From Dec 15 last year to Jan 10, Singapore identified 562 imported cases from 31 different countries.PHOTO: ST FILE
PublishedJan 11, 2021, 5:00 am SGT
https://str.sg/JDDd
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SINGAPORE - The rise in imported Covid-19 cases here has been expected by scientists, who say it is an indication of Singapore lifting border restrictions, and the success of measures to screen out infections amid a rise in cases globally.
The number of daily cases were in the double digits, compared to between October and November last year when fewer than 10 imported cases were recorded daily.
Singapore had unilaterally lifted border restrictions since September, gradually allowing into the country visitors from Brunei, China, New Zealand, Vietnam, Australia and Taiwan.
This easing of restrictions was also extended to new work permit and S Pass applications across all sectors, to alleviate the manpower shortage faced by businesses.