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5,000 inmates, staff, vendors and volunteers to be tested for Covid-19 at Changi Prison

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) will be testing about 5,000 inmates, staff, vendors and volunteers over the next few days after a chef working in the prison kitchen at Changi Prison Complex tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday (May 13). In a statement released on Saturday, SPS said inmate activities, including rehabilitation programmes, will be suspended to facilitate the testing. It also said that vendors and volunteers who are affected by the temporary suspension of activities will be notified. SPS said it would cease face-to-face and tele-visits and replace all inmates' visits with phone calls from May 17 until further notice. The decision comes on the heels of the Ministry of Health's (MOH) announcement on Friday on the tightening of measures in the community to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Families who have already booked their visits will have them automatically converted to phone calls. In addition to phone calls, inmates are still able to communicate with their families through e-letters. "These are important, preventive steps taken by SPS, for the safety of our inmates and their families, staff and partners, and they complement existing meas...

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Cleaning firm gives Covid-19 pandemic bonus of close to $1m to front-line workers

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - One cleaning firm is handing out a special pandemic bonus of close to $1 million to its cleaners and other employees. Mr Abdul Aziz Yusof, chief executive of Cleaning Express (Atalian Global Services Singapore), said: "During Covid-19, there was a crisis of manpower and resources, but our workers were motivated. This bonus is to show our appreciation for their contributions and sacrifices." Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Rapid tests to be used in S’pore on top of PCR tests for quicker contact tracing and ringfencing

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Antigen rapid tests (ARTs) will be used for those who have acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms, on top of the current polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. This will allow swifter detection of possible cases, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said in a virtual multi-ministry task force press conference on Friday (May 14). ARTs will be used for all who present themselves with ARI symptoms at the Swab and Send Home (SASH) Public Health Preparedness Clinics, polyclinics, emergency departments and regional swab centres. This ART will be done together with the PCR test that all such patients are already subjected to. Both tests will be funded by the Government for all those with ARI symptoms. Singapore has relied on PCR tests as the gold standard for Covid-19 testing but it has its limitations, such as the longer time required to produce results, Mr Gan said. ARTs can produce results in around 30 minutes and can be done on-site. With PCRs, the swabs have to be transported to the labs, which adds to the wait of around two hours for results. Given that ARTs have a quicker turnaround time, using ARTs ahead of PCR tests will allow the Health Ministry to start contact tracing ...

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Goh Keng Swee Foundation donates $1.85m to needy students on his 11th death anniversary

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - To commemorate the 11th anniversary of former deputy prime minister Goh Keng Swee's passing on Friday (May 14), the foundation set up under his name donated a total of $1.85m to financially disadvantaged students from Singapore's four communities and needy medical students at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The Goh Keng Swee Foundation was set up by his wife, Dr Phua Swee Lian, in 2008 to encourage the values of her late husband. She said: "One of the objectives of the Goh Keng Swee Foundation is to continue in some small way Keng Swee's aspiration to improve the lot of the less privileged and the needy in society. "Throughout his tenure in political office, Keng Swee had a firm conviction that education is the only way to uplift the quality of life for these people." During his 25 years in politics, Dr Goh was instrumental in the development of Singapore. He has held cabinet appointments including deputy prime minister and helmed the finance, defence and education portfolios. In 1981, Dr Goh set up the Government of Investment Corporation, with plans to protect the country's reserves from unprecedented economic crisis. He was also key to numerous national p...

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Pivoted nightlife establishments face stricter measures after SMM breaches

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Former nightlife operators can now lose their food licences if they commit serious breaches of safe management measures (SMM) under new regulations announced on Friday morning (May 14). Those whose licences have been revoked will need to cease operations immediately until the nightlife sector is allowed to reopen in the future or until their re-application for a a new food licence is approved, said a statement by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE). This comes after 10 food & beverage (F&B) premises, including six former nightlife operators, had been ordered to close. The breaches include failing to prevent large groups of patrons from intermingling; employing hostesses; and allowing live entertainment such as the playing of musical instruments and games like dice and billiards. As a result, nightlife operators who intend to convert their establishment to a F&B outlet in future must file a Change of Use application with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to obtain planning permission. This includes submitting a proposed business concept, layout plan and removal of any bar-related signage. The Singapore Food Agency will process the licence appli...

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Changi Airport cluster originated from zone that received travellers from higher-risk places

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Workers infected with Covid-19 at Changi Airport had mainly been working in one zone that had received travellers from higher-risk countries, including South Asia. Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Friday (May 14) that the airport identified this trend after studying the 20-plus initial infections at the airport cluster. "Most (of these infections) in fact congregate around one zone," said Mr Ong. "This is a zone with a finger pier that receives higher-risk countries' (passenger) arrivals, including South Asia." A finger pier is an extension that juts out from the terminal, with its own gatehold lounges. This zone includes the conveyor belt and immigration area that the passengers pass through, Mr Ong said during a press conference by the task force combating the Covid-19 outbreak. The zone is the Changi Airport cluster's equivalent of Ward 9D at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where several people were initially found to be infected. "From that zone, workers go (to) have their meals at the Terminal 3 Basement 2 commercial area and foodcourt, and we suspect that, from there, it transmitted to members of the public who visited the place." On May 8, an 18-year-old Victoria J...

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Most students with Covid-19 linked to private tutor, no evidence of school-based transmission

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - There is no evidence of school-based Covid-19 transmission so far, even as a few new infections among students will be reported, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong. The infections reported so far all took place outside of school but even so, safe management measures in schools have been tightened, said Mr Wong, who is the co-chair of a Covid-19 multi-ministry task force. "But we will continue to monitor this very closely and see if additional measures are necessary," he said at a press briefing on Friday (May 14). Principals and teachers have been reminded to be alert and vigilant, to make sure that students who are in schools can continue learning safely, he added. Most students who were reported to have tested positive recently are linked to a tutor in a private tuition school, said the Ministry of Health's (MOH) director of medical services Kenneth Mak. Associate Professor Mak said MOH will report later on Friday that a few students in schools have tested positive. He said at the press conference: "At this point in time, epidemiological investigations are still ongoing, but most of these students are in fact linked to one of our cases reported yesterday, case 63,1...

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Workers go for Covid-19 tests on first day of Changi Airport’s closure to the public

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Changi Airport turned silent on the first day of its closure to the public, even though there was a steady stream of airport workers returning for their Covid-19 swab tests. A few shoppers, unaware of the temporary closure of Jewel and restricted access to the terminal buildings, showed up. But they were turned away. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) had announced on Wednesday night (May 12) that they would allow only some workers and travellers to access the airport terminal buildings for two weeks from Thursday. Jewel would be closed during this period too. The closure comes as the authorities embark on a massive Covid-19 testing of airport workers following a surge in the number of Covid-19 daily cases linked to a cleaner at the airport. CAAS and CAG said they will continue to review and adjust measures as needed. This includes extending the closure if necessary. When The Straits Times visited the area around Terminal 3 on Thursday morning, a few people were seen walking around inside in full personal protective equipment. The departure hall was largely empty, except for a handful of people with their luggage. The entranc...

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9 Covid-19 cases in past 6 days did not see doctor when sick; experts say next few weeks crucial for S’pore

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5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Experts have warned that the Covid-19 crisis in Singapore could worsen quickly amid a growing number of unlinked cases and expanding clusters, but some here are still not seeing a doctor after developing symptoms. The Covid-19 situation here is on a knife's edge, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said when he addressed Parliament on Tuesday (May 11). The experts agree. Speaking during his ministerial address on the pandemic, Mr Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling the pandemic, said that the nation has a chance of getting things under control by the end of the month. But he also warned against complacency, saying that the country's community case numbers can go either way over the next few weeks, and it will only take one lapse or one irresponsible action for a potential super-spreading event to occur. As of Wednesday, there were 12 active clusters here, with 12 unlinked cases in the community over the past week. Professor Dale Fisher, from the Department of Medicine at the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, said he "couldn't agree more" with Mr Wong's statement. The choice is between either controlling the increasin...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 13

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2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Thursday, May 13. Changi Airport terminals, Jewel to be closed to public for 2 weeks from May 13; still open for air travel They will be closed to the public from May 13 while staff are being tested for Covid-19. READ MORE HERE Changi Airport Covid-19 cluster grows to 25; free testing for those who visited T3 since May 3 The sole unlinked case is a Sengkang General Hospital operating theatre nurse. READ MORE HERE Paid news model forces newsrooms to be more analytical, deliver quality journalism: Khaw Boon Wan Paid news model forces newsrooms to be more analytical, deliver quality journalism: Khaw Boon Wan "If your objective is just to chase eyeballs, then the easiest (way) is to make (news) free," he said. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Front-line officers in Singapore keeping Hari Raya celebrations simple Inspector Norhafizah Abdul Aziz relies on her family's support to keep her going. READ MORE HERE Bitcoin plunges after Elon Musk's Tesla stops taking it for car payments over climate concerns Bitcoin dropped as much as 15%, sliding below US$50,000 in Asian trad...

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Front-line officers in Singapore keeping Hari Raya celebrations simple

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - Amid the spike in Covid-19 cases, two families with members who are front-line workers are planning to keep their Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations simple. Sergeant Nur Farahdillah Abdullah, 29, a paramedic at Bukit Batok Fire Station, and her family plan to visit her mother and her husband's grandfather on the first day of Hari Raya (May 13). Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Fitness trainer spends second Hari Raya in a row sweating about gym restrictions

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - There was a sense that time had stood still as Madam Siti Zubaidah Isa and her family put on their matching outfits on Wednesday (May 12) and joined many other Muslim families to celebrate Hari Raya. Their purple outfits - ordered from a Johor tailor for last year's Hari Raya - arrived only four days ago due to the pandemic. More poignantly, the 40-year-old fitness trainer found herself worrying about the temporary closure of her two studios during the festive period for the second year in a row. As Madam Zubaidah scrambles to adapt to the temporary gym closures, she said she will find strength from "the trainer in me", and take small comfort that some visiting can be done this year compared with last year's virtual affair. "At work, I always wear a smile and tell people to keep going. Now, that's something I have to do at home as well," said the mother of two children, aged five and seven. While taking on various training gigs and shifting her fitness classes online to make up rent for her studios, Madam Zubaidah said she sees a silver lining, as she now has more time for family. "Even though it's another Covid-19 Hari Raya, the food and asking for forgiveness do not c...

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Six building owners fined for not renewing fire certificates

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Six building owners have been fined for occupying their premises without valid fire certificates. The individuals were charged in court between Jan 12 and April 27 with occupying their premises and contravening Section 20(2) of the Fire Safety Act for one to two months. The building owners were fined between $1,400 and $2,000. Under the Act, the premises must have valid fire certificates before they can be occupied, reiterated the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in a statement on Wednesday (May 12). The six premises are at 121 Neythal Road, 27 Foch Road, 40 Tuas West Road, 175 Bencoolen Street, 5 Tuas View Lane, and 3 Pioneer Sector Walk. The places cited are mostly industrial buildings, except for 27 Foch Road and 175 Bencoolen Street which are commercial buildings. SCDF said it had alerted the building owners two months before the expiry of the fire certificates and issued multiple reminders. But they had failed to renew the certificates. All six have renewed their certificates since then, added SCDF. A valid certificate is evidence that the fire safety measures installed on the premises have been checked, and the building is safe to be occupied, said SCDF. Depen...

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MOT deputy secretary Han Kok Juan to helm civil aviation authority from Aug 2

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A new director-general will helm the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) from Aug 2. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Wednesday (May 12) that Mr Han Kok Juan, who is currently deputy secretary at the ministry and senior deputy director-general at CAAS, will take on the role. He will be appointed first as director-general-designate at CAAS from June 1 to Aug 1. The 47-year-old will replace Mr Kevin Shum, 50, who has headed CAAS since Aug 2, 2015. Mr Shum will be posted to Mr Han's former role as a deputy secretary for transport. Mr Han has been the deputy secretary at MOT since September 2019. The ministry said he has helped to advance its agenda in aviation, maritime and international relations, among other matters. He is also credited with playing a key role in coordinating the transport sector's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Before his appointment at MOT, Mr Han was deputy secretary in the Law Ministry from November 2015 till September 2019. Among his contributions there were leading a team to support the Parliamentary Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods. Mr Han studied at the University of Oxford in Britain, where he graduated with a...

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Nine contracts worth $320 million awarded for Singapore-Johor RTS Link systems

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Nine contracts worth about RM1 billion (S$321.7 million) have been awarded for system works for the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, said the rail link's operator - RTS Operations (RTSO). In an update on Wednesday (May 12), the operator, a joint venture between Singapore rail operator SMRT and Malaysian public transport firm Prasarana, said these system works are "progressing well". It did not specify when these contracts were awarded. Four of the contracts were for core systems, with Chinese firm CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive taking charge of the rail link's rolling stock and the Malaysian subsidiary of Siemens Mobility handling the signalling system and platform screen doors. Another Malaysian firm, Sapura Rail Systems, was awarded contracts to set up the communications system and the integrated supervisory control system. The remaining five contracts are for track work, power supply systems, depot equipment and service vehicles, as well as an automatic fare collection system. RTSO said it had earlier awarded a systems consultancy contract for the design, manufacturing, delivery, testing and commissioning of all systems for the RTS Link, which will conn...

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S’pore on ‘knife’s edge’, Covid-19 community cases can go either way over next few weeks: Lawrence Wong

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Singapore is now on a "knife's edge", and the country's community case numbers can go either way over the next few weeks, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (May 11). "We have a chance of getting things under control by the end of the month," he said in a ministerial statement to update Parliament on the Republic's Covid-19 situation. "But as we know from experience, it only takes one lapse or one irresponsible action for an infection to happen; and that infection may end up being a super-spreader event in the community." There are currently more than 10 active coronavirus clusters here, the largest of which is at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, with 43 cases. Singapore has tightened its rules on social gatherings since last Saturday to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the community. Mr Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry taskforce tackling the pandemic along with Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, noted that several public holidays are coming up. Muslims here will celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Thursday, while Buddhists here will observe Vesak Day on May 26. He acknowledged that the safety measures, which include tighter restrictions on social gatherings and house...

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1,200 travellers daily at Changi in March, but number of workers arriving still insufficient: Lawrence Wong

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Arrivals at Changi Airport have increased from about 820 a day last November to 1,200 in March. Giving an update to the House on the Government's response to Covid-19 on Tuesday (May 11), Education Minister Lawrence Wong said in Parliament that one reason for this increase is the taking in of more migrant workers in the construction, marine and process (CMP) sectors, as well as foreign domestic workers. This group was also the largest contributor to Singapore's imported cases, at about 40 per cent over the past six months, although a tighter screening and quarantine process was implemented even as the numbers went up, he said. "These imported cases were already in SHN (stay-home notice) when we detected them, and were not in contact with the community," he said, adding that the increased inflow was still insufficient to meet the needs of firms here. Mr Wong also said that while there was no medical evidence that new Covid-19 variants have a longer incubation period, there was always a "very small tail risk" of such cases. This was why Singapore moved recently to a tighter, 21-day SHN regime for travellers from all higher-risk countries during this period of heightened a...

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Singpost senior V-P charged with corruption and deceiving company into paying him $840,000 in wages

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A senior vice-president (V-P) of Singpost allegedly cheated the company for more than four years, getting them to pay him more than $800,000 in salaries. Liang An Wey, 46, is also alleged to have attempted to get $1 million in bribes from a contractor after he was made a senior V-P of the company. On Tuesday (May 11), he was slapped with one charge for corruption and another for cheating. According to court documents, Liang deceived Singpost into believing he was employed by private firm GSM Holdings between 2012 and June 2013 at a salary of $14,500. He allegedly submitted the false information in his job application to Singpost in 2013. Singpost then paid him a monthly salary of $15,000 for a total of 56 months. The total amount he was paid in the position over the period was $840,000. In March 2015, as a senior V-P of Singpost, he attempted to obtain a bribe of $1 million from the chief operating officer of Bintai Kindenko, a mechanical and engineering contractor. The bribe was allegedly to have been in return for him recommending Bintai Kindenko as a sub-contractor for the construction works involved in the redevelopment of the Singpost Centre Retail Mall and works r...

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30 S’pore residents who experienced serious Covid-19 vaccine side effects to get financial assistance

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - There have been 104 applications for financial assistance for those suffering from serious side effects related to Covid-19 vaccines, as at May 3. Of these, 30 qualified for compensation. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong told Parliament on Tuesday (May 11) that the 30 cases included 21 of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions, four neurology-related cases, three cardiology-related cases, and one case related to haematology (blood disorders) and dermatology each. Another 45 applications were rejected and the remaining 29 applications are still pending. In a ministerial statement on the Covid-19 situation, Mr Gan addressed various questions from MPs on the vaccines. Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC) of the Workers' Party (WP) had asked for the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme figures. Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang), also a WP MP, had asked whether there are current studies by the health authorities to ensure that the currently approved Covid-19 vaccines do not come with the risk of rare blood clots seen in other vaccines in use elsewhere. As at May 9, about 1.8 million individuals had received at least one dose of the vaccine, Mr Gan said. Of this number, about 1.2 million ...