[Updated] Getting another booster shot

It has been quite a while I last wrote a blog post.

Since late August 2022, people in Singapore are no longer required to wear a mask in all settings except taking public transport (bus/taxi/private-hire transport/MRT train/ambulance/airline flights to countries requiring mask-wearing) and entering healthcare premises (clinic/polyclinic/hospital/dental clinic).

For more details on the current covid19 restrictions in Singapore, can check out this Singapore Legal Advice webpage here.

It has been about 7 months since I last contracted covid19. And it’s time that I should go take a 2nd booster shot.

From 7 November 2022, eligible individuals aged 18 to 49 years old in Singapore will progressively be invited to receive an additional dose of bivalent vaccine, especially those who have yet to complete their minimum protection series.

For those who are eligible will receive an SMS with a personalised booking link to make an appointment at one of the Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres (JTVCs). Individuals in the 40 to 49 age group will first be invited in the initial phase, before gradually moving on to the lower age groups.

The original Moderna/Spikevax vaccine has been updated with a bivalent version to offer better protection against newer COVID-19 variants since 14 October 2022 for anyone aged 18 years old and above receiving any vaccination. As for the Pfizer/Comirnaty bivalent vaccine, it is presently undergoing evaluation by the authorities and it should be available by the end of this year.

Last Friday morning (11 November 2022), I received an SMS from the Ministry of Health (MOH) while at work, inviting me to take up an additional dose of Moderna/Spikevax bivalent vaccine.

The year-end festivities are coming. End-of-year school holidays are starting soon. Singaporeans are flying overseas for their much-awaited vacations. Given that countries in northern hemisphere are going to experience winter soon, there is a likelihood that there could be another wave of covid-19 virus coming to Singapore when Christmas or Chinese New Year comes. We have to stay vigilant. MOH is monitoring the situation.

I will be going for the bivalent vaccine, likely taking a half day off work on a Friday. That was what I did for my earlier covid19 vaccination shots so that I can have 2 full days of rest (during weekend) to recover from any possible side-effects of the vaccine.

Stay healthy and safe everyone.

[20/11/2022, Sunday]

I knocked off early on Friday and went to the Joint Testing & Vaccination Centre (JTVC) located in Yishun. That’s the former Yishun temporary bus interchange situated next to Golden Village Cineplex and Northpoint City.

I arrived at the JTVC at about 5.15pm. Registration and taking the bivalent vaccine was almost instant and smooth.

I rested for about 15 minutes before my queue number was called up. Was given a bottle of mineral water.

Same as previously instructed, I am not supposed to do any exercise for the next 2 weeks. Should I get fever or headache, I am advised to take panadol pill 1 – 2 tablets a day depending on situation. A friend also advised me to abstain from taking alcoholic drinks for the next 14 days.

I did get slight fever yesterday. Measured my temperature in the afternoon – 38 degree celsius. It lowered down to 37.5 degree celsius later in the evening after dinner with parents. Although I slept late, I had full sleep, getting 7 to 8 hours of rest.

After getting up from bed and taken breakfast, I measured my temperature again. Thankfully, my body temperature has fallen back to the normal range – 36.3 degree celsius. 🙂

I feel safe now that I am given another boost of protection against covid19 virus. But still, I should monitor my own health at all times. Till today, I still mask up in outdoor settings even though it is no longer a mandatory rule except when taking public transport or entering healthcare premises. Keeping a safe social distance from others is still necessary.

The Day when I contracted COVID19

I always thought that if I observe all necessary preventive measures and practise good personal hygenie habits, I will be safe from being infected with covid19 virus. Oh gawd, I was wrong! It happens when you least expect it!

It started when my Dad contracted it when he went out to meet friends for breakfast at a coffeeshop near home on Tuesday 22 March 2022. Barely 10 minutes when I stepped into office for work, Mum whatsapped me to inform me that my father has gotten the virus, and advised me to do an ART test immediately to check if I am tested positive. I was stunned. I requested for an ART kit from a colleague and went to the pantry alone to do the test. It was a negative result.

Being a close contact, I knew on the spot that I was at a real risk of contracting covid19 virus. According to the guidelines by Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH), this meant that I must monitor my well-being and do daily ART for the next 5 days before I step out of the house for work or running errands. If the test result is negative, I could go outdoors. Otherwise I have to report my case to my superior immediately.

My dad had went to see a doctor, hence his case was reported to MOH. To care for my father, Mum inevitably contracted the virus on Wednesday 23 March 2022. She did not see doctor. She knew it when she did an ART test that morning.

On Friday 25 March 2022, I got it. Sigh.

I made a report to my superior via whatsapp. I was supposed to see a doctor and obtain a 5-day medical certificate leave, and more importantly, I am to stay indoors, do self-isolation in my own bedroom for the first 72 hours (3 days).

I had high fever close to 40 degree celsius. Surprisingly I can still make my way to a nearby GP clinic on my own to see a doctor (with wearing a mask of course). I did another ART on the spot. Was asked some questions by the doctor on duty. She answered some questions I had, and advised me on what I should do. I was prescribed some fever and cough medicine, and I went home immediately.

According to the then guidelines by Ministry of Health, a covid19-positive person in Singapore should do self-isolation in a bedroom with toilet for first 72 hours (3 days), and he/she is to do ART the next day on Day 4. If negative, he or she is considered recovered, and hence need not self-isolate anymore. On the other hand if the person is still covid19-positive, he/she is to continue self-isolation until Day 7. On day 7 after 12noon, he or she is to do one more ART. Regardless a positive or negative result, he or she is considered “discharged” because the infectious period (first 3 days) is already over.

I live in a jumbo flat hence there are enough rooms for my parents and I to do self-isolation at home.

How did we cope with recovering from covid19 at home?

Separation of utensils

We use our own cutlery for meals. This means I take and clean my own fork/spoon/plate and take them with me into my bedroom instead of sharing them with my family members.

When done with cooking meals, Mum would retreat into her bedroom and inform us via whatsapp that food is ready for consumption. I will then get out of my bedroom, go to the dining table, take my food with my utensils, and go back to my bedroom to eat. When done with eating, I will go to the kitchen, wash my dishes, dry my utensils and take them back with me into my bedroom.

Individually, we kept our medicine and a thermo flask of warm water beside our beds. We made sure we kept ourselves hydrated throughout the day.

1-metre safe distancing

Everyone at home observed this rule. We wore masks even if we need to talk face-to-face at home.

Observing personal hygenie

We made sure we shower daily and threw worn clothes into the laundry basket in kitchen. My mother would still do the laundry via the washing machine everyday.

A bottle of hand sanitiser was placed on placed on the dining table. Whoever comes to the dining table is to clean up and disinfect the table after use. This is because our fingers or hands may inevitably touch the dining table surfaces during mealtime.

Communication and entertainment during self-isolation

For time being, we were unable to watch TV in the living room. We retreated into our own rooms for rest. Hence we relied on our smartphones for own entertainment and online reading. This is because we are not allowed to go outdoors to purchase any hard-copy newspapers during those 72 hours.

We relied on whatsapp to send text or audio messages, or to call one another. I made sure the home wifi router is switched on daily for my parents to go online anytime at home.

It took 3 days for my dad to recover from covid19 virus, 5 days for my mum and 12 days for me to recover from it! =P

I went back to work at Day 8.

The pandemic is not over yet. Although recovered, I know there is still a possibility for me to be re-infected with covid19 virus. Much covid19 restrictions are eased in Singapore but I am still wearing my mask wherever I go. I stay away from large crowds. If the time comes for me to take a 2nd booster shot, I will go take it.

Take care. Stay healthy, vigilant and safe, everyone!

The Great Re-opening of Singapore

In past few months, the daily infection numbers in Singapore had continued to fall and have stabilised. Therefore, this gives Singapore Government the confidence to proceed with further easing of several community and travel measures.

I think this is possible highly due to fact that the vaccination coverage in Singapore is amongst the highest in the world – 96% of our population have had attained full vaccination status.

Given the improving situation here in Singapore, with daily cases falling and stabilising; the impact of the covid19 disease has been mitigated by high levels of vaccination; and the coronavirus is typically mild, except in the unvaccinated and vulnerable groups such as the elderly; and the progressive easing of Safe Management Measures (SMMs), the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level was re-adjusted from Orange to Yellow.

To be honest, like many Singaporeans, I didn’t expect this to take place so soon! I was quite surprised. I was like “What? Did I hear wrongly? Is this real?”

I thought the further relaxation of COVID-19 rules may come 2 or 4 months later, say June or September.

On 26 April 2022, the following adjustments were implemented:

1- Group Sizes. No more group size limit. This means individuals are no longer required to keep to a group of 10 persons for mask-off activities. The cap on the number of unique visitors per household, previously 10 persons at any one time, is lifted too.

2 – Mask-Wearing. Mask-wearing is maintained for indoor settings only, including on public transport. Mask-wearing is optional for outdoor settings. However, the Singapore Government encourages everyone to exercise precaution. For example, if you happen to be in crowded outdoor areas, it will still be a good idea for you to put on your mask.

3 – Workplace Requirements. All workers in Singapore can now return to their workplace, an increase from the previous limit of 75% of those who can work from home. Notwithstanding the mask-on requirement in indoor settings, workers are allowed to remove their masks at the workplace, provided if: (a) when they are not interacting physically with others and (b) when they are not in customer-facing roles. While this concession will provide some flexibility for workers as more return to the workplace, everyone is advised to exercise social responsibility and maintain an appropriate safe distance from others while unmasked. Even with these changes, employers in Singapore are encouraged to retain and promote flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting and staggered work hours, as a permanent feature of the workplace. Beyond the workplace benefits of flexible work arrangements, this will also help workers avoid peak period crowds as more of us return back to the workplace.

4 – Safe Distancing. No more safe distancing due to the lifting of group size limits.

5 – Capacity Limits. The previous capacity limits (of larger settings or events with more than 1,000 attendees and that are mask-on were subject to a capacity limit of 75%) is removed.

6 – Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS). With COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations steadily declining, hospitals and healthcare workers in Singapore are adjusting to handle their higher clinical workload from non-COVID-19 patients. Therefore, Singapore could now be in a position to ease VDS.

So this means VDS is now removed for all settings except for the following:

a. Events with more than 500 participants at any one time;
b. Nightlife establishments where dancing among patrons is one of the intended activities; and
c. Food and beverage (F&B) establishments, including restaurants, coffee shops and hawker centres.

Specific to F&B outlets, while VDS is still required, they are now no longer required to conduct VDS checks on their customers. Instead, the onus will be on the diners who are dining in to abide by the rules. Random spot-checks will continue to be conducted to ensure that only fully vaccinated persons are dining in at F&B outlets.

7 – Health Risk Notices (HRNs). Singapore Ministry of Health stops issuing HRNs via SMS to close contacts. Individuals infected with COVID-19 are no longer required to submit details of their household contacts online. However, everyone should continue to exercise social responsibility. For example, COVID-19 positive persons should inform their close contacts ASAP so that they can take the necessary precautions under Protocol 3, which is: to test themselves with Antigen Rapid Test (ART) to ensure they get negative results before leaving homes, to prevent further spread among the wider community. Hospitals, nursing homes and elderly homes will still request proof of a negative ART result for persons with recent exposure before they are allowed entry into the building.

8 – TraceTogether (TT) and SafeEntry (SE). No more TT and SE! As HRNs will no longer be issued, COVID-19 infected persons need not upload their TT data or submit their TT token from 26 April 2022. Almost all venues are no longer required to get general public to check in using the TT application or token, except larger events with more than 500 participants at any one time and certain nightlife outlets, where VDS checks are still required at entry.

The TT and SE capabilities are still maintained as a means of conducting these VDS checks, and to enable the Singapore authorities to rapidly step up contact tracing and VDS checks should we ever need to do so again, say in response to a new Variant of Concern. Singaporeans are therefore strongly encouraged to keep the TT application on their smartphones as well as their TT physical tokens.

Yes! This gives us Singaporeans a greater convenience when we go from building to building. Just like how it used to be before the pandemic struck.

9 – Border Measures. The Vaccinated Travel Framework is launched – allowing all fully vaccinated travellers to enter Singapore without serving a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) or applying for entry approvals. Fully vaccinated travellers arriving via land checkpoints are also not longer required to take pre-departure or on-arrival COVID-19 tests, while those arriving via air or sea checkpoints are still subject to a pre-departure test (PDT) within 2 days before departure for Singapore. For more details, check out this Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA) SafeTravel webpage.

On 19 April, all nightlift establishments including clubs, bars, KTV outlets are given the official go-ahead to re-open for business, with some conditions imposed. For more details, check out this Channel NewsAsia news article.

And finally on 29 April, the Singapore authorities announced that self-service buffets can be resumed for business from 30 April at F&B outlets, as well as events such as weddings, funerals and work-related or social gatherings, in line with Singapore’s easing of COVID-19 measures, with certain conditions imposed. For more details, check out this Channel NewsAsia article.

Our lives are now an inch closer to being normal, like how it was before 2020. This is the day we all have been waiting for.

We Singaporeans could now go out freely to meet our loved ones. We can attend weddings and concerts. Oh yes, a few big-scale concerts are lined up at the 3rd and 4th quarter of 2022. Formula One Singapore Grand Pix 2022 is taking place at Marina Bay in September.

The only rule still maintained, is the compulsory wearing of masks indoors.

While this represents a significant step in our return to normalcy, I hope fellow Singaporeans are aware that this covid19 pandemic is not over yet. Therefore we must recognise the risks ahead, stay vigilant and continue to take necessary precautions.

I read recent news stories about the current COVID-19 situations in Hongkong, Taiwan and China. I hope their situations can be improved, allowing citizens to resume their normal lives as soon as possible.

In my next blog post, I will share more about my covid19 infection. Yes, I was infected in late March. :p

Merry Christmas!

It is that time of the year again.

For many of us out there, it is another year celebrating Christmas in the midst of covid19 pandemic. With the emergence of Omicron variant which is spreading fast in communitities with its high transmissibility, quite a number of countries are now tightening restrictions within their borders, and introduce more travel curbs.

Singapore is suspending sales of VTL (Vaccinated Travel Lane) air and land tickets from 23 December 2021 to 20 January 2022, and will also halve the total number of air and bus tickets for entry into Singapore from 21 January 2022 onwards.

Yes, we are all experiencing fatigue from covid19 restrictions which seem like it is never-ending. Entering the 3rd year when covid19 virus is still raging on?

I dare not even think much about Chinese New Year which falls on 1 February 2022. Sighh…

Yes, we should continue to exercise our social responsibility – clean up after ourselves, wash our hands after touching surfaces, wearing masks at all times except meal times or exercise, observe social distancing from others (1 – 2 metres apart), getting ourselves vaccinated, and most importantly – go see doctor and practice self-isolation if feeling unwell.

Wherever you are, stay vigilant and safe with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas! Happy Weekend!

Happy Holidayyys!!

My COVID19 Vaccination – Part 1

It was Friday 28 May 2021.

After leaving office, I changed into casual sporty attire, took grab to head down to my 1st dose covid19 vaccination appointment at Woodlands Community Club vaccination centre.

I registered for it on vaccine.gov.sg last weekend, and had received an SMS with my unique booking code from Ministry of Health (MOH) on the following Monday 24 May 2021 . From there, I arranged to book 2 appointment slots online for my covid19 vaccination, with the first dose appointment being on Friday.

I have chosen 6.30pm slot, however I arrived 30 minutes early.

At 6.20pm, I had my first jab! Yeah! Just in case you are wondering, I am taking Moderna vaccine.

Upon registration, minimal waiting was required before my turn to be vaccinated. Followed by 30 minutes of resting time thereafter. It is to ensure that vaccine receipients are alright and do not display any signs of immediate discomfort before leaving the vaccination centre.

Anyway, it is only the first dose so I still have to wear a mask, observe social distancing and sanitising my hands regularly. My 2nd dose appointment is at the same venue on Saturday 17 July 2021, 8am.

Up till now, I am feeling alright except feeling a slight soreness on the injected site on my left arm. I ate decent meals, have had sufficient rest on bed and kept myself hydrated by drinking lots of water.

According to Our World in Data, as of Monday 24 May 2021, 3.73 million doses of COVID19 vaccine are administered in Singapore. Presently, Singaporeans are given either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

1.62 million people have had received 2 doses. This means 28.3% of the Singapore population is fully vaccinated so far.

A Year Ago..When Pandemic happens.

This day, a year ago.

This is what I saw while working at Changi Airport.

Covid19 pandemic had just started, with infection cases emerging in many countries.

Due to border restrictions implemented by governments, demand for international air travel had plunged drastically. As a result, many flights to and fro Singapore were cancelled.

Changi Airport had became a “ghost town”, as exclaimed by a friend.

Singapore entered circuit breaker mode on 7 April 2020, which lasted 1 month, 3 weeks and 4 days, as a preventive measure to curb the level of pandemic in the country.

At present, we are at Safe-Reopening Phase 3. According to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, it may last to a year or beyond.

Taking into consideration that more Singaporeans are getting themselves vaccinated and the number of covid19 cases is kept at a consistent manageable level, the government had just announced recently that it is further relaxing rules pertaining the workplace, weddings & funerals, and other social activities.

I am looking forward to the day when I can go sing karaoke. Yes, I am dying for some singing!!!!

一年前的今天，全球各地冠病疫情刚刚爆发。
这是我在樟宜机场工作时看到的景象。
随着各别航空公司取消航班次数、国际航空需求急速降低，机场变得十分安静。

2020年4月7日，新加坡开始了历时１个月３个星期又４天的防疫阻断措施，一直到６月１日。

目前现在我们处在经济重新开放第３期阶段。李显龙总理说，这可能将持续１年左右。随着越来越多国人接种冠病疫苗而且社区冠病案例数目都一直维持在可控制范围，因此政府最近宣布放宽一些阻断措施。

或许你会问我：我现在最想做什么事？

其实我最期待做的并不是出国旅行，而是上卡拉Ok歌厅唱歌！我已经很久很久没唱歌了！（目前新加坡所有经营卡拉Ok业者不能开门做生意。）

A Quiet Chinese New Year

It is the month of February. The month of Chinese New Year (CNY) and Valentine’s Day. But it will be a very much quieter affair for many of us Asians.

The ongoing covid19 pandemic has created a big blanket dampener on all CNY festivities across Asia including Singapore. To stem the spread of the covid19 virus which has now mutated into different strains, governments across the region has imposed restrictions on inter-district travel, cancelled CNY bazaars, and tightened entry and quarantine requirements for incoming travellers and residents.

Singapore is at Phase 3 of Safe-Reopening its economy.

In Singapore, Singaporeans are told that households are able to receive a maximum of 8 visitors per day, and they should limit themselves to visit no more than 2 households per day as much as possible, with effect from 26 January 2021, in view of the upcoming CNY festivities. For the first time, there will be no CNY bazaar in Chinatown this year. Kindly refer to this Singapore Ministry of Health update (22 January 2021).

This is a pre-emptive measure imposed by the Singapore Government, given that there is a recent increase in the covid19 cases in the community, and the fact that there could be a possible risk of transmission during the CNY period. This is seen in the number of cluster cases happened during CNY last year.

For extended families, it could be a problem for them, as in how to arrange CNY visits. For many, it used to be a group of 20, 30 or even 100 people coming together to Grandpa or Grandma’s residence on Day 1 or Day 2 of CNY, doing a big reunion dinner activity and exchanging of red packets.

I believe the same is for the westerners/Europeans when they do Christmas or ThanksGiving occasion. However in the name of “personal freedom”, many of them ignored government pleas to stay at home, pushing ahead with their travel plans to go visiting friends and families last December, thus resulting in a disastrous surge of covid19 cases or fatalities in the weeks thereafter.

Countries in Asia including Singapore want to avoid this terrible irreversible mistake. Hence that big dampener. We Asians are generally brought up with a moral mindset of being considerate to others, placing the importance of social responsibility above self. In short, we are instilled with a sense of community in our minds. Most of us Asians are more a law-abiding group because we could understand the full big picture of the currrent health pandemic.

In Singapore, the general public is constantly reminded via TV ads and recorded public messages via public transport to put on our masks at all times (except eating/drinking/exercising), washing our hands, monitoring own body temperatures, and observing safe social distancing rules. And yes, we will see doctor if feeling unwell, and will stay at home as much as possible. By doing so, we are protecting ourselves and the people around us as well.

In the course of my work, I respond to enquiries from people in other nations on the border restrictions/entry requirements into Singapore. Many of them want to visit Singapore.

We are presently tightening border controls, given that there has been a steady but mangeable number of imported cases among incoming travellers.

Singapore is presently suspending Reciporal Green Lane (RGL) arrangement with Germany, Malaysia and South Korea. This is for business/official trips to and from Singapore.

All other incoming travellers are imposed with a stay-home notice period while awaiting results of their Arrival PCR test taken at Changi Airport. If a positive case is detected, he/she will be immediately referred for further medical treatment/isolation in hospitals so that there is no chance of the infected person spreading the virus to the community at large.

At the same time, Singapore is proceeding ahead with its covid19 vaccination exercise for the population.

For some of us including myself, our grandparents have had passed on. CNY visits have become smaller and lesser. For the younger ones, families become smaller too.

Oh yes, dragon dance performances are not allowed. As for lion dance performances in public areas, some lion dance troupes are allowed to do so. For those interested, you could refer to this news report on covid19 restrictions on lion and dragon dance during CNY in Singapore this year.

For elderly folks who are longing for a big family reunion dinner, they will be disappointed. But most of them understand the rationale behind the move. Reunion dinner via Zoom? Arranging a CNY visitation time schedule? Giving of red packets electronically? Or creating smaller meet-ups over meals/drinks at restaurants or cafes than at home?

Chinese New Year 2021 is definitely going to be very quiet one. For me, that’s for sure.

Last Post for 2020

2020 has been an extremely difficult year for many of us, mainly impacted by a global pandemic brought by covid19 virus which originated from Wuhan, China in late December last year.

In Singapore, a 2-month circuit breaker took place in April 2020. Followed by the 3 phases of Safe Re-opening.

Phase 1 – Tuesday 2 June 2020.

Phase 2 – Friday 19 June 2020

Phase 3 – Monday 28 December 2020.

The first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines had arrived in Singapore last week.

Vaccination exercise has begun this week, beginning with frontline healthcare workers at NCID (National Centre for Infectious Diseases) and vulnerable groups such as senior citizens of whom are aged 60 years and above.

Singapore has signed Advance Purchase Agreements with Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac, and are in discussions with a few more other pharmaceutical companies.

All Singaporeans and long-term residents will be able to get vaccinated by the end of 2021. Vaccination is strongly encouraged for everyone but it is voluntary. The vaccination will be free of charge.

According to the statistical figures shown on Singapore Ministry of Health website, as of 30 December 2020, 12noon, Singapore has had 58,411 cases recovered and discharged, 129 active cases and 29 deaths.

Many Singaporeans faced difficulties at work or at school. Quite a number lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic which has severely affected many businesses particularly those in the retail, food & beverage, hospitality and tourism sectors. Workers and students have to work or study from home. Air travel demand has dropped drastically. Many planes are grounded. Countries imposed lockdowns and imposed entry restrictions on various nationalities.

I work in an essential services provider company hence I still have to commute to work every work day.

To be brutally honest, I don’t like to do stuff online. Online work meeting. Online training class. Online shopping etc. Due to my hearing impairment, I prefer face-to-face interactions with people. Nothing beats that physical human touch.

Besides eating, drinking and exercising, we have to mask up at all times and observe social distancing measures wherever we go. On public transport, we often hear reminders played non-stop to nudge commuters not to interact with one another or to talk on mobile phones, observe own health status and to sanitise our hands frequently.

Wherever we go, in terms of work, school or play, we also have to check-in or check-out of venues using Safe Entry using the mobile app in our smartphones.

Come January 2021, we shall transit to checking-in and checking-out of places using TraceTogether instead to further aid in contact-tracing efforts.

Fatigue may sinks in. And given the low numbers of community cases in recent weeks, people may start to become complacent. I hope we Singaporeans don’t give up and stay vigilant. We must avoid the grave mistakes made by the westerners such as the Americans, of whom many of them ignored government pleas, insisting on travelling across states to visit friends or families during ThanksGiving or Christmas holidays.

Vaccination is one thing but people and governments across countries must join hands together on one common goal of eradicting the covid19 virus – be socially responsible, mask up, see doctor and stay at home to recover from any sickness, be healthy, monitor body temperature readings, and observe personal hygiene and safe distancing measures.

If you don’t feel well, go see doctor to find out what is wrong. And stay at home to recover from sickness. For time being, stop interacting or mingling with others while recuperating at home.

As long as there is one selfish person stricken with covid19 virus, the community around him or her faces a real threat. Worse, he or she might become a “super-spreader” of whom might trigger a cluster of cases. Which is totally avoidable and uncalled for.

Let’s hope the pandemic will end soon in the coming year so that our lives can go back to normalcy.

Stay happy and healthy.

Be positive. Be hopeful.

Together, we can fight and win this covid19 war.

May all your aspirations come true in the coming year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you! 🙂

Covid19 crisis

This is not expected when the year started. Agree?

You and I. Everyone.

For 2020, I thought it would be a good year of opportunities, gatherings, travel trips and so forth. But the covid19 virus which originated from Wuhan province in China, has thrown everyone off track.

Governments worldwide implemented extreme measures such as border controls and lockdowns. As a result, economical activities are seriously affected. Businesses suffered. People are urged to avoid travel trips of all sorts. There is an extreme low demand for air travel. Flight services are suspended infinitely. Many people are having financial difficulties due to changes in jobs. Unemployment figures are also going high.

Everyone is forced to stay at home at all times, including students and workers of non-essential services.  For workers, they are required to work from home. As for students, they are now told to do home-based learning, with school assignments to be disseminated via emails or online learning platforms. This is to further break the transmission of the covid19 virus spread within communities or at public places to bring the number of confirmed cases down further. This is also to ensure that the healthcare workers at hospitals are not overwhelmed too much. Celebrities and politicians turned to social media and traditional media outlets to urge people to stay at home at all times for protection.

For essential service providers such as supermarkets, shoppers are required to put on masks, undergo thermal temperature screenings and observe safe social distancing rules.

Many places including tourist attractions are eerily quiet like ghost towns.

Nobody knows when the covid19 global pandemic ends. This could go on for many months.

In Singapore, we are now in the midst of the circuit breaker period which started on Tuesday 7 April and ends on Friday 1 June. (For further details, please visit this webpage link – Things You Need To Know About Singapore’s Circuit Breaker Measures.) It is Day 20 of 56 days.

Fighting and coping with this coronavirus outbreak is not just a physical or medical challenge but it is also a psychological one as well.

Health experts and psychologists in Singapore acknowledge that this ongoing battle with covid19 virus could potentially affect the well-being of some Singaporeans particularly the elderly folks.

Taken to the extreme, it could make them anxious, depressed or even fearful.

While the current climate is challenging for everyone including myself, resilience, community spirit and positivity can go a long way in mitigating these difficulties.  It is important to get support from family, friends, and large community like employers and Government. Thankfully there are support schemes like the recently announced Resilience Budget unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister as well as Finance Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat.

Our Government understands that Singaporeans will face some financial difficulties, hence the Monetary Association of Singapore  (MAS) has had announced measures that allow individuals to apply to their banks or insurers to defer payments of property loans as well as premium payments for insurance plans. Assistance schemes are also introduced to help small and medium-size enterprises in Singapore.

Yes indeed, this ongoing covid19 crisis has created a combination of economic and financial instability. We are all experiencing a severe disruption of habit and normal structure of our daily living.

While the media can provide useful and factual information, I think too much of information could also create confusion and panic among members of the public particularly the seniors. They might need help in digesting the information and understand how these news impact their lives.

For family members, we can spend some time to explain these government policies to them.

Presently, I am a worker of essential services so I still need to travel to work via public transportation during the circuit breaker period. There could be an arrangement from my employer to work from home, if necessary in upcoming months.

Yes, I feel inconvenienced by these restrictions but I understand that this is something which I have to bear with for now.

For our loved ones who could be experiencing stress and anxiety, there are ways for us to help in resolving these issues.

It is important that we continue to be connected to our social communities so that we have avenues of support, be it online or over the phone. Interacting with others through technology – such as making voice or video calls instead of texting and emails – can also help to reduce that feeling of loneliness and isolation.

We need to remember that while safe distancing measures could suggest lesser face-to-face interactions, it does not mean isolating ourselves from our own social circles. It is important to share with people whom we trust about our concerns and feelings.

Call these helplines if you need emotional or pyschological support.

There was a mass singalong activity last night (Sat 25 April) for Singaporeans who are home-bound. Sing Together, Singapore!

It was a gesture of thanks and support to frontline and migrant workers. Everyone was invited to sing National Day 1998 song “Home” which is composed by Dick Lee and sung by Kit Chan.

Singaporeans waved torchlights or mobile phone flashlights at their windows and balconies. Cheering and applause could be heard during the rousing performance that was broadcast on various platforms, including SPH Radio, MediaCorp TV channels and social media. I also joined in the singing as well! 🙂

The song was performed by Dick Lee, singers Rahimah Rahim, Shabir and other personalities, alongside with a 900-strong choir from non-profilt arts groups Voices of Singapore. (For more info, please visit this webpage – Singalong to Home on April 25 to express thanks to frontline and migrant workers.)

Singaporeans are invited to upload their singing videos on social media platforms, hashtagging #singtogethersg, #singforsg #stayathomesg. A second music video, a compilation of selected clips of Singaporeans singing along to the song, was edited and telecasted several hours later, at 10.30pm.

Some online critics said this initiative is pointless but I disagree.

Singing gives the feeling of camaraderie. Community and unity.

Psychological defence is important too. That sense of belonging, and the feeling of going through tough times together, would somehow motivate us Singaporeans to look out for one another, and help the needy ones.

Let’s be kind to one another.

Hang on there, everyone! Stay at home!

We will get through this health crisis together! Keep cool, and we will get there!

Psst: These days, I am more active on Instagram. Do check out my IG @humourboi if interested.