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

Happy CNY! 虎年吉祥！

两年已过去了，可是今年的春节大家仍然在冠病疫情底下渡过。感觉好像没完没了？

去年年底，就在全球人民以为Delta病毒趋势即将稳定、年底可以好好放假休息、各国政府也正准备重新开放之际，我们却没想到奥密克戎 (Omicron)变种病毒会突然出现来袭、严重打乱了所有计划。新加坡也受到影响。

虽然密克戎变种病毒不会造成重症，但是它的传播力非常广。传播速度也非常快。因此我国政府抗疫跨部门工作小组1月21日宣布，为谨慎起见，今年2022年农历新年期间的社交聚会人数维持最多5人，每户家庭每天最多只能有5名访客。

去年的春节社交聚会人数限制是8人。

截至1月30日中午，新加坡方面有709名病患因冠病住院，比前一天多了53人。重症病患当中，60人需要输氧气，有12人在加护病房治疗。没有新增死亡病例，因冠病并发症逝世的总人数维持在854。

至于冠病疫苗接种方面；截至前天，新加坡全国人口中88％已完成了基本疫苗接种程序，58％已注射追加剂。如果按符合接种条件的人口来计算的话，加上已开始接种的5岁至11岁孩童，我们已经有92％人口完成了接种。

随着更多人完成疫苗接种和注射追加剂，过去28天确诊的5万6747起病例中，99.7％无症状或只有轻微症状。0.3％需要输氧，0.04％在加护病房，0.02％病逝。目前，新加坡确诊病例累计34万8330起。

早前一些新加坡人希望我国政府在这个时候可以放宽冠病安全管理措施，以便大家在农历新年期间能举行更多庆祝活动。好比去年拜年人数可以多达8个人。但是今年春节拜年或堂食人数却只能有5个人。因此感到失望的人，大有人在。

和大家一样，对于所有的防疫措施，我已感到非常厌倦。感觉累了。

对于出国旅行，我把希望寄托在今年下半年。希望到时候各个国家的疫情情况能大大改善。

我真的等到花儿也谢了。什么时候家庭式KTV能重新开放？我没有喝酒的习惯，因此没夜店我无所谓；可是单纯的唱歌活动，究竟要等到什么时候才可以复苏？毕竟人家家庭式KTV业者们已经有两年不能做生意了，到等到什么时候才能让他们重开店面赚钱？

虎年来了，我真的希望今年疫情早日结束；好让你我的生活能恢复正常。

我祝大家：新年快乐、身体健康、虎虎生风、如虎添翼！

I wish all a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Tiger! Stay safe, everyone!

My Covid19 Vaccination – Part 2

Saturday 17 July 2021.

It was the day when I had my 2nd dose of the Moderna vaccine.

I arrived at Woodlands Community Club at the time slot which I had chosen – 8am.

As usual, I can exit the vaccination centre only if I am feeling alright after 30 minutes of rest upon taking the vaccine injection. Hence, the time allocated for me was 8.45am.

This arrangement is made for the reason that the vaccination centre personnel will be able to attend to anyone immediately in the event if there is an instant reaction upon taking the injection; for example, feeling faint or giddiness. Medical doctors and nurses are on standby.

For a moment, I thought we Singaporeans are a lucky bunch because our Government has went great lengths during the pandemic to ensure its citizens are well taken care of. It’s a blessing!

For the entire Saturday, I was feeling alright. I only feel a slight feeling of stiffness at the injected site on my left upper arm. I had a full night sleep lasting about 7-8 hours. It was until the next day when I woke up and felt abit hot before taking brunch. Using a thermometer, I took my temperature – 37.8!

My goodness. I had slight fever!

I understand that the side effects of the covid19 vaccine, be it Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty or Moderna, differs for everyone. It is a matter of how intense you feel it, heavy or light.

Afterall, the side effects are a result of the body building up immune response against covid19 virus with the vaccine taken. To put it simple, it is like your body is building “a firewall of protection in preparation for any strain variant of the covid19 virus infecting the body”. So this explains why you get the side effects such as fatigue, fever etc.

That said, it is not 100% protection. The vaccine helps to reduce the extent of the virus greatly, to a mild condition if you happen to get it. You will not be seriously ill. Furthermore, being vaccinated, it will not be very contagious if you infect surrounding people with the virus.

Okay, back to my fever.

As advised by the vaccination centre personnel, I took fever pills (2 tablets each time) every 6 hours. I rest more. I drank more water. I do not take any alcholic drinks. I shall see doctor if fever persists on the third day.

Fortunately, the fever quickly subsided by late night. As I was going back to work the next day (Monday 19 July), I popped another 2 fever pills again “for precaution” before bedtime. Voila, I was perfectly alright the next day. Healthy and kicking! There was no strenuous exercise for 1 week after taking the vaccine.

I have to wait for 14 days before the full protection effect starts in my body. And also achieving the “fully vaccinated” status” under the Singapore national vaccination programme.

Yes, I am now certified “fully vaccinated” as of Saturday 31 July! I can now protect myself as well as the people surrounding me.

As of Wednesday 28 July 2021, close to 56% of the Singapore population have had completed the full regimen, meaning received 2 doses or 1 dose for recovered covid19 individuals.

Singapore aims to vaccinate two-thirds of its population by the 56th National Day on Monday 9 August 2021. Keep fighting, Singapore!

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.

Closure of Robinsons

On 30th September last year, I wrote a blog entry on the Centrepoint, sharing that it was the place where I first experienced working in a sales job, at Robinsons while awaiting results of my GCE 0 Levels examinations. Back then, Metro made a public announcement that it was exiting Centrepoint after 5 years of operations there since 2014.

Didn’t catch it? You can read it here -> Feeling nostalgic – the CentrePoint.

Just two weeks ago, I am very saddened to hear that Robinsons is closing for good after 162 years of operations here in Singapore. It will be closing the 2 remaining stores at The Heerens and Raffles City. It is currently owned by Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group which acquired it in April 2008.

“We regret this outcome today. Despite recent challenges in the industry, the Robinsons team continued to pursue the success of the brand. However, the changing consumer landscape makes it difficult for us to succeed over the long term and the Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated our challenges. It has been an honour for Robinsons to serve the Singapore market and we are grateful for the dedication of our operational teams, and for the support shown by customers over the years”

A statement issued by Robinsons & Co (Singapore) issued on Friday 30 October 2020.

Robinsons is a familiar departmental store brand name among many Singaporeans ever since it was there at the Centrepoint in June 1983 with 130,000 square feet across 5 levels. It was the main tenant at Centrepoint until it decided to move out to The Heerens in November 2013.

I enjoyed my job stint there in November 1997, and the experienced staff helped to lay a solid foundation in my customer service skills today. They were very strict, and the management set high benchmarks in delivering quality service. Many operational staff earned the Excellence Service Award pins. “How did they manage to achieve it?” I wondered.

According to a news report by Channel NewsAsia, it is said this decision came on the back of “changing retail buying patterns and weak demand made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic”.

I personally think that the failure to sustain the departmental store business was due to 3 main factors – 1) wrong retail positioning strategy to make it a up-market departmental store brand, 2) proliferation of e-commerce platforms, and 3) circuit-breaker measures to restrict people movement and to curb the transmission of covid19 virus in Singapore.

Yes, it could no longer survive due to extremely weak demand as a result of covid19 pandemic. Robinsons is now undergoing liquidation process.

Under the new owners, the type of target audience was shifted from a mass crowd to an affluent one when the flagship store moved to The Heerens in 2013. The basic concept of a department store is based on appealing to the masses but when the firm upmarketed the departmental store brand, it did not offer anything unique to attract customers from the middle- to high-tier consumer groups either.

Most price-sensitive Singaporeans would start to avoid shopping at Robinsons because they find the prices of the items offered there to be expensive, not wallet-friendly enough. And for the middle-to-high income customers, they might find that the range of products offered are also not attractive enough to lure them into the stores.

Look at the Robinsons Sales held in the months of June/July and November/December in years during 1980s/1990s. It was indeed the sale worth waiting for, as they managed to draw the masses to come shopping. During normal weekdays, there was still a steady stream of potential customers walking into the store to make purchases.

Robinsons is presently doing a “everything must go” closing down sale at its last two stores at The Heerens and Raffles City Shopping Centre since Friday 6 November 2020.

That is sad news for me and many Singaporeans.

Many departmental store chains closed before Robinsons.

How many of us Singaporeans still remember John Little (1842 – 2017), Emporium (1961-1987), Yaohan (1974-1998), Daimaru (1983-2003), Lane Crawford (1994-1996) and Sogo (1986-2000)?

Call me old school, I still prefer the brick-and-mortal retail store experience where I can get to choose, touch, taste, smell, try and buy products.

I hope Takashimaya, Metro, BHG will keep on going...  

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

2020 is an extremely challenging year for all industries and Singaporeans, particularly the aviation and tourism sectors. Due to numerous imported cases, many flight services are grounded. Singapore Government has decided to implement border controls in March, only allowing Singaporeans and Permanent Residents to re-enter our country. All of us are told to defer non-essential air travel. Singapore also went into circuit breaker mode few months ago.

As a result, Changi Airport has become an extremely quiet place.

Singapore is presently in safe re-opening mode, at Phase 2.

Just about 6-7 months ago, it was a busy happening place, with many people coming here to shop or to send/receive their loved ones. Thanks to support from international travellers, it is amazing that Changi Airport is voted the World Best Airport for 2020 by Skytrax. Happy and proud to be part of this community. I tell people that we are re-opening air-travel carefully in stages.

We Singaporeans are a tribe of hardworking, resilient, caring and meticulous people. We are never complacent. We always strive for excellence, in whatever we set out to do.

Given the surge in infection cases in many countries, I believe air travel for Singaporeans will not be possible until 2021 or 2022. Likely after a covid19 vaccine is available and mass produced for countries.

Like most Singaporeans, I will be waiting for the day I can go travelling overseas freely.

Honestly speaking, I wanted to travel sometime later this year but now I couldn’t.

Let’s continue to help one another, in whatever way we could.
Covid19 will not beat us down.

Changi Airport will emerge stronger.
Singapore Airlines will emerge stronger.
Singapore will also emerge stronger, soaring to greater heights than ever before.

Happy 55th Birthday, Singapore!
Majulah Singapura!

Note: Above Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Hall photo was taken on a Friday evening in late July, about 2 weeks ago.
At present, only Terminal 1 and 3 are functioning as usual. Operations at Terminal 2 and 4 are suspended temporarily. 

Please support my last final YCM project!

It is the very last Young ChangeMakers (YCM) project which I had mentored before leaving. FINALLY it is done!

For the uninitiated, “Two Years of Our Time” is a book project about National Service for NS recruits by the NS recruits. This is to help NS pre-enlistees to understand all things associated with National Service (particularly BMT) before their enlistment day. For all Singaporean boys.

The 2 full-time national servicemen boys who are now university undergraduates, spent a tremendous amount of time and efforts to do research, illustrations, manuscript, and tasks such as sourcing for book publishers, getting price quotes, obtaining book clearance from Ministry of Defence etc. The boys also had to juggle it with their studies at the same time. So this explains why this project is long overdue. We sort of hoped to get it done by Singapore 54th National Day (last year) but the project progress detered us from doing so. Until now.

I pushed for its approval, given its “Singaporean-ness” nature. This project was given maximum funding by YCM. It was awarded S$5,000/–.

In between, I didn’t follow up several months due to busy work but the boys pressed on and made sure the project is a success. I sincerely apologise for that.

Oh yes, I think schools would also be given a complimentary copy for their school library collection, if I did not remember wrongly.

If not for COVID19 outbreak restrictions + circuit breaker period since February 2020, the boys would be able to do publicity activities at various locations.

The book titled “Fall In!” is now on sale at all Times bookstores.

Please support us, fellow Singaporeans.

Last but not least, here is a big shout-out -> Well done, Matthew and Nicholas!!!! Excellent work!

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.

 

Gig workers’ job prospects

With effect from Tuesday 5 November 2019, electric scooters are banned from usage on footpaths in Singapore. Offenders will face fines of up to S$2,000 and jail sentence of up to 3 months once the ban is strictly enforced from 1 January 2020.

It remain banned on roads in Singapore, although the use of such devices will be allowed on cycling paths and park connector networks.

There is an advisory period from now till 31 December 2019, during which users will be issued warnings, as well as giving them time to adjust. For more info about it, click here.

For many gig workers who are doing food delivery services for companies such as GrabFood and Foodpanda, this recent ban leaves them high and dry because many of them depend on the personal mobility device for making a living.

As such, many of them went in groups to seek audience with Members of Parliament at weekly Meet-the-People Sessions in different constituencies to voice out their frustrations. For more info about it, click here.

 

The Sunday Times Insights dated Sunday 17 November 2019, has shed limelight on gig workers who work as food delivery riders and ride-hailing drivers.

The Sunday Times had interviewed 50 food delivery riders and ride-hailing drivers to understand their socio-economic profile and why they joined the gig economy.

It found that these workers fall into 5 common groups. Half are doing such jobs as an interim measure after leaving or losing their previous jobs, or to earn extra cash, while a fifth are individuals from vulnerable backgrounds such as single mothers and former offenders. A similar proportion are sole breadwinners.

4 in 10 are not able to set aside savings from the monthly income, while half of the 35 full-time workers interviewed say they are earning less from their gig jobs than in their previous jobs.

I think targeted solutions should be drawn up, in accordance to the different profiles mentioned in the Sunday Times news report.

Yes, having a job is better than none in this economic downturn.

Having that said, however for young Singaporeans who are aged below 35 years old doing gig work, I think it is important that they need to see a bigger picture that doing this in the long term WITHOUT any intended plans for self-upgrading (be it academic or vocational courses) may actually do them more harm than good.

They also need to have that self-awareness.

They should prepare themselves for the next economic uplift.

 

Yes, perhaps our government can look into enhancing and extending Workfare scheme and also get these gig-work companies to improve staff welfare and benefits?

 

For ex-offenders who can’t find other jobs, can The Yellow Ribbon Project help?

Same for SGEnable and Ministry of Social and Family Development for the special-needs and single mums?