THERE will be new start times at 13 MRT stations along the North-South and East-West lines from Sunday.

This marks the first time that MRT stations will start operations later on a Sunday.

Train services from Joo Koon to Queenstown on the East-West Line, and Jurong East to Bukit Gombak on the North-South Line, will commence at 7am on Sundays, from this weekend till Dec 18.

Train operator SMRT said in its reminder yesterday that this will allow its project teams, track patrol teams and maintenance teams 29 additional work nights over the six-month period.

The additional time will give engineering staff more time to work on renewal work and maintenance projects, SMRT added.

“We plan to intensify our resleepering, resignalling and third rail replacement projects as well as carry out routine maintenance work such as track inspections, replacement of track components and the smoothening of running rails using Rail Grinding Vehicles,” said SMRT’s project director (track infrastructure) Roger Lim.

“All these will be carried out concurrently. Track access is precious as such time is limited. We will utilise the opportunity productively.”

Commuters are advised to consider alternative transport arrangements should they need to travel before 7am. This includes taking existing bus services to get to other train stations or the Circle Line and Downtown Line for travel towards the city centre.

A new paid parallel bus service will ply the route from Joo Koon station to Bukit Gombak station (via Jurong East station) in both directions.

The service will operate at 10-minute intervals between 5.30am and 7am on Sundays when the trains are not in service. Fares will be commensurate with the train distance travelled, SMRT said.

Existing bus services are available for journeys between the Jurong East and Queenstown stations.

Get MyPaper for more stories.

THERE were 455 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections reported among Singapore citizens and permanent residents last year, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). In most cases, patients got the virus through sex.

This brings the total number of HIV-infected Singaporean residents to 7,140 as of end 2015, of whom 1,816 have died, the ministry added in an update on its website on Wednesday.

The rate of new HIV cases has remained relatively constant, with around 450 new cases being reported every year since 2008.

Of the new cases reported in 2015, 93 per cent of patients were male, with 74 per cent of them aged between 20 and 49 years old.

Around 40 per cent were already suffering from late-stage HIV when they were diagnosed, which is a 9-point drop from the 49 per cent recorded in 2014.

Among the 455 new cases, 440 – or 97 per cent – contracted the virus through sexual intercourse.

Senior Minister of State for Health and Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said in a Facebook post on Wednesday night that the most effective way to prevent HIV infection “is to remain faithful to one’s spouse or partner and to avoid casual sex, or sex with sex workers”.

“For those who engage in high-risk sexual behaviour, MOH and (the Health Promotion Board’s) advice is for them to go for early and regular HIV testing. With early diagnosis and treatment, the onset of Aids (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) can be delayed so that the patient is able to live an active and productive life,” said Dr Khor.

“More importantly, early treatment also reduces HIV spread in the community.”

aleysaj@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.