SINGAPORE: When Mdm Nor learnt that schools would go into full home-based learning on Wednesday (Apr 8), she thought it would be “so impossible” for her and three kids. 

There was only one laptop at home, which belongs to her 17-year-old daughter. It is “very laggy” and “hanged” all the time due to heavy usage for school. Mdm Nor recalled how difficult it was for her other two kids, who are in Primary 1 and 4, to cope with just one laptop when home-based learning was first introduced on Apr 1.

There was a lot of online material to get through and she had to do it one subject at a time, one kid at a time. 

“They also have videos to watch and videos take a longer time to load and to discuss,” the 48-year-old said. “They had to waste time waiting. In the end not only did the kids give up, I also gave up.” 

Her youngest child only managed to complete one subject that day and she could tell her children were “demoralised”. 

On Apr 3, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a move to full home-based learning for schools amid concerns over escalating COVID-19 infections in Singapore, which will last a month.

Mdm Nor was initially daunted by the idea, but not since the family received two donated laptops from ReadAble, a volunteer group that runs weekly reading classes for children living in the Chin Swee area.

“We saw that some families are short on laptops and have multiple school-going children, so we’ve been trying to source for more,” said Ms Samantha Kwan, core team member of ReadAble. 

“We don’t want that to be a barrier to education, so we’re trying to fulfil the needs.” 

RUSH TO DELIVER LAPTOPS 

To date, ReadAble has received 17 laptop requests and the team sourced for donations from its own networks of friends.

“In the run-up to the circuit breaker, we collected laptops from friends and a company who gave refurbished laptops, to prepare the kids we teach in time for home-based learning,” said Ms Kwan. 

Additionally, ReadAble also installed security software onto the laptops and taught the kids cyber wellness and Internet safety. 

“We got each kid to sign a contract with us to ensure they would be responsible with the laptop that we are giving them. While we are aware that schools are loaning laptops to students who need them, we strongly feel helping them to own laptops they can keep forever is important,” she added.

ReadAble is not the only volunteer group looking to source for and provide laptops to kids – CNA spoke to SG Bono, who posted a Facebook post on Mar 30, calling out for “low-income families who cannot afford to buy a computer or tablet for their school-going children”.

“We have computers (laptops, PCs) to be given out free to such families, provided they are currently CHAS Blue recipients,” the Facebook post read.

Within a week, SG Bono had received an “overwhelming” 1,200 requests from families islandwide, said vice-president Lim Keng Hong.

“I was very shocked, before COVID-19 we had stocked about 100 donated laptops and we thought that would be enough. We didn’t know it would go up to more than a thousand,” he said.

The volunteer group was started two years ago by IT engineers and experts. They have been providing IT servicing and laptops free of charge to disadvantaged families.

Given the response, SG Bono is still reaching out to donors and corporate sponsors as they have managed to secure only 200 laptops.

Before the laptops get into the hands of families in need by Wednesday, the team will repair them as they come in “various conditions”.

“Each laptop will take two hours, some need at least half a day,” Mr Lim added. “As of Apr 5, we have more than 50 laptop repair requests as well. We have three volunteers running around Singapore doing that.”

Engineering Good, a non-profit organisation, received about 83 requests and started collecting laptops a week ago. Its volunteers have been working tirelessly to refurbish donated devices and installing Microsoft Office on them.

“Sometimes the power adaptor doesn’t work or exist, sometimes the screen is cracked or the camera doesn’t work – all that goes to pile,” said Johann Annuar, executive director of Engineering Good. Out of 146 laptops donated, 52 have been refurbished and ready to be donated to beneficiaries from South Central Community Family Service Centre and Salvation Army. 

“Whatever happens, education is still important,” he added. “People with little resources are impacted the most in times like this so we need to support them.” 

WHY THE DEMAND DESPITE HELP IN PLACE

Following the announcement of full home-based learning, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has loaned out about 3,300 devices and more than 200 Internet dongles to students. 

READ: About 3,300 devices loaned out to students following announcement of full home-based learning – Ong Ye Kung

MOE is prepared to loan out more devices and dongles if needed, said Education Minister Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Monday.

“(This) is why we are starting our home-based learning on Wednesday and not immediately, one day later than the companies because we need to get this properly done,” he said, thanking corporate sponsors who provided free dongles and Internet subscriptions to students.  

The Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) NEU PC Plus programme also offers subsidised computers and free broadband to low-income families.

Now that her children have a laptop each, Mdm Nor expresses more confidence in supervising her children on home-based learning. ReadAble has also provided the family with a WiFi dongle, which means loading videos and content will no more be a long wait. 

“This is much more convenient for us, it really makes a lot of difference,” said Mdm Mor. “The kids are very excited to start.” 

To donate laptops and other devices: 
SG Bono: Visit https://www.facebook.com/sgbono/ or WhatsApp +65 8444 2227 
Engineering Good: Visit https://www.facebook.com/engineeringgood.org/
Bridging The Digital Divide: https://www.bridgethedigitaldivide.sg/donate-laptops

SINGAPORE: More than 7,000 written advisories were issued on the first day of a nationwide “circuit-breaker”, a month-long period of enhanced safe-distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Most of these advisories were issued to members of the public in hawker centres and markets, said the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) in a media release on Tuesday (Apr 7).

MEWR said the breaches included failure to maintain safe distances when queuing or making payments by following floor markings. The ministry also cited a stallholder who was issued an advisory for selling drinks intended for dine-in at a hawker centre.

Under the enhanced measures, F&B outlets are only allowed to offer takeaway or delivery services.

“If a member of public is found in breach of these measures, an enforcement officer will issue a written advisory immediately,” said MEWR.

“If the member of public does not comply or returns to commit the same offence, the enforcement officer will take down his or her particulars and issue a written stern warning. The police may also be contacted for follow-up action.”

Under a new Bill passed in Parliament on Tuesday, first time offenders can be fined up to S$10,000 or imprisoned up to six months, or both. The penalty for second or subsequent offences is a fine of up to S$20,000 or imprisonment of up to twelve months, or both.

READ: COVID-19: Social gatherings of any size in both private and public spaces prohibited under new Bill

More than 2,000 Safe Distancing and SG Clean Ambassadors, and enforcement officers were sent to HDB estates across the island on Tuesday. The personnel were deployed in town centres, hawker centres, coffee shops, transport nodes, parks, and community clubs.

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SINGAPORE: An inter-agency task force will help migrant workers staying at three dormitories affected by the COVID-19 outbreak as “circuit breaker” measures kick in, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a news release on Tuesday (Apr 7).

With restrictions in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, foreign workers will not be able to go to work from now until the end of the “circuit breaker” period on May 4. 

During this time, MOM will assist dormitory operators and ensure the residents at S11 Dormitory @ Punggol and Westlite Toh Guan Dormitory get a timely supply of catered meals and that the premises are kept clean. A similar team has also been deployed to Toh Guan Dormitory.

All three dormitories have been gazetted as isolation areas following a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in several foreign worker dormitories across Singapore. 

Among the agencies involved include the Ministry of Health (MOH), National Environment Agency, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Migrant Workers’ Centre.

“The task force will progressively deploy inter-agency teams to the rest of the dormitories to support their operators as they implement the ‘circuit breaker’ measures,” MOM said.

READ: COVID-19: Toh Guan Dormitory declared an isolation area under Infectious Diseases Act

IMPROVING HYGIENE CONDITIONS AT DORMITORIES

The support for S11 Dormitory and Westlite Toh Guan has included meal arrangements, cleanliness maintenance, care packs and on-site medical facilities.

Multiple professional caterers have been engaged to provide meals to foreign workers, MOM said, adding nearly 160,000 portions of meals and snacks have been delivered.

“After some initial hitches, dormitory residents have now been able to receive their meals in a timely and orderly fashion,” MOM said. 

“Meals are delivered by the caterers and distributed to resident workers in batches to ensure freshness.” Meal times will also be staggered. 

In terms of cleanliness, MOM will continue to work with the dormitory operators to ensure the premises like rooms and common areas are disinfected, and sanitation activities are done regularly.

READ: MOM says working to improve conditions for S11 Dormitory, Westlite Toh Guan residents

Earlier this week, photos and videos circulating online appeared to show crowded and unsanitary conditions at the S11 Dormitory, and an ambulance and medical personnel at Westlite Toh Guan after they were announced as isolation areas.

MOM said on Monday authorities were working hard to ensure the well-being of affected workers at the two dormitories. The situation at both dorms had “stabilised”, the Migrant Workers’ Centre added on Tuesday.

“Both dormitory operators continued to ramp up cleaning routines, and cope with the increased usage of washroom facilities and the higher volumes of trash generated, as resident workers now spend the entire day in the premises,” MOM said.

The operators also stepped up their waste management and sanitation regimes.

“The hygiene conditions at the two dormitories have improved from the previous days.”

READ: Living conditions at S11 Dormitory, Westlite Toh Guan dormitories have ‘stabilised’: Migrant Workers’ Centre

Care packs and on-site medical facilities were also made available for residents.

All 20,000 resident workers in S11 Dormitory and Westlite Toh Guan have received care packs consisting of masks, thermometers and hand sanitisers, MOH said. Residents from Toh Guan Dormitory will soon get similar packs.

Teams at the dormitories will also work with operators to ensure residents monitor their temperatures twice daily and use masks outside their rooms.

Basic medical facilities have been set up at S11 Dormitory and Westlite Toh Guan to take care of the health of the residents as well. Those who become unwell will be relocated and housed separately to prevent further spread of the virus.

SAF, POLICE GET INVOLVED 

To help the manpower and health ministries, 70 personnel from SAF’s Army Medical Services were deployed on Tuesday to provide basic health screening and consultation services to the foreign workers, the Ministry of Defence said in a Facebook post.

Similarly, the SPF have also stepped in to help.

“The police officers are deployed at the dormitories as part of MOM-led inter-agency teams to provide the residents and dormitory operators with support during this ‘circuit breaker’ period  when the residents are expected to remain in the dormitories,” SPF said.

“The conditions at the two dormitories gazetted as isolation areas continued to improve as dedicated multi-agency teams worked round-the-clock,” MOH said, but urged community efforts.

“MOM will continue to keep a close eye on the dormitory conditions and will intervene proactively to ensure standards.

“Our officers will also follow up on feedback from the residents, and work with dormitory operators on improvements,” it said. 

But dormitory residents have a role to play too by maintaining cleanliness and cooperating in the execution of measures, MOM added.

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SINGAPORE: Organisations that provide care and support for the elderly are stepping up outreach efforts to prevent loneliness and heightened isolation among old folks during tighter safe distancing measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To protect seniors – a vulnerable group at a higher risk of getting a severe infection – activities for them were already suspended earlier in March. 

With further distancing measures in place, the lack of social interaction and physical activity could have a negative impact on the mental and physical health of vulnerable elderly populations, said Dr Chris Tsoi a senior consultant from the department of psychological medicine at the National University Hospital (NUH).

Madam Koh lives alone and has already seen reduced social interactions over the past few weeks.

“No, no I don’t go out. I buy vegetables and then come I home,” the 82-year-old said of her current daily routine.  

She has been living alone for more than a decade. 

Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Apr 6), Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee highlighted how the Silver Generation Office reaches out to vulnerable seniors such as those living alone or those who are frail.

“Since last month, Silver Generation Ambassadors have started visiting these seniors in their homes to communicate COVID-19 precautionary measures, such as hygiene tips and social distancing,” Mr Lee said in response to a question on how vulnerable people are being helped during the pandemic. 

“They also identify seniors who require additional assistance during this period, and link them up with the appropriate social service agencies and service providers to ensure that their needs are met,” he said.

Home visits by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or healthcare teams are also useful, Dr Tsoi suggested.

READ: COVID-19: All activities at CCs, RCs and PA facilities to be suspended

Organisations like Lions Befrienders, whose aim is to provide care and friendship for seniors like Madam Koh, have stepped in.

Lions Befrienders took measures to suspend social activities at its centres in February, affecting more than 6,000 seniors from their network.

Before the outbreak, Madam Koh used to visit the Lions Befrienders’ branch near her home, where she would meet fellow seniors.

“Five days, sometimes six. I stay there between 9am and 5pm before I go home. Now that the centre is closed I sit at home, lah,” she exclaimed.

But these safe distancing measures are necessary.

“Even though it may impact the seniors’ social interaction, it is a necessary move to protect them,” Lions Befrienders said.

With social interactions minimised, staff and volunteers at Lions Befrienders have adapted by calling to check in on seniors at risk of social isolation. Sometimes, these conversations go on longer than usual just to keep the elderly company.

Short home visits are now mainly done for medium or high-risk seniors, meaning those who are home-bound, senior caregivers and potential suicide or abuse cases.

The Singapore Red Cross will also be providing customised care packages and psycho-social support calls for seniors living alone.

“Volunteers are pressing on with fortnightly home visits and weekly befriending calls to the seniors, the Red Cross said in a news release, noting that safety measures for those helping out are in place too.

“These are extraordinarily trying times. It is critical that we intensify our efforts to uplift the most vulnerable in our community, who are amongst the hardest hit,” said Mr Benjamin William, secretary general and CEO of the Singapore Red Cross.

A SOCIAL RECESSION

There have been calls by Members of Parliament (MPs) to resume activities for seniors, but this will likely not take place any time soon.

“I am afraid it will be a while longer before we do that, to protect the seniors. Seniors are of particular concern to us,” Health Minister Mr Gan Kim Yong said in Parliament in March.

Dr Tsoi also cautioned that it is important to take steps now before the potential consequences from isolation develop.

“Researchers have found that chronic loneliness is associated with a greater risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety. It’s also associated with a shorter life span. Being lonely raises mortality more than obesity or sedentary living does.”

In the end, humans are social beings, Dr Tsoi pointed out.

“We should continue to let (isolated seniors) know they are loved and cared, so that they do not necessarily feel lonely even when they are staying alone.”

He added new technologies like teleconferencing can help – a solution that Lions Befrienders agrees with.

Equipping the elderly at risk with basic tools like mobile phones and WiFi can help them be digitally-savvy and lead a more independent and empowered life, Lions Befrienders said.

READ: Commentary: Four ways seniors can stay connected during COVID-19

“WHERE CAN I GO?”

Some elderly are also being roped in – with their safety in mind – to help with national efforts to tackle the coronavirus.

RSVP Singapore, a volunteer group comprising of seniors, said their volunteers were involved in a nationwide initiative to distribute hand sanitisers to the public and to pack essentials like masks for frontline transport workers.

“We have received much positive feedback from our volunteers, who have enjoyed their volunteering sessions,” the chairman of RSVP Singapore, Mr Koh Juay Meng, PBM said.

Madam Koh too has learned other ways to cope with the heightened isolation by talking to her friends over the phone, singing and watching television.

“I watch the Chinese channel, the (Tamil) channel, the Malay channel. I watch them all now,” she laughed.

WATCH: Can Instagram ease the loneliness of being old in Singapore?

When asked if she wanted to meet her friends, Madam Koh immediately exclaimed: “Tak mau, tak mau,” a Malay phrase to express reluctance.

“Whether I like it or not, where can I go? If I go out, I might fall sick,” she said. “Cannot. Tak mau.”

It is not all bleak, however. Most seniors are understanding, Dr Tsoi said.

“For them, avoiding infection by the virus would be more important. They are usually more considerate and don’t want to be burdening others.

“For the majority of the healthy group, their resilience in character has been well-built as they age.”

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SINGAPORE: The COVID-19 crisis has re-affirmed the value of Singapore’s key institutions and the key tenets of the country’s “prudent fiscal policy”, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday (Apr 7).

These include spending prudently, investing wisely, and planning consistently for the long-term, he said in his round-up speech for the Solidarity Budget – Singapore’s third round of support measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak. 

He noted that almost S$60 billion was being dedicated to “deal decisively” with the crisis.

“The three Budgets make up our largest Budget in any one financial year, in dollar amount and as a percentage of GDP,” said Mr Heng, who is also the Finance Minister. 

“This is the largest spending in any financial year, in our nation’s history.”

He noted that the Government had twice sought President Halimah Yacob’s approval to draw on Singapore’s reserves in the last two months, with the President giving her in-principle support to draw up to S$21 billion from the country’s past reserves. 

“As Finance Minister, I am extremely grateful that we have been able to tap on the deep financial reserves – our current and past reserves which have been so carefully built up, invested and managed,” he said. 

“This has allowed us to respond to the crisis without having to borrow, and therefore burdening our future generations with repayment obligations.”

READ: Solidarity Budget: Singapore spends another S$5.1b to save jobs, protect livelihoods amid impending circuit breaker rules

READ: President Halimah Yacob gives ‘in-principle support’ to draw on reserves for second COVID-19 assistance package

Responding to Workers’ Party secretary-general Pritam Singh – whom he noted had asked “time and again” on the size of Singapore’s reserves – Mr Heng said the country’s reserves comprised assets invested by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), GIC and Temasek. 

Of these, both MAS and Temasek make public the size of funds invested, with only the size of the funds invested by GIC not published, Mr Heng added. 

The Deputy Prime Minister said the total size of Singapore’s reserves are not disclosed for the sake of its national security and strategic interests. 

“As a small country without any natural resources and highly dependent on imports, our reserves are vital to our overall economic and financial stability,” he said. 

He added that the reserves are a “key defence for Singapore in times of crisis”, noting that during the 2008 financial crisis, former President SR Nathan’s approval of the provision of S$150 billion to guarantee bank deposits- as well as S$4.9 billion for a package to support businesses and workers – helped the country to overcome the crisis then.

The reserves serve as a strategic defence, which allow the country to “resolutely defend” the Singapore Dollar against speculative attacks, said Mr Heng, noting this contributes to a stable Singapore dollar, which bolsters the confidence of both investors and citizens.

“Our reserves are thus no different from SAF’s (Singapore Armed Forces) arsenal. No country’s armed forces will ever tell you exactly how much ammunition and weaponry they really have,” he added. 

“To do so is to betray valuable intelligence to potential adversaries. This is obviously not a wise defence strategy, and likewise should not be adopted for our financial reserves.”

Members of Parliament should debate on the merits of policies and programmes, especially those which require the use of reserves, said Mr Heng. 

“But let’s be clear – it is neither in the interest of Singapore, or Singaporeans to repeatedly ask about the size of our reserves,” he said.

“We are in the middle of a storm, and I am disappointed that Mr Pritam Singh has used this occasion to raise this question again.”

The Aljunied GRC MP however responded that the Opposition also acts as a steward of the country’s reserves, as well as the Government’s expenditure priorities. 

“Because when the Government introduces policies where the reserves have to be employed,  the question we have to ask ourselves is, is it enough? Or is it too much?” said Mr Singh. 

READ: WP’s Pritam Singh calls for ‘thorough review’ of Singaporean living wage following ‘useful lessons’ from COVID-19

READ: MPs support ‘unprecedented’ Budget amid COVID-19 outbreak

Mr Heng replied that the checks and balances in the system had been “rigorously designed  and very well-observed”. 

“And I can tell you that even in presenting this budget we are asking for (from) the President and the Council of Presidential Advisers, I spent a lot of time explaining the details,” he said, adding that Madam Halimah and the Council asked “very, very good questions”. 

Though many had over the years urged the Government to spend more out of Singapore’s reserves to fund the country’s growing expenditure, Mr Heng said the authorities do not see the reserves as a “piggy bank to be broken at will, to provide the Government with a convenient source of additional revenue”. 

The country has avoided running deficits in good years, and consistently saved, he noted. 

“If we had succumbed to the political pressure to spend more of our reserves in good years, we would not have had the war chest to deal with critical moments, such as now. And to do even more, if necessary, even in the next term of Government,” said Mr Heng. 

The Deputy Prime Minister noted however that the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic may last for a long time, requiring the country to deal with it sustainably. 

He warned that if the crisis deepened, both the economy and government revenues would shrink, requiring that the country to dip into its reserves again for a recovery. 

“While we must make plans – and we are, at this hour – let us focus our minds fully on making the best use of this very unprecedented Budget, to build social and economic resilience,” said Mr Heng. 

“And if there is a need, we have the institution of the Government and the elected President, to decide on how best to use our resources to manage a crisis.”

SINGAPORE: For the first time in its 25-year history, Swee Kee Eating House has shut its doors. 

It was a poignant moment for its owner, Mr Cedric Tang. He had grown up running along the shophouses at Amoy Street. The staff, many of them in their 60s who had worked there since its opening, had been there to witness those carefree moments. 

Now, he has to send three of them home for a month on unpaid leave. 

“It’s heartbreaking,” he said. “They are long-time staff who have been working for us. They saw me grow up from a little kid playing around in the restaurant.

“To me, they are family, so it’s tough to know you can’t take care of them.”

Like Mr Tang, many restaurant owners in the central business district had to brace themselves for the new reality that would hit them when Singapore’s “circuit breaker” measures began on Tuesday (Apr 7). 

READ: Essential businesses will stay open even as most workplaces are to close from next Tuesday

Last Friday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a set of “circuit breaker” measures to help curb the spread of COVID-19. 

Under the measures, there would be no dine-ins at Singapore’s 4,800 restaurants and only takeaways and deliveries will be allowed from Tuesday until May 4.

To help the F&B industry, which had a turnover of S$11.3 billion last year, the Government said it would absorb five per cent of three food delivery platforms’ commission costs – about 20 to 40 per cent of each order – during the period of the circuit breaker measures. 

But some restaurants, like Swee Kee at Amoy Street, have decided to halt operations.Mr Tang said it was “untenable” to run these self-service options from their CBD branch, in what has become a desert of empty skyscrapers.

Mr Tang, the director of Ka-Soh Restaurants, the group that runs the Cantonese family restaurant, said it would be pointless to keep the outlet open as there are too few residents in the CBD to sustain business.

READ: How F&B outlets, markets and food suppliers will operate amid COVID-19 ‘circuit breaker’ measures 

Food supplies, staff and rental costs will outweigh whatever they make back in deliveries and takeaways, he said, based on his experience of tapping on the platforms. 

The delivery platforms charge between 28 per cent to 30 per cent commission from his orders, he said. “Taking 30 per cent out of each ticket leaves for very slim profit margins, if we have to rely solely on takeaways.”

At Ka-Soh’s two other outlets in Bukit Timah and Outram, deliveries and takeaways made up only 20 per cent to 30 per cent of sales, he said. 

Most of the employees who work at the restaurants are seniors, and forcing them to learn how to use delivery apps overnight would be unfair to them, said Mr Tang, who is also founder’s grandson. 

Three members of staff at the Amoy Street branch have been put on unpaid leave, while six others have been transferred to the other two branches.

READ: Most workplaces to close for one month from Apr 7 to curb spread of COVID-19

Similarly, restaurant Grain Traders closed at the start of this week as deliveries and takeaways would not be enough of a bolster, said its general manager Mr Joel Ong. 

Given the lack of residential properties in the area, in-person and online orders would be few and far between, he said, especially as these platforms only deliver within a 5km radius of the restaurant’s location. 

Leveraging on islandwide delivery providers like Lalamove and Carpal is not an option either, as each trip could cost between S$10 and S$25, he said. With each customer paying an average of S$19 per transaction – based on the last six months of sales – absorbing the delivery charge or passing it on to the customer would not make sense. 

The restaurant’s 15 employees will still receive their salaries, but with pay cuts, said Mr Ong.

Even a restaurant with two delivery-focused outfits under Deliveroo Editions is worried about the situation.

Deliveries only make up 30 per cent of sales, said Pho Stop’s co-founder Mr Tomy Chen, while the other 70 per cent come from its dine-in spot at Downtown Gallery. 

Mr Chen plans to keep the outlet running for a week before deciding whether to close.

Two of the brand’s 15 staff members have been asked to take annual leave, while others will be transferred or kept at the Shenton Way branch. 

To keep the payroll running, he has stopped taking a wage “for the foreseeable future”, Mr Chen said. He and the rest of the shareholders have also ploughed in capital that will hopefully keep the business running for at least five more months.

THANKFUL, YET ANXIOUS

A slew of measures have been announced in Parliament to keep the economy running and jobs intact. A number of them would help prop the F&B industry up, from the 50 per cent wage subsidy – up to 75 per cent for the month of April – and the soon-to-be mandatory property tax rebate. 

Help from the Government has not gone unappreciated, and restaurant operators said they were grateful for all the assistance doled out so far. 

Measures such as the Jobs Support Scheme will help Mr Alexandre Lozachmeu pay his six employees their full salaries even as his restaurant Fleur De Sel shuts for a month. 

The chef and owner of the restaurant along Tras Street will not be doing any deliveries or takeaways because he wants to “make sure my staff are completely safe”.

“They are my family,” he said. “I’m responsible for them. They have kids, they have families of their own.” 

He is also thankful to the patrons – many of them regulars – who chose to have their “last supper” at his French restaurant and support it while they could.

To tide through April, Mr Lozachmeu will go without pay this month – as he did in March – he said. 

The future weighs heavily on him and other restaurant owners.Even if the COVID-19 situation stabilises or abates, dine-in restrictions may not be completely lifted, Mr Lozachmeu said.

READ: F&B, retail businesses in CBD feel pinch as people work from home amid coronavirus concerns

According to 2019 estimates from the Singapore Department of Statistics, rentals and remuneration account for more than half of their business cost. 

There may be no choice but to put employees on unpaid leave, or even lay off some of them if the measures continue, Mr Chen said. The weak economy has caused sales to steadily decline since last year, he said. By end-March, it was down by 85 per cent to 90 per cent. 

Competition on the delivery platforms will also stiffen as an influx of establishments vie for orders, he added. 

As much as the measures introduced by the Government have provided a lifeline for F&B players, many landlords have yet to say when they will pass down the property tax rebates, causing pressure on many establishments’ cash flow, said Unlisted Collection CEO Loh Lik Peng.

The company, which has 18 restaurants in Singapore under its belt, has not got word from its landlords about when they will receive their property tax rebates, he said, adding that F&B players operate on “single to low double digit” profit margins.  

The industry urgently needs the rent reliefs to pay their workers, said Mr Loh, who started the #savefnbsg movement on social media.

READ: COVID-19: Here’s how you can help save your favourite local small businesses

The Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS), which has more than 450 members, echoed Mr Loh’s sentiments, urging landlords to provide “timely and prompt support” by passing down the tax rebates and supplementing it with two months of rental waivers. 

Landlords should also allow rentals to be based on gross turnover (GTO) for the next six months – at 15 per cent GTO for outlets in shopping malls, and 10 per cent for the rest, a RAS spokesperson said.

“Our objectives are clear – to ensure business sustainability, prevent closure of businesses and loss of jobs in the F&B industry.” 

READ: Tenants need ‘unprecedented’ rent relief amid COVID-19 outbreak, say retail and F&B groups

For now, there is little more restaurants can do except to wait for the grants and subsidies to be dispensed, and for the restrictions to lift eventually. None of them know what they will do beyond May, they say. 

“I’m just taking it one step at a time,” said Mr Tang. 

A month’s closure is hard to fathom, said Mr Lozachmeu, but he is optimistic about the month-long nationwide hiatus. 

“Hopefully everything gets better, then our business can slowly get back on track.”

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SINGAPORE: Wear a face mask if you’re out and about, that was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s advice in a nationally televised address on Friday (Apr 3).

Some cities dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak, such as Hong Kong, have long advocated this, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has discouraged people who are healthy from wearing them.

Its stand so far is that only health workers, those caring for COVID-19 patients and people who were unwell should wear them.

While WHO is reviewing this advice, Singapore, the US and a few other countries have reversed earlier guidance not to wear masks in public.

READ: Government will no longer discourage people from wearing face masks, reusable masks to be distributed

Why was there a change in stance and how can you use your mask more effectively? Here’s what you need to know: 

WHY WEAR A MASK?

The new evidence suggests that infected people may be able to spread the virus to others for two to three days before becoming ill, says Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang from Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health in the National University of Singapore. 

A Singapore study on such pre-symptomatic spread, published last week, found at least 10 cases of this happening here.

With a rise in cases here, there is a possibility of some undetected coronavirus cases in the community, said the Ministry of Health. Such people may still be out and about at work or in places where people congregate without realising that they are infectious. 

READ: COVID-19: Nearly 20,000 foreign workers in quarantine in S11 Dormitory, Westlite Toh Guan

READ: Toh Guan Dormitory declared as isolation area under Infectious Diseases Act

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mask is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.

“By wearing a mask – even a cloth mask – these pre- or asymptomatic persons may be a little less likely to spread the virus to others,” says Assoc Prof Hsu, who is also the school’s programme leader for infectious diseases and the co-director of Global Health.

WHEN SHOULD YOU WEAR A MASK?

Physical distancing remains the most important measure against the spread of SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19, says Assoc Prof Hsu. 

However, it is not always possible to maintain reasonable physical distance from others if one goes to work or out to buy essential items. In that situation, other measures such as handwashing will be helpful. 

Wearing of cloth masks may also provide an additional level of protection. Singapore authorities have advised people to wear masks when they go to a “crowded environment”. 

WHICH MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE?

The N95 and surgical masks are most effective in terms of preventing the spread of respiratory viruses, but they are not reusable and are potentially in short supply worldwide.

WHO has said that they should be reserved for healthcare staff and other frontline workers, who are most in need of them.

Cloth and paper masks are less effective, although various studies have shown that they may still have a protective effect, says Assoc Prof Hsu.

HOW TO CHOOSE AND WEAR A CLOTH MASK

According to the CDC, cloth face coverings should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face.

They should include multiple layers of fabric while allowing for breathing without restriction.

People should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash their hands immediately after removing.

The reusable masks need to withstand washing and machine drying without damage or change to shape.

Ideally the masks should be washed after each use, says Assoc Prof Hsu. 

WHERE CAN YOU COLLECT YOUR REUSABLE MASK?

Reusable masks are being distributed from Apr 5 until Apr 12 at Community Centres and Resident’s Committee Centres.

The collection times are between 3pm and 9pm on weekdays, and between 10am and 9pm on weekends and public holidays. 

Not sure where to collect your mask from? Refer to the website www.maskgowhere.sg for more details. 

CAN SURGICAL MASKS BE REUSED?

The efficacy of a surgical mask drops significantly if it becomes damp. There is also a risk of infection if the masks have been contaminated. Therefore these masks really should not be reused, says Assoc Prof Hsu. 

“However, if one is short of masks and does not have a reusable mask, they can be reused if not contaminated or wet,” he added.

“Care must be taken during reuse to avoid getting one’s hands inadvertently contaminated.”

They should always be worn with the pleated side facing out.

DOESN’T SINGAPORE HAVE A NATIONAL STOCKPILE OF MASKS?

Singapore has sufficient surgical masks, so long as the country uses them responsibly, said MOH.

The Government is prioritising the use of the stockpile to ensure that healthcare workers at the frontline and the vulnerable, including those who have fallen ill, are taken care of.

The surge in global demand for masks and uncertainty on whether this infection will be prolonged has also resulted in a global shortage. 

The Government is working with retailers to identify new sources of masks and to expedite the shipment of masks and other in-demand items.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

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SINGAPORE: Toh Guan Dormitory has been declared as an isolation area under the Infectious Diseases Act, following a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in several foreign worker dormitories across Singapore. 

Toh Guan Dormitory was declared as an isolation area “for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of the infectious disease COVID-19”, according to a notice by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the Government Gazette. 

The notice came into effect at 8.30pm on Monday (Apr 6).

The premises under isolation are: 13, 15, 17, 17A, 19 and 19A Toh Guan East.

READ: MOM says working to improve conditions for S11 Dormitory, Westlite Toh Guan residents

On Sunday, two foreign worker dormitories – S11 Dormitory @ Punggol and Westlite Toh Guan dormitory – were gazetted as isolation areas.

Nearly 20,000 workers across the two dormitories have been placed under quarantine, meaning they will have to stay in their rooms for the next 14 days.

READ: COVID-19: Nearly 20,000 foreign workers in quarantine in S11 Dormitory, Westlite Toh Guan

As of Monday, 14 confirmed cases have been linked to the cluster at Toh Guan Dormitory. 

The dormitory is located in the vicinity of Westlite Toh Guan, which has 29 cases.

Another 88 cases have been linked to the cluster at S11 Dormitory @ Punggol.

Other dormitories with COVID-19 cases include Sungei Tengah Lodge (six cases), Tampines Dormitory (nine cases), Cochrane Lodge II (four cases) and a dormitory at 55 Sungei Kadut Loop (four cases). 

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram