The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released a statement expressing their deepest condolences to the deceased’s family. It said the family members and employer of the deceased, as well as the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore, have been informed.
The statement also added: “The deceased started working in Singapore in 2001. He was working as a foreman under his current employer for close to a year and had no employment issues. His employer had alerted his family of his condition when he was first admitted to the ICU on May 6, 2020. The hospital had also provided regular updates to the employer.
“MOM is working with the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) to provide financial assistance to the deceased’s family to tide over immediate needs via its Migrant Workers Assistance Fund. The employer will also be assisting the family members on the funeral arrangements.”
Many of us may not know that it’s International Parents Day today, but parents in Singapore are likely to be celebrating the day for a completely different reason, as June 1 also marks the last day of the circuit breaker.
This means that the kids go back to school and stay out for their parents’ hair, at least during the day.
However, this is only for those with kids who are kindergarteners and older. Younger preschoolers will only head back to childcare centres from next week.
If you are one of those who still have your kids hanging aroud you for a week or more during work hours, here are some nifty tricks worth remembering to keep your little ones occupied, even if it’s just for an hour or two.
Put your kid in a box
If you’ve got plenty of cardboard boxes lying around from excessive online shopping, this is the best way to use them.
Yes, this hack literally means putting your kid in a big enough box if you can find one (just don’t seal the lid).
If you need any more reason to indulge in some sweet treats, you’ll be glad to know that all of this home-baker’s proceeds are going to a worthwhile cause.
#ProjectPuteriImpian, or Project Dream Princess, is an initiative by personal trainer Mira Azman, 25, who’s currently raising funds for her mother’s cancer treatment.
Serving up Nutella tarts, assorted cookies and cornflake treats, #ProjectPuteriImpian managed to raise a four-figure amount within the first eight days of its launch, Mira said in an update on her Instagram two weeks ago.
Mira’s mother, who underwent her first chemotherapy session three weeks ago, was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer a week before Ramadan.
But Mira is focusing on the silver lining, according to a post on Instagram Stories.
“With the circuit breaker, I managed to babysit my princess, spend time with her like I’ve never did before. I am fortunate that I have the time that money can never buy.”
“It hasn’t been easy but no baby girl is raised to be strong and positive without a kickass woman who raised her well.”
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, many businesses have taken a hit, including F&B outlets. Many have turned to takeaway and delivery services to keep their businesses going but even that has proven to be insufficient.
Be it the high rental costs or profit loss, some restaurants had to close their doors.
The latest F&B outlet to make an announcement of permanent departure from our shores is bubble tea shop, Teafolia.
Here is a list of F&B outlets in Singapore that have already closed down permanently or will be closing soon.
SINGAPORE: Facebook said on Monday (Jun 1) that it blocked Singapore users’ access to the National Times Singapore (NTS) page as it was “legally compelled to”, but that such orders are “severe and risk being misused to stifle voices”.
Facebook’s comments came after Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran directed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office to order the social media platform to disable Singapore users’ accces to the NTS page.
The Facebook page, operated by Alex Tan, had “communicated at least three false statements of fact”, said the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) on Saturday.
In response to queries from CNA, Facebook said that it complied with the instruction after “careful review of the order”.
However, it added that “blocking orders like this are severe and risk being misused to stifle voices and perspectives on the Internet”.
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and we work hard to protect and defend this important civil liberty around the world,” said Facebook.
A search by CNA for NTS’ Facebook page on Monday came up with the message that the content is unavailable in Singapore “because local laws restrict our ability to show it”.
It remains available overseas.
A screengrab of the National Times Singapore Facebook page when accessed from Singapore, Jun 1, 2020.
The Facebook page was first issued a correction direction over “false and misleading statements”, including a claim that “every criticism” had been outlawed by the Singapore Government under the POFMA legislation.
The direction required NTS to put up a correction notice alongside the original posting.
Under the declaration, the page is required to carry a notice stating that it has been declared a DOL. Visitors will also be warned that the page has a history of communicating falsehoods.
NTS did not comply with this order either.
The POFMA Office then ordered Facebook to disable Singapore users’ access to the page.
This is the fourth Facebook page operated by Mr Tan to be subject to a disabling order.
All three pages did not comply with the declarations and the POFMA Office later issued orders to Facebook to disable access for Singapore users to those pages.
SINGAPORE – People will have to wear face masks instead of face shields when they leave home, following a review of an earlier policy in which either option had been allowed.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Monday (June 1) that the task force combating the Covid-19 outbreak has decided that face shields are not as effective as masks in reducing the risk of virus transmission.
“We know that Covid-19 is spread predominantly through droplets,” said Mr Gan.
“While face shields may provide some protection, the design of face shields typically leaves a gap between the face and the shield, which means that the wearer could still be depositing droplets. This is unlike masks.”
So an infected person wearing a face shield would be more likely to spread Covid-19 to someone else, compared with a person wearing a face mask.
Only specific groups will be allowed to wear face shields in place of face masks.
This includes teachers, as it might not be practical for them to wear face masks while teaching. Those with medical conditions which prevent them from wearing face masks, such as those with breathing difficulties, will also be exempt.
SINGAPORE – Some 26,000 shops as well as market and food stalls in People’s Action Party-managed towns will get a 15 per cent service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebate from July to October.
The relief, totalling nearly $3 million, will help to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic on shop operators and hawkers, said Dr Teo Ho Pin, coordinating chairman for PAP town councils, in a statement on Monday (June 1).
There are 15 town councils here managed by the PAP. The 16th, Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, is managed by the Workers’ Party.
Dr Teo said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the operations of many HDB (Housing Board) shops and hawkers in our heartlands. The livelihood of these operators and their workers, many of whom are our HDB residents, has been drastically impacted, with some facing possible business closure and loss of employment.
“We hope to provide some relief to these shop operators and hawkers, so that they can cope with the challenges posed by Covid-19 and continue their businesses and employment to serve our residents in the heartlands.”
SINGAPORE: Located in the Little India district, Masjid Angullia is one of Singapore’s oldest mosques, having been established 130 years ago by merchant and philanthropist Mohammad Salleh Eusoff Angullia.
However, just a month later it was forced to suspend services once again, as all mosques across the island closed when it was discovered several congregants had contracted COVID-19 following a religious gathering in Malaysia.
Staff of Masjid Angullia marking out the individual prayer areas on May 30, 2020 to ensure safe distancing between worshippers. (Photo: Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)
Masjid Angullia manager Asheeq Jumahir said the staff had mixed feelings when they heard the news that they were to close once again, so soon after reopening.
“We were just opening up and our programmes were just kicking in, after two years of redevelopment absence,” said the 40-year-old, who has been the mosque’s manager since 2017.
This was especially since the holy fasting month of Ramadan was coming up, he added.
However, they realised the closure would be for the best to contain COVID-19 and prevent it from spreading among Masjid Angullia’s congregants, which include foreign workers as well as senior citizens.
Like those of other mosques, Masjid Angullia’s programmes went online, Mr Asheeq said, allowing the mosque to continue some of its services while still keeping worshippers safe.
Safe distancing measures being put into place at Masjid Sultan ahead of the mosque’s reopening. (Photo: Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)
An initial five-day closure for mosques to undergo cleaning was later extended to two weeks, with small spaces in 19 mosques opened to allow no more than 20 people to perform their afternoon prayers at one time.
This later became an indefinite closure as the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Singapore spiked in late March.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN PLACE
Now, mosques here are preparing to welcome worshippers once again after having been closed for more than two months.
For example, from Jun 2 to Jun 7, mosques will only open between 1pm and 6pm.
Each mosque will have specially demarcated zones, to allow up to five individuals to perform their prayers at a distance of 2m from each other.
Some mosques, such as Masjid Angullia and Masjid Sultan, will also have family zones, where up to five individuals from the same household will be allowed to pray together.
Worshippers will have their temperatures taken before entry, have their NRICs or other identity documents scanned for registration through SafeEntry – Singapore’s digital check-in contact tracing platform – and must wear a mask, even when praying.
They will also need to have a bag to keep their footwear, which must be brought along with them into the prayer area, as well as their own prayer mats and prayer garments.
Priority will be given to mobile essential workers who do not have workplaces where they can pray, such as delivery riders as well as taxi and private-hire drivers.
From Jun 8, most mosques will open for five daily prayers, while some mosques will continue to offer limited operating hours, with more details to be provided at a later date.
Daily communal prayers, as well as congregational Friday prayers, will not be conducted during the first phase of the post-circuit breaker period, in line with the national guidelines for places of worship.
These will be organised in later phases when the overall situation allows, MUIS said.
A banner at Masjid Al-Islah in Punggol reminds worshippers about the measures they must adhere to, such as bringing their own prayer mats. (Photo: Zhaki Abdullah)
“BABY STEPS”
Masjid Angullia started its preparations for these precautionary measures last Friday (May 29), conducting additional works over the weekend.
It has taken the additional step of leasing a thermal scanner – similar to those found at Changi Airport as well as a number of other buildings in Singapore – which would allow the mosque to scan the temperature of more people despite its limited manpower.
This was something the mosque’s board had approved even before Singapore’s “circuit breaker” measures kicked in, to make its anti-coronavirus efforts more efficient, Mr Asheeq said.
Mr Asheeq said he anticipates some worshippers may not be aware of the new restrictions.
As such, signs have been put up to inform visitors of the requirements and mosque staff have also been trained to educate worshippers on what is expected of them.
“If you don’t come in with a sejadah (prayer mat) or telekung (prayer garment), we’re really sorry, we just got to tell you at the door (that you cannot enter),” he said.
“These are the rules and the guidelines that have been directed.”
Only 64 of Singapore’s 70 mosques will reopen between Jun 2 and Jun 7.
Of the remaining six, two mosques – Masjid Bencoolen and Masjid Abdul Gafoor – are undergoing upgrading works.
The other four – Masjid Ba’alwie, Masjid Burhani, Masjid Pulau Bukom and Masjid Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim – are expected to reopen in the later phases of Singapore’s post-circuit breaker period.
In a post on Instagram, Singapore’s Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir said the “baby steps” towards a full reopening were part of efforts to protect local mosques.
“Let us give our full support and cooperation to our mosques and aspire to keep our mosques safe for everyone,” said Dr Nazirudin.
Despite the financial aid given out to help tide everyone through Covid-19’s choppy waters, some have still fallen through the cracks.
After losing his job as a dishwasher due to the pandemic, an elderly man in Singapore turned to collect cans and cardboard on the streets in hopes of selling them for money.
His neighbour recently saw him looking pale and weary at a bus stop and notified Hopes in Meals, a volunteer start-up that seeks to provide meals for the elderly who live alone in rental flats, as well as and families with children in need.
In a Facebook post on May 30, the group shared how the uncle had amassed a collection of recyclable scraps in his living room but he was unable to sell them due to the circuit breaker measures.
As part of a nationwide initiative leading up to National Day on August 9, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) announced that they will be distributing complimentary Singapore flags to households to rally Singaporeans amid the Covid-19 fight.
“Flying our flag is an act of solidarity,” wrote MCCY in a Facebook post, noting that some are “keen to display the flag but are unable to get one”.
Households to register for complimentary flag by June 3
Applications are open from now until June 3, 2020.
In order to get your hands on a Singapore flag, you will have to register for it via https://go.gov.sg/registrationforsgflag.
The flags are however, limited to one per Singapore household (Singaporeans and PRs) and will be delivered through mail.
