The novel corona virus that was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei province, China is now officially named as COVID-19 by WHO. The deadly and highly contagious virus is known to cause severe pneumonia which might lead to death. There is still no cure/vaccine for this virus at the moment.

Because of the recently identified Bangladeshi worker contracted with COVID-19, foreign domestic workers (maids) are now considered as having higher risk of contagion. Government issued the following updates:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 11 Feb]

2019-nCoV [DORSCON ORANGE]
Precautions for Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) and employers

For both the FDW and employer:
– Wash hands frequently and properly
– Cover one’s mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing/sneezing and dispose of it immediately
– Avoid sharing food, utensils and personal items
– If feeling unwell, wear a mask, see a doctor promptly

For the employer:
– Consider having everyone in the household take temperature twice daily
– Minimise contact between an unwell FDW and those under her care
– Monitor the health and temperature of children/elderly under your FDW’s care and watch for symptoms

Off-day arrangements
– If FDW goes out: Advise her to avoid crowded places and contact with those who display flu-like symptoms.
– If FDW stays at home: Employers should not assign work to them.
– If FDW forgoes the off-day: Employers must provide compensation.

For more: go.gov.sg/ncov-fdw

Government also provided another clarification on the nature of the virus:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 11 Feb]

Infectious disease expert Dr Leong Hoe Nam dispels common misconceptions about 2019-nCoV

Should I handle common objects like money?
If you handle money, make sure you wash your hands, be it with alcohol, or soap and water, before you touch your face.

Should I avoid places where confirmed/suspect cases have been?
No as those places would have been cleaned thoroughly and be one of the cleanest spots in Singapore. NEA’s guidelines for cleaning here go.gov.sg/neaadvisory

Is my online shopping package safe to handle?
When the packages travel, even through Wuhan, the long process and exposure to the sun would have destroyed the virus.

Should I be worried if I live near a quarantine site?
No. The virus can only spread by droplets. The virus does not go into the air. You cannot breathe it in.

Watch in full: go.gov.sg/ncov-expert1
On the nCoV situation in Singapore: go.gov.sg/ncov-sg

Additional measures for preschools:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 11 Feb]

[DORSCON ORANGE] Measures for preschool children and staff

In all preschools:
– Limit visitors. If necessary to enter, temperature checks and travel declarations needed
– Limit staff deployment across centres
– Suspend large group activities and excursions
– 14-day Leave of Absence for staff/children returning from China, and for those with household members under quarantine
– More health and temperature checks
– Step up cleaning and encourage good personal hygiene

One of the confirmed nCoV cases is a grandfather who picked up his grandchild from a preschool in Kovan

Facts of the case:
– The preschool had earlier taken precautionary measures, eg. Visitors are restricted from entering the preschool
– Staff and children were not in close contact with the grandfather
– The child is well; household is under Quarantine
– School has been thoroughly disinfected and sanitised; LOA issued to
teachers and children in the same class.

For more: go.gov.sg/ncov-preschool

Updates on the number of positive cases and recoveries:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 11 Feb]

Update on 2019-nCoV cases

MOH has confirmed 2 new cases as of 12pm on 11 Feb.

Separately, 2 more confirmed cases have been discharged from hospital today, making it a total of 9 who have fully recovered.

Confirmed: 47
Tested negative: 608
Pending results: 43
Discharged: 9

Most of remaining 38 are stable or improving. 7 are in critical condition in ICU.

Both new cases have no recent travel history to China.

Case 46: Male Singapore PR, 35, went to work at RWS Casino prior to admission.

Case 47: Male Bangladesh National, 39, a Singapore Work Pass holder. He went to work at Seletar Aerospace Heights (same location as case 42), prior to admission.

Of the 25 locally transmitted case, 15 have links to 3 known clusters. Contact tracing is underway for the remaining 10.

For more: go.gov.sg/moh11feb

Stay vigilant and save everyone!

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