Update on possible scams during this crisis:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 9 Feb]

Beware of scam callers asking for financial details, and claiming to be from the Ministry of Health conducting contact tracing.

How do you know if MOH is really calling you?
MOH will not ask for your financial details when conducting contact tracing.

📞 If you wish to verify the authenticity of a call about contact tracing, use the MOH General hotline at 6325 9220, or

🖥 Refer to official sources for information, such as www.moh.gov.sg (MOH website) and go.gov.sg/2019ncov (Gov.sg website)

SMH… I hope these scammers receive cruel retribution for such a cruel action during this crisis.

Update on measures to protect the vulnerable groups:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 9 Feb]

Further safeguards for vulnerable groups

🏫 Preschools & facilities providing care and social services will:
– Restrict casual visitors
– Limit movement of staff across different facilities

In addition, facilities providing care and social services will:
– Allow max 2 designated caregivers/visitors per enrolled client/resident
– Increase temperature screening to twice daily

If you wish to use MSF frontline services (e.g. submitting Baby Bonus forms) use online services, or email/post instead, to avoid crowds 💻📧

More on:
Raised protection of vulnerable groups
go.gov.sg/raisedprotect

MSF advisories:
go.gov.sg/2019ncovadvisorymsf

Update on enhanced measures for public transportation:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 9 Feb]

Enhanced transport measures

How are public transport facilities being kept clean? 🚌🚆
All transport operators have stepped up measures to ensure good public hygiene for Singaporeans:
✔ More cleaning and disinfecting of facilities, especially high-contact points like seats and handrails
✔ Staff have started taking temperature regularly and practise good personal hygiene

Is it safe to take public transport?
Yes. The risk of nCoV infection from transient contact, such as on public transport or public places, is low.

Is it safe to take taxis or private-hire cars?
Yes, they have been:
✔ Ramping up cleaning efforts
✔ Winding down windows for ventilation after trips

How can I play a part?
🧼Wash hands often with soap
🙆‍♂Avoid touching face
😷 Wear a mask if sick or recovering from illness
🤧 Cover your mouth with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose used tissue paper immediately

For more information: go.gov.sg/ncov-cleanspaces

Update on number of positive cases:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 9 Feb]

Update on 2019-nCoV cases

MOH has confirmed 3 new cases as of 12pm on 9 Feb. The cases have no recent travel history to China.
4 confirmed cases have been discharged from hospital today.

Confirmed: 43
Tested negative: 516
Pending results: 98
Discharged: 6

Most of remaining 37 are stable or improving. 6 are in critical condition in ICU.

Case 41: Male S’porean, 71, visited Paya Lebar Methodist Church and a gathering at Braddell Heights residents’ Committee

Case 42: Male Bangladesh national, 39, visited Mustafa Centre prior to admission, stays at a dormitory in Kaki Bukit Road

Case 43: Male S’porean, 54, stayed at home prior to hospital admission, except for trips to seek treatment

Medical practitioners are on the lookout for suspect cases, so S’pore will likely see more cases that will need to be investigated.

For more: go.gov.sg/moh9feb

Leave of Absence
MOM has revoked 4 work passes for breaches of LOA, and suspended privileges of 6 employers go.gov.sg/breach

Stay safe everyone!

Update on enhanced measures on schools:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 8 Feb]

Enhanced Precautionary Measures in Schools

MOE earlier introduced precautionary measures to minimise congregation of students in large numbers:
🏕 Suspension of large group activities, such as assemblies, camps, mass celebrations
🍽 Staggered recess times
🎾 Smaller groups for school-based CCAs and after-school programmes

🟠 Enhanced measures by MOE
❌ Suspension of all external school activities and inter-school activities until end of March school holidays
👩‍🏫 Roll out of educational package to teach students about virus transmission and what they can do to prevent it

Fake news on school closures
A fake screenshot of a CNA tweet was circulated widely on social media saying that all schools, including polytechnics and universities, are to close next Monday
🙅‍♀ This is not true 🙅‍♂

For more:
✏ go.gov.sg/MOE7feb
▶ go.gov.sg/MOEmeasures

Another reminder on do and don’ts during Orange DORSCON:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 8 Feb]

Let’s be Calm & Considerate. We can get through this together

🟠 What is DORSCON orange?
– It means that more measures are introduced to minimise the risk of further spread.
– These measures will mainly impact large-scale events, the workplace, and vulnerable groups like children or the elderly.

🤔 What should I do?
– Good personal hygiene is still the best method to keep the virus away.
– Wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your face.
– Take temperature twice daily🌡and look out for fever and respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose).
– If you are unwell, wear a mask, avoid crowds and see a doctor promptly👨‍⚕

🛒 There is no need to rush and stock up on food

– There are sufficient supplies of food, and supermarkets have been restocking their shelves.
– Hoarding will only cause anxiety and deprive others who really need these things.
– Let’s do the right thing and not buy more than we need to.

Why you don’t need to stockpile food:
go.gov.sg/beresponsible

Another do and don’ts reminder:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 8 Feb]

Stay united and calm, take precautions and carry on
Full details: go.gov.sg/ncov8febPM

With DORSCON Orange, we have enhanced measures to protect S’poreans.

Singapore is better prepared today from our SARS experience. We have adequate mask supplies and Personal Protective Equipment, better medical capabilities and trained healthcare workers.

Experts say the new virus is more infectious than SARS but much less dangerous.

The situation is evolving and the Government will respond promptly and dynamically.

Let’s do our part by:
💧 Washing hands often with soap
🙆‍♂Avoid touching eyes or face
🌡 Taking your temperature twice-daily
👩‍⚕ Visiting a doctor if unwell, and avoiding crowded places

Fear can do more harm than nCoV. Please avoid:
❌ Spreading rumours online
❌ Panic buying food or masks
❌ Blaming others for the outbreak

❤Let’s stay calm and help one another. Show support for our healthcare workers, volunteers and those maintaining services to keep Singapore running.

Update on number of positive cases:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 8 Feb]

Update on 2019-nCoV cases

As of 12pm on 8 Feb, there are 7 new confirmed cases. 5 of these are linked to previous cases.

MOH has uncovered links between previously announced and new cases.

Confirmed: 40
Tested negative: 438
Pending results: 181
Discharged: 2

Most are stable/improving. 4 are in ICU, 1 requires additional oxygen support.

Case 34: Local female 40, works at the health product shop

Case 35: Local male, 64, taxi driver

Case 36: Female Singapore PR, 38, attended the Grand Hyatt business meeting

Cases 37: Local male, 53, private hire car driver

Case 38: Local female, 52, visited The Life Church and Missions Singapore, linked to 5 earlier cases

Case 39: Local male, 51, attended the Grand Hyatt business meeting

Case 40: Local male, 36, works at same shop as Case 34

S’pore will likely see more cases that will need investigation as medical practitioners are on the lookout for suspect cases.

More: go.gov.sg/moh8feb

Stay safe everyone!

Clarification regarding LoA (Leave of Absence)

Update on Leave of Absence (LOA) measures

✔ It is now mandatory for all workers returning from Mainland China to be placed on a 14 day LOA

✔ All employers to report to MOM when their workers are returning, so that their return can be staggered

✔ For those with difficulties finding accommodation for their workers to serve their LOA, the Govt will work with them to provide dorm facilities 🏠

✔ $100 a day will be provided to support the employers with workers on LOA, and MOM will waive the foreign worker levy for LOA period

Get updates on the virus situation here:
Go.gov.sg/mohupdates
Go.gov.sg/ncovloa

Update on Fake News regarding the death of nCoV patient:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 7 Feb]

False rumours on the 2019-nCoV situation

There has been a message circulating of a death in Singapore due to the nCoV virus.
This is false. MOH has confirmed that there are currently no deaths due to the virus.

MOH has been providing updates on the cases to the public.
We urge everyone not to spread unverified information.

Please refer to go.gov.sg/mohupdates for latest updates.

DORSCON is now ORANGE!!!

[Sent by Gov.sg – 7 Feb]

S’pore has raised alert to DORSCON Orange
For more: go.gov.sg/dorscon7feb

Additional precautionary measures:

Advice to cancel/defer large scale non-essential events
If proceeding:
– Carry out temperature screening
– Deny entry for those with respiratory symptoms
– Have travel declaration and participant list if possible
– Venues to have ventilation and handwashing facilities
– Increased cleaning

At the work place
– Twice-daily temperature taking and checks for respiratory symptoms
– Those with fever to see a doctor promptly
– Business continuity plans may include telecommuting or segregating workforce into teams

For vulnerable groups
– Hospitals to implement temperature screening; separate care for pneumonia patients
– Schools to suspend inter-school and external activities
– Preschools and eldercare services to limit visitors

As of 2pm on 7 Feb, MOH confirmed 3 new cases with no links to previous cases or travel history to China: go.gov.sg/moh7feb

Due to three cases with unknown origin, we must be even more extra vigilant. Remember the infection is through droplets and surface, so frequently wash your hand using anti-bacterial soap. And keep your hands away from your face!

What to do during DORSCON ORANGE:

[Sent by Gov.sg – 7 Feb]

DORSCON Orange | What should you do

In light of DORSCON Orange, the Government has introduced additional precautionary measures.

These measures will only be effective if every individual plays their part.

[Recap] How nCoV is transmitted:
💦 Contact with droplets from infected individuals
🚪Contact with contaminated surfaces

Most effective method to prevent transmission:
👍 Practise good personal hygiene
👐🧼 Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
🧴 Use hand sanitisers if above is unavailable
🙅‍♀ Avoid touching your face
👋 Avoid shaking hands, use alternative greetings

Be socially responsible:
🛌 Stay at home if you are sick
😷 Wear a mask if you are going out to see a doctor
😌 Stay calm, be vigilant and keep up with official updates at go.gov.sg/mohupdates

Stay safe everyone!