Singapore morning news for April 2, 2020

Number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore reach 1,000; old age home among 2 new clusters identified
A total of 74 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore on Wednesday (Apr 1), the highest daily increase to date, bringing the national total to 1,000 infections.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore banks may see worst-case hit of 14-18% on revenue over consumer loan relief: Jefferies
In a worst-case scenario, Singapore banks may see a 14 to 18 per cent hit to their revenue in 2020 following the latest coronavirus relief measures for consumers, said Jefferies Research in a report on Wednesday (April 1).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Evictions, deposits for events including weddings to be protected under new Bill to stem COVID-19 fallout
Companies that are unable to pay their rent and individuals who have placed deposits for events including weddings will be protected under a new Bill that will be introduced in Parliament next week to provide temporary relief against their contractual obligations amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore Airlines to issue S$5.3bn. in new equity and raise up to S$9.7bn. via mandatory convertible bonds
Singapore Airlines Limited will offer all shareholders S$5.3 billion in new equity and up to a further S$9.7 billion1 through a 10-year Mandatory Convertible Bonds (MCB).
— Travel Daily News

Neutral on Nutri-Grade: Singapore’s new beverage labelling system receives lukewarm response
Singapore’s introduction of its new sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) labelling system Nutri-Grade has received a lukewarm response from consumers, with 68% of public sentiment remaining ‘neutral’ or ‘unsure’ about the policy.
— Food Navigator- Asia

Temporary relief from contract obligations hit by Covid-19 to come
A NEW Bill in Singapore aims to grant temporary relief for six months to those who cannot fulfil contractual obligations such as rent payments or planned events because of the fallout from the Covid-19 outbreak.
— The Business Times

Visitors barred from nursing homes until Apr 30 after COVID-19 cases detected in old age home
No visitors will be allowed at all nursing homes in Singapore for the month of April, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) on Wednesday (Apr 1).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Number of babies born last year up by 0.5 per cent, after four consecutive years of decline
Singapore has introduced measures to encourage couples to have more children, including giving parents a Baby Bonus cash gift and making fertility treatments more affordable.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: MOM to allow foreign worker transfers between sectors to help firms with manpower needs
Work permit holders of any nationality will be able to take jobs in other sectors from Wednesday, as long as their current employers agree to the switch, the Manpower Ministry (MOM) said on Wednesday (April 1).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Thinner crowds in CBD as more firms adopt telecommuting
Amid the gleaming skyscrapers, the streets in the Central Business District (CBD) seemed much quieter yesterday, very unlike the hustle and bustle of a normal workday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Covid-19: 3 medical workers at SGH & NTFGH among newly-infected cases
A nurse, doctor, and a clinical research coordinator have been infected.
— Mothership

Singapore at a very critical time on infection curve: Minister
Singapore is at a very critical time on the Covid-19 infection curve, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Individuals should do their part to strengthen Singapore’s food security, says DPM
With the Government taking action to safeguard Singapore’s food supply amid the current coronavirus pandemic, individuals can also do their part to further strengthen the country’s resilience against global supply shocks, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Wednesday (April 1).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Tough decisions painful but necessary to save lives, says Lawrence Wong
Our basis of making decisions has to be first and foremost from a public health perspective, doing what is right and necessary, he said in an exclusive interview.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: A recruit’s first day at SAF BMTC on Pulau Tekong – without parents’ send-off
On Wednesday (Apr 1), a large makeshift parking lot in Selarang Camp became an unlikely scene for goodbyes.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

8% of Singapore companies surveyed have cut or may cut salaries due to Covid-19: Mercer
As the Covid-19 pandemic hits businesses, 3 per cent of companies surveyed last month in Singapore have cut staff salaries while another 5 per cent are considering the option.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: New markings to be drawn at 83 markets to ensure safe distancing, says NEA
Markings will be drawn on the floor at 83 wet markets to remind people to keep a safe distance from each other when queuing at a stall, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Wednesday ((April 1).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: Condos close facilities to reduce gatherings, but some residents question varying measures
Condominiums are closing facilities to reduce gatherings of people amid the COVID-19 pandemic, although some residents are questioning the move given that in some locations a number of amenities remain open.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

March’s warm weather to continue in April but with more showers expected: Weatherman
The warmer than usual weather in March is expected to continue in April, but there could be some relief as more rain is also forecast for the next two weeks.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Tenants need ‘unprecedented’ rent relief amid COVID-19 outbreak, say retail and F&B groups
Struggling retailers and food and beverage (F&B) operators are calling for a temporary change in how retail rents are calculated, as an unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak takes an increasing toll on their businesses.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

SPH Reit to extend relief scheme for tenants affected by Covid-19, posts 23% rise in net property income for Q2
Singapore Press Holdings real estate investment trust (SPH Reit) will be extending its relief scheme for tenants affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, in a move that will effectively see most affected tenants’ base rents waived for up to two months.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Unity Pharmacy at NEX shopping mall to temporarily close after employee contracts COVID-19
The Unity Pharmacy outlet at NEX shopping mall in Serangoon will be temporarily closed for deep cleaning after a part-time staff member was diagnosed with COVID-19.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Benefits of mask use by healthy people topic of debate in Singapore
In a utopian situation with an infinite supply of masks, everyone wearing one regardless of their health status will help contain the coronavirus swiftly.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Highlights from the exclusive interview with Minister Lawrence Wong about Singapore’s fight against Covid-19
In a special edition of The Big Story on Wednesday (April 1), The Straits Times had an exclusive interview with National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the multi-disciplinary task force for Covid-19.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Despite global health crisis, March remained an exciting month for early stage startups in SEA
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the global economy, it is natural that the startup ecosystem might fear how it will impact their fundraising journey.
— e27

NUS, NTU among 6 universities that will not raise fees for citizens in 2020 intake due to COVID-19 outbreak
Singapore’s six autonomous universities will not raise tuition fees for citizens enrolled in the 2020 intake, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Wednesday (Apr 1).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

About 1 million people have downloaded TraceTogether app, but more need to do so for it to be effective: Lawrence Wong
About one million people here have downloaded Singapore’s contact-tracing app TraceTogether so far, but National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said more need to come on board for the tool to be truly effective.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: Home-based learning begins for some students, ‘teething issues’ surface
Instead of donning his uniform to go to school on Wednesday (Apr 1) morning, Primary 5 student Danial Rizal completed his four hours of English, Mathematics, Science and Malay classes at home.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Safe distancing measures implemented at BMTC, guests not invited on enlistment day
Physical training such as runs will be done in sections, as will the SAR-21 rifle technical handling training and weapon presentation ceremonies.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SIA to renew PPS Club, Krisflyer Elite memberships for a year amid virus outbreak
SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) will automatically renew all PPS Club and Krisflyer Elite membership statuses for a year, given that the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the carrier to ground the vast majority of its network.
— The Business Times

New Presiding Judge of State Courts appointed
After a six-year term as the Presiding Judge of the State Courts, Justice See Kee Oon has relinquished his position on Wednesday (April 1).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Legislative action may be taken to make sure landlords pass on rebates to tenants, says DPM Heng
The Government is prepared to take legislative action when necessary to ensure that the property tax rebates granted to commercial landlords are passed on to their tenants during the COVID-19 outbreak, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Wednesday (Apr 1).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore firms to cut hirings while increasing training, flexi-work arrangements: poll
CLOSE to half of 232 firms in Singapore polled last month planned to reduce spending on hiring, while some (12 and 13 per cent respectively) increase budgets for training and flexible work arrangements to cope with the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak.
— The Business Times

KKR suspends $2.85b sale of Singapore’s Goodpack amid market turmoil
Private equity giant KKR & Co is suspending its planned sale of Goodpack, a Singapore provider of intermediate bulk containers, after bids fell short of expectations, according to people familiar with the matter.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Private property prices fall 1.2% in Q1: URA flash estimates
Private home prices in Singapore in the first quarter fell 1.2 per cent from the previous quarter amid the COVID-19 outbreak, according to flash estimates released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Wednesday (Apr 1).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: SPH Magazines to give free access to digital publications
To show support to Singaporeans who are spending more time at home, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) magazines is granting free access to some of its digital publications for the next three months.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

NTUC FairPrice closes Bedok Mall supermarket for 3 days for cleaning after employee diagnosed with Covid-19
The employee worked in the back end of the store replenishing stock and has minimal contact with customers, FairPrice said.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Finance Minister orders correction direction for Facebook user over supplementary Budget post
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat has instructed that a correction direction be issued to a Facebook user for a post about Singapore’s Resilience Budget, said the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office on Wednesday (Apr 1).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore stock watch: No Signboard closes Clarke Quay restaurant for at least a month
The following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Wednesday (April 1)
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Scammers tricked more people into revealing their OTPs last year; victims lost more than $15 million
More people were tricked into divulging to scammers their one-time passwords for online transactions, resulting in 1,101 victims losing around $15.3 millionin total last year.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

HDB resale prices flat in Q1 amid Covid-19 outbreak: Flash estimates
Housing Board resale prices were flat in the first three months of 2020 amid the Covid-19 outbreak, compared with the last quarter of 2019.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Two men arrested after S$5,000 stolen from coin exchange machines
Two men have been arrested for their suspected involvement in the theft of cash from coin exchange machines in Clementi, the police said on Wednesday (Apr 1).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Two Singaporeans being investigated for allegedly taking part in public assembly without a permit
The police are investigating two Singaporeans, an 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man, for allegedly taking part in a public assembly without a permit.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Three men arrested for suspected involvement in sex scams
Three men, aged between 15 and 23, have been arrested for their suspected involvement in a series of sexual service scams.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Trio found guilty of assaulting policeman at St James Power Station
A night of merrymaking went awry for three friends at a St James Power Station club in 2017 when they assaulted a plainclothes policeman who was on duty at the time.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Feature photo Ericssen Wen

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on COVID-19 in Asean.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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Singapore morning news for April 2 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on April 2, 2020
View all posts by Justhine De Guzman Uy →

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Justhine De Guzman Uy

Writer at AEC News Today

Justhine De Guzman Uy completed a Bachelor of Arts Major in Mass Communication at New Era University, Quezon City, the Philippines in 2016

After graduation she worked at the Philippine Broadcasting Service performing transcription and business news writing, before moving to Eagle Broadcasting Corporation where she worked as a news editor, translator and production assistant.