Singapore morning news for May 13, 2020

Singapore testing all migrant workers in dorms, to clear them to return to work
SINGAPORE is in the process of testing all 300,000-plus migrant workers residing in dormitories for Covid-19, with a plan to allow them “to be progressively cleared so they can safely return to work when the time comes”, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong at a multi-ministry taskforce press conference on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

S’pore’s Covid-19 circuit breaker measures have shown promise, could be further eased on June 1
Singapore’s circuit breaker measures have “shown promise” in bringing down the number of coronavirus cases in the local community, and the country is on track to further ease these restrictions on June 1, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Tuesday (May 12).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

MOH preliminarily confirms 884 additional cases of COVID-19; Total tally reaches 24,706
As of Tuesday noon (12 May), the Ministry of Health (MOH) has preliminarily confirmed an additional 884 cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore.
— The Online Citizen

Changi Airport Terminal 4 to temporarily suspend operations due to declining air traffic
Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 will temporarily suspend its operation starting this Saturday (16 May) due to poor air traffic caused by COVID-19 pandemic, said Changi Airport Group (CAG) in a statement on Tuesday (12 May).
— The Online Citizen

Taxpayers to pay for increased costs incurred by dorm operators due to lockdowns
It was reported in the media today that the government will pay for the increased costs incurred by dorm operators due to the dormitory lockdowns and stay-home notices imposed on some 300,000 foreign workers in Singapore (‘Govt to absorb added costs for dorm operators during circuit breaker’, 12 May).
— The Online Citizen

Singapore lowers COVID-19 testing capacity in recent days amid laboratory issue
Singapore has had to lower its COVID-19 testing capacity over the past few days due to an issue at one of the laboratories which resulted in 33 false positive cases.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Number of foreign professionals on EP actually increases in 1Q amidst COVID-19 crisis
It was reported in the media today (11 May) that the number of foreign professionals on Employment Pass (EP) actually increased during the first 3 months of this year amidst the unfolding of the COVID-19 crisis.
— The Online Citizen

Singapore watching tightness of USD amid higher demand
SINGAPORE’s position as a financial centre backing trade flows in emerging Asia speaks to the urgency of securing ample access to the greenback here, amid global dollar tightness in recent months.
— The Business Times

COVID-19: Singapore in discussion with other countries on lifting travel restrictions with safeguards in place
Singapore is in talks with other countries on whether travel restrictions can be lifted with safeguards in place.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Advisories to be issued to all labs doing Covid-19 testing to ensure results are accurate
Advisories will be issued to all laboratories conducting coronavirus tests to ensure test results are accurate, said the Health Ministry’s director of medical services Kenneth Mak on Tuesday (May 12).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

2 COVID-19 cases’ deaths not attributed to coronavirus: MOH
Two COVID-19 patients who died have not been added to the official death toll because their causes of death were not attributed to COVID-19 infection, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday (May 12).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

SAF suspends all large scale overseas exercise, including Exercise Wallaby amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has suspended all large scale overseas exercises, including Exercise Wallaby, which is the largest overseas exercise held in Queensland, Australia, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Tuesday (12 May).
— The Online Citizen

Less than 15% of Covid-19 patients in Singapore discharged so far
More than 85 per cent of patients with Covid-19 since January have yet to be discharged, remaining in hospital or isolation facilities.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

The queues as Singapore first eases its COVID-19 circuit breaker measures: In pictures
From haircuts to Happy Meals and desserts, people across Singapore were out on Tuesday (May 12) as stores reopened after weeks of closure during the circuit breaker to curb the spread of COVID-19.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

M1 reports fibre broadband service disruptions
M1’s fibre broadband Internet service was disrupted for hours on Tuesday (May 12) across many parts of Singapore, with frustrated users complaining about the inconvenience caused as they work from home during the COVID-19 circuit breaker period.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: ‘Too big a price to pay’ to achieve herd immunity in Singapore through natural infection
Achieving herd immunity through natural infection in the population will lead to a higher number of deaths and infections and overwhelm Singapore’s healthcare system.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19 community cases falling, but Singapore must ‘remain vigilant’ as circuit breaker measures are eased: Gan Kim Yong
Singapore’s COVID-19 situation may have started to improve, but the number of community cases could rise again as circuit breaker measures are gradually lifted, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong cautioned on Tuesday (May 12).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

‘The whole of Singapore coming together’: Local firms team up to distribute 100,000 COVID-19 care packs to vulnerable households
For courier David Lee, who has to leave his house daily to deliver items, hygiene products are invaluable during the COVID-19 “circuit breaker” period.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

20 SMRT buses retrofitted to help transport COVID-19 patients between facilities
Twenty buses from transport operator SMRT have been retrofitted to help with the mass transfer of COVID-19 patients between places such as hospitals, migrant worker dormitories and the various community recovery and care facilities.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Growing food in the heartlands: SFA launches tender for rooftop farming sites at HDB car parks
People living in Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates from Tampines to Sembawang will soon be able to watch food growing on their doorstep, after the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) launched tenders for nine urban farming sites on Tuesday (May 12).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

NTU student calls out Lianhe Wanbao & SPH for fabricating an interview based on his COVID-19 experience
Quah Zheng Jie, a 25-year-old student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) took to Facebook to call out national Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao for fabricating an interview based on his COVID-19 experience.
— The Online Citizen

Coronavirus: Man to be charged after lying about travel history to enter court
An Indian national is expected to be charged on Wednesday (May 13) after making false declarations about his travel history in order to enter the Supreme Court.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Hin Leong shipping unit Ocean Tankers seeks judicial management: Sources
Singaporean shipping firm Ocean Tankers, a unit of troubled oil trader Hin Leong Trading, has applied to be placed under the management of a court-appointed supervisor, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

It is time for an online code of conduct for political parties and government bodies: Prof Cherian George
“Singapore needs a code of online conduct for all political parties and government bodies,” said Cherian George, a Professor in the Department of Journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University.
— The Online Citizen

Singapore oil trader ZenRock owes more than US$600 million: Court document
Singapore-based ZenRock Commodities Trading Pte Ltd, hit by tumbling oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic, owes more than US$600 million (S$851.9 million) to creditors, the company said in a court filing seen by Reuters on Monday (May 11).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Renovation works put on hold amid circuit breaker; Homeowners struggle to live in half-renovated house or pay compensation to their buyers
All renovation projects are being put on hold amid the ‘circuit breaker’ measures in Singapore, forcing many homeowners to live in half-renovated homes or find a temporary place to stay.
— The Online Citizen

11,180 cartons of contraband cigarettes seized, more than $1 million in duty and tax evaded
The authorities have seized more than 11,180 cartons and 200 sticks of contraband cigarettes that were hidden in a container shipment.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore condo resales plunge 57% in April amid circuit breaker period: SRX
Experts, however, found April’s 309 resale home transactions encouraging given that no house viewings could be conducted during the circuit breaker period.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the SDP’s election message sounds the right notes
Given that the Peoples’ Action Party (PAP) led government has not yet formally postponed the General Election despite the ongoing corona virus outbreak, we have to assume that the General Elections are indeed looming.
— The Online Citizen

Home-based bakery’s items snapped up amid rush for sweet treats
Ms Rebecca Yong set an alarm for 8pm on Monday to remind herself to be at her laptop – to buy cookies and brownies.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

CDL sells more Singapore properties in Q1 but at lower sales value; shuts 30% of hotels amid Covid-19 lockdowns
Property developer City Developments Limited (CDL) and its joint-venture associates sold 185 units with total sales value of $278.1 million for its first quarter ended March 31, versus 173 units with sales value of $516.3 million a year ago, CDL said in a business update on Tuesday (May 12).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Migrant workers get ‘cool’ gift packs
As Singapore passed the one-month mark in the circuit breaker period, furniture and electronics giant Harvey Norman showed its appreciation towards migrant workers by giving them 1,162 gift packs.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

9 suspects arrested for rioting at Chinatown apartment block following police manhunt over three days
Police had earlier arrested three persons at the riot scene on Sunday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

2 men charged over assault on man at cemetery that left him with grievous injuries
Two men are accused of assaulting a man with weapons at a cemetery on Sunday (May 10), leaving him with wounds including facial lacerations, puncture wounds on his legs and a deformity on his arm.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Feature photo Mailer diablo/A
This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, May 17.

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 May 13 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on May 13, 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.