Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Updates

[Estéema]

doodbug\" post_id=\"1969169\" time=\"1585531131\" user_id=\"13281:

Mdm Ho Ching wrote the following on her Facebook 12 hours ago:

Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Agree that we should keep the surgical as well as N95 masks for our healthcare workers as the top priority, since they face patients every day. Not just covid patients, but also other patients, who need to be protected too.

But we shouldn’t try to demonise the wearing of masks just to preserve the masks for the healthcare workers (HCWs).

Instead, we should be open to the idea of improvising masks for use among the public.

We shouldn’t laugh and snigger at people trying all sorts of protective barriers.

They can be just a plastic shield, or a plastic “curtain” from a hat, a chic designer mask, a simple folded handkerchief, perhaps with a cotton layer in between, a lovingly home sewn mask by grandma or mother.

Whatever we wish to improvise, we should not be made to feel silly or unfashionable.

A full face shield forms a barrier for the eyes, nose and mouth too.

A mask or face shield is no substitute for hand hygiene.

So do wash our hands regularly.

True, a mask or face shield may give a false sense of security and safety. That may lead people to forget the importance of washing hands and safe distancing.

But knowing Singaporeans, the vast majority are conscientious, thoughtful, and disciplined.

Yes, it’s hard to change habits bcos old habits are hard to break.

Let’s double the normal interaction gap between people when we chat. Better still, keep out of arm’s reach.

An air gap fist bump would be better than an elbow bump, and an elbow bump would be better than a handshake.

An air gap fist bump means our outstretched fist can’t touch the other person’s outstretched fist. That would be more than a meter apart.

Let’s keep interactions short and sweet, especially if we come within the safe gap.

So Mind the Gap
Keep it Short and Safe

Wash our hands regularly
Watch for fire risks if we use alcohol sanitisers

Use any mask or shield as we like -
a mask can help to isolate the virus.

A mask helps keep our saliva to ourselves. It also helps to reduce incoming droplets.

So the improvised mask or face shield would serve to isolate the virus, if any, to each of us, however imperfectly.

So don’t feel paiseh if you feel better to put on a mask.

Just try to save and preserve the 4 masks given out by Singov earlier.

This is so that we can put on our surgical mask when we are ill and going to see the doctor.

She also shared this link:
https://medium.com/@Cancerwarrior/covid-19-why-we-should-all-wear-masks-there-is-new-scientific-rationale-280e08ceee71

The attached link bids some pondering. Thanks doodbug.

[Sun_2010]

Hi all,


I have created a new thread for all your inputs.
KiasuParents are ingenious people , and I am sure you all have those little things and big things you do at home to be safe in these times. Please share

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=95795&p=1969181#p1969181
:please: :please: :please:

[doodbug]

I do feel though, people who have asthma, or difficulty breathing, or tend to choke, must be very very careful with masks. And no masks for very young kids as far as possible in case they suffocate or can’t yank it off in time in an emergency.

[sharonkhoo]

Sun_2010\" post_id=\"1969177\" time=\"1585537053\" user_id=\"18393:

My thinking too - so far most cases in clusters have been close contacts. And that makes the aerosol transmission a most likely mode. So if an infected person sneezes/coughs without mask , then that is a highly likely someone in close proximity becoming susceptible.

The medical people call that kind of transmission \"droplet\" transmission. They are airborne, but only briefly as they settle quickly, and over a short distance. Then transmission by contact takes over. They use \"aerosol\" transmission to mean that the virus can stay suspended in the air for long periods, up to hours, and can be easily moved by air currents. It isn't established that Covid-19 does this except when generated during some medical procedures.

There has been a lot of misunderstanding because of those terms used by the medical people.

[Sun_2010]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1969186\" time=\"1585540271\" user_id=\"28674:

Sun_2010\" post_id=\"1969177\" time=\"1585537053\" user_id=\"18393:

My thinking too - so far most cases in clusters have been close contacts. And that makes the aerosol transmission a most likely mode. So if an infected person sneezes/coughs without mask , then that is a highly likely someone in close proximity becoming susceptible.

The medical people call that kind of transmission \"droplet\" transmission. They are airborne, but only briefly as they settle quickly, and over a short distance. Then transmission by contact takes over. They use \"aerosol\" transmission to mean that the virus can stay suspended in the air for long periods, up to hours, and can be easily moved by air currents. It isn't established that Covid-19 does this except when generated during some medical procedures.

There has been a lot of misunderstanding because of those terms used by the medical people.

Thanks for the correction slmkhoo. Edited my post

[lee_yl]

doodbug\" post_id=\"1969169\" time=\"1585531131\" user_id=\"13281:

Mdm Ho Ching wrote the following on her Facebook 12 hours ago:

Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Agree that we should keep the surgical as well as N95 masks for our healthcare workers as the top priority, since they face patients every day. Not just covid patients, but also other patients, who need to be protected too.

But we shouldn’t try to demonise the wearing of masks just to preserve the masks for the healthcare workers (HCWs).

Instead, we should be open to the idea of improvising masks for use among the public.

We shouldn’t laugh and snigger at people trying all sorts of protective barriers.

They can be just a plastic shield, or a plastic “curtain” from a hat, a chic designer mask, a simple folded handkerchief, perhaps with a cotton layer in between, a lovingly home sewn mask by grandma or mother.

Whatever we wish to improvise, we should not be made to feel silly or unfashionable.

A full face shield forms a barrier for the eyes, nose and mouth too.

A mask or face shield is no substitute for hand hygiene.

So do wash our hands regularly.

True, a mask or face shield may give a false sense of security and safety. That may lead people to forget the importance of washing hands and safe distancing.

But knowing Singaporeans, the vast majority are conscientious, thoughtful, and disciplined.

Yes, it’s hard to change habits bcos old habits are hard to break.

Let’s double the normal interaction gap between people when we chat. Better still, keep out of arm’s reach.

An air gap fist bump would be better than an elbow bump, and an elbow bump would be better than a handshake.

An air gap fist bump means our outstretched fist can’t touch the other person’s outstretched fist. That would be more than a meter apart.

Let’s keep interactions short and sweet, especially if we come within the safe gap.

So Mind the Gap
Keep it Short and Safe

Wash our hands regularly
Watch for fire risks if we use alcohol sanitisers

Use any mask or shield as we like -
a mask can help to isolate the virus.

A mask helps keep our saliva to ourselves. It also helps to reduce incoming droplets.

So the improvised mask or face shield would serve to isolate the virus, if any, to each of us, however imperfectly.

So don’t feel paiseh if you feel better to put on a mask.

Just try to save and preserve the 4 masks given out by Singov earlier.

This is so that we can put on our surgical mask when we are ill and going to see the doctor.

She also shared this link:
https://medium.com/@Cancerwarrior/covid-19-why-we-should-all-wear-masks-there-is-new-scientific-rationale-280e08ceee71

Ho Ching wrote that herself or her Facebook management team?

“...But we shouldn’t try to demonise the wearing of masks just to preserve the masks for the healthcare workers (HCWs)....”

“The husband” told everyone no need to wear mask if not sick, but “the wife” asks us to put on something (masks/plastics/face shield) to protect ourselves.

Sound likes “the wife” slapping “the husband”.

That’s why when I suggest to make it mandatory to wear mask (or cover w handkerchief) during peak hour train ride, DH says the govt will not approve cos it’s like slapping themselves.

[doodbug]

I think there is a chance Mdm Ho Ching mans her own facebook account, as she shares and/or posts stuff very regularly.

[MyPillow]

if i take train in peak hour, i will wear, my teen dun want to wear, i think most teens & young adults dun wear too

and conveniently echo G /sch said < no sick no need to mask up) … if really so many un- link cases pop up & happening , then mandate all to wear in Peak hr packed public transport - this is part social responsibility actions too … keep the droplets to oneselves - pls dun spread out in the congested air space, so many vulnerables around !

[Estéema]

MyPillow\" post_id=\"1969198\" time=\"1585542587\" user_id=\"70594:

if i take train in peak hour, i will wear, my teen dun want to wear, i think most teens & young adults dun wear too
and conveniently echo G /sch said < no sick no need to mask up) ... if really so many un- link cases pop up & happening , then mandate all to wear in Peak hr packed public transport - this is part social responsibility actions too ... keep the droplets to oneselves - pls dun spread out in the congested air space, so many vulnerables around !

DS says they get a lot of info during their Sc lessons. Since last week, his schmates hv large numbers of students all masks up at the bustops, at waiting drive-in bay for parents to pickup.

With the deluge of returnees fr high COVID-19 incident countries, think this calls for step-up personal hygiene & personal safety measures. Good that we’re seeing more supplies of sale of masks, albeit costlier than before. Bought those fr China altho Indo & Veit made ones available on sale. Just heard a batch of China-made ones were destroyed for manufacture fault. But heard Indo ones cld be recycled! Now how to ascertain fake news or owise?

[.010675zeit]

This is a very interesting article

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/australian-researchers-trial-tb-vaccine-fight-coronavirus-12581592

I'd noticed my cousins who were born in Europe in the 70s-80s didn't have the BCG keloid scar on their bicep. It was optional apparently in First World nations where healthcare system was robust and TB incidence was low post-WW2. Only ''OK boomers'' and later gens must take BCG injections in our part of the world where TB was still common.

I also noticed many of my PRC friends born before 1979 have no BCG scar on their arms. BCG inoculation were not compulsory I guess as they were having that Cultural Rev and BCG jabs weren't cheap for so many of them to have??

Look at this map of the world that shows countries with diff BCG vaccination programs. See any correlation or just plain coincidence?

https://postimg.cc/WthLKMZS
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3062527/



BCG vaccination was started in mid 1950s in Singapore as part of the childhood immunisation programme. All new-borns were vaccinated at birth and although parental consent is required, acceptances have been high and close to 100% of children have been vaccinated in the last decade (Table 7.2). The BCG immunisation programme has contributed significantly to the near eradication of tuberculous meningitis in young children.

As of 1st July 2001, BCG revaccination by the School Health Service was discontinued. The BCG vaccination coverage of infants and new-borns has been over 97% annually since 1987.
https://www.moh.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider5/resources-statistics/reports/childhood-immunisation%282%29.pdf


Not sure if Msia has a universal BCG program. Any Msians here to verify? Of the 26 deaths in Msia, around half a dozen are below 50.
https://postimg.cc/9zSq65xS

TW and HK teens also had to take the compulsory BCG jab at age 12 like SG till around 2000.