Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Updates
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Schootopia\" post_id=\"1977183\" time=\"1590099517\" user_id=\"143961:
.. the face shield is part of PPE because studies show that even a N95 is unable to fully deflect a direct sneeze.
From OKY's comments-
[quote]They can wear either a face mask or a face shield when in school or on campus. This is for their own protection and that of others. Schools will be arranging to distribute face shields to all preschool and primary school students in Term 3. Teachers will help the young children get used to the masks or shields with time. If there are special circumstances, teachers will also exercise flexibility.
If u use a face shield only, you need to be comfy with your own exposure.[/quote]I agree with you on the last statement.
Initially I thought it was great that MOE allow the choice of either a face shield or face mask. Wearing a face shield is more comfy for the kids since they will be in school for long hours.
Face shield has more pros than cons compared to face mask BUT, there is ONE critical disadvantage about face shield, that is, one will breathe in (aerosol) Covid-19 particles through the wide openings of the face shield. Note that 40 students sitting near one another in an enclosed classroom for more than 6 hours a day! We can have 1001 good points about face shield but this 1 point is the fatal shortcoming.
Surgical mask can block off 95% of germs including covid-19 virus. That’s why face shield plus face mask always go in pair, sort of complement each other. Not sure why we wear only either 1.
Low risk environment like after 8 weeks of CB, I think it is fine. When we reopen our economy to the outside world, is face shield alone enough? Peak hour squeeze MRT, think better to put on face mask lah. -
MyPillow\" post_id=\"1977323\" time=\"1590205349\" user_id=\"70594:
According to a study (see link below), patients are generally not infectious after 11 days of onset of symptoms, and infectious for about 2 days before symptoms show. And there are those who are asymptomatic - in another article in the ST, a family of 6 were all confirmed positive, but 4 of them did not show symptoms. So the cases that are being found now are possibly caught from the asymptomatic ones and only discovered now because of the widespread testing of preschool teachers and nursing home staff. It also points to continual spread, possibly from those still going to work, or from those breaking CB restrictions, but with few serious symptoms.
Yes I m rather perplexed too as in late in to CB , why Pre sch teacher , nursing home have cases ? Where they got fr ? Is it from Pre CB period or ?? Or virus stay silent in the bodies n not showing signs n symptoms until now ?
This is worrying ... is it the virus incubation period is long for some people - not 14 days but as long into 6 or 8 weeks !!
I hope such cases are not a lot N rare , partial CB lifted n kids going back to sch in 2 June .. how is moe going to handle well ?
MOE might as well give face shields to All students , fr pre schoolers to jc ( so long it is teacher student class room settings n close contact nature of learning format )!
As long as we maintain good hand hygiene and physical spacing, especially around the elderly, I suppose MOH has decided that the spread should be manageable.
MOE may well issue face shields to older students eventually, or the students can get their own first. Preschools are being given priority because they need it more. Older students won't need to get so close to each other and their teachers, and should be responsible enough to maintain their own hygiene and distancing.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/covid-19-patients-no-longer-infectious-11-days-after-getting-sick-research-shows -
Do you realise that the prices of many grocery items have gone up?
While many made jobless, bills need to be paid, food needs to be on the table, how to tahan? -
starlight1968sg\" post_id=\"1977433\" time=\"1590287945\" user_id=\"14025:
Unfortunately, yes, I have noticed. I guess those with tighter budgets will have to choose cheaper options, buy less, etc. Those who are really short can probably apply for assistance? If there is reduced supply in the world, and transportation is more limited and costly, I don't think the shops have much choice.
Do you realise that the prices of many grocery items have gone up?
While many made jobless, bills need to be paid, food needs to be on the table, how to tahan? -
For Phase 2
What are the shops that can open,
Which cannot be opened under Phase 1 now ? -
The Seed of the Mishandling Sowed Right from the Start
The seed of ‘missteps’ has been sowed right from the beginning when the Ministerial Task Force (MTF) was formed. Instead of assembling a team of medical professionals better equipped to understand how a novel pathogen could infect and inflict harms on the people and community, the task force incepted all key 4G political leaders as members and the Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Kiat as the advisor.
So right from the start, the objective appears to be using the task force as a political platform for the 4G leaders to win the trust of Singaporeans by repeating the success of the 2003 SARs outbreak when Singapore emerged relatively unscathed. The ruling party eagerly wanted to show that its new generation of leaders were just as capable in dealing with the challenges of managing the crisis while keeping the economy afloat.
The truth is the ruling party was already under a lot of heat even before the outbreak of the crisis. Unlike the 2G and 3G leadership which assumed political leadership when Singapore was still in a position of strength and external environments were still relatively favourable, the 4G leadership comes in at the time when the external environments are never as unfavourable and Singapore is never weaker internally.
Externally, Singapore faces not only rising economic competition from China and other lower-cost economies within the region but also the geopolitical tussles between the incumbent global superpower US and the emerging regional power China. Over the last three years, under the Trump presidency, the tussles have spilled over into the economic arena in the form of a zero-sum trade war that threatens to fundamentally undermine the viability of the multilateral international trade regime which has served Singapore exceedingly well over the past decades.
Internally, over the last two decades, Singapore is increasingly roiled by various social, economic and political issues including widening income and wealth inequality; high BTO prices and falling resale prices of public housing; stagnating or falling wages amid rising living costs; rising business costs and the departure of MNCs; influx of both unskilled and skilled foreign workers depressing wages and competing with locals for jobs; structural unemployment due to failed efforts in restructuring the economy and in exploiting opportunities offered by the 4th industrial revolution; a growing gig economy and a disappearing middle class; falling total fertility rate and an ageing population; and, finally, the lack of transparency in the management of the national reserves.
Notably, many, if not all, of these domestic issues can be attributed to the rent-seeking growth model and deliberate government policies that disproportionately benefit a minority at the expense of the masses. Hence, even though Singapore has grown wealthier as a country over the past two decades, the economic gains have not being equitably distributed and life has gotten increasingly harder for many households at the lower rungs.
With the help of the captive local main stream media, the political elites have been exceedingly effective over the past two decades in spinning hard-to-argue-with narratives to justify their behaviours and to provide a positive spin to the deteriorating socioeconomic and political situations in Singapore. Those impressive narratives went on to help them win accolades from international media and community which the ruling party then deftly exploited to bolster their image at home. The harsh reality on the ground, however, stands testimonial to the fact that many of the facades underpinned by those narratives have been crumbling.
The incoming 4G leadership thus badly needs to use the crisis as a platform to proof themselves to the electorate as being worthy for trust and support. But, unlike President Moon Jae-in of South Korea whose success in containing the Covid-19 outbreak helped to secure him his second term of presidency, the 4G’s political gamble backfired.
The predominant presence of political leaders instead of medical professionals in a task force meant to tackle a healthcare crisis in the end led to decisions being made based more on narrowly-focused political considerations at the expense of efficacy of the healthcare system and of the broader interests of the populace.
A lot more at https://tinyurl.com/yashkhlf -
Am looking forward to visiting Daiso, ZTP, HH etc
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phtthp\" post_id=\"1977468\" time=\"1590297172\" user_id=\"35251:
You can now go visit your dentist for regular polishing and other treatments for one......
For Phase 2
What are the shops that can open,
Which cannot be opened under Phase 1 now ? -
phtthp\" post_id=\"1977468\" time=\"1590297172\" user_id=\"35251:
Phase 1 (https://www.gov.sg/article/safe-re-opening-how-singapore-will-resume-activities-after-the-circuit-breaker)
For Phase 2
What are the shops that can open,
Which cannot be opened under Phase 1 now ?
Most retail outlets other personal services will not re-open in Phase One.
Dining in at F&B outlets will continue to be disallowed.
Only selected services, namely, motor vehicle servicing, aircon servicing, basic pet grooming services, school bookshops and retail shops selling school uniforms will be allowed to resume.
Hairdressers and barbers will also be allowed to resume offering all hairdressing services, beyond basic haircut services.
All home-based businesses that operate using a delivery/collection model will also be allowed to resume.
To check if a business may resume, refer to https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/permittedlist/.
Phase 2 (https://www.gov.sg/article/post-circuit-breaker-when-can-we-move-on-to-phases-2-and-3)
More firms and businesses will gradually be allowed to re-open
Starting with F&B dine-in and retail outlets, gyms and fitness studios, and tuition and enrichment centres. -
For those who are still sourcing for kids masks in prep for Term 3...I let P4 kiddo try out several types at home during past few days. His verdict?
cloth mask - too thick & suffocating
disposable mask - more breathable but traps sweat. Kid size: slightly too small, whereas adult size: ear loops fit but the rectangle piece is too large.
“Gill” brand mask - much more comfortable. Easier to breathe since no parts are pressing on the nostrils at all. The silicone rubber seal is definitely “tighter” than the disposable masks which alway had air gaps at the side/bottom. Straps are fully adjustable to fit any size head, adult or child.
ST write up about Gill mask: “Local company invents new mask to tackle global shortage; 1,000 being shipped here for sale”
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/coronavirus-local-company-invents-new-mask-to-tackle-global-shortage-1000-being?xtor=CS3-18&utm_source=STiPhone&utm_medium=share&utm_term=2020-05-24%2014%3A05%3A34
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