Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Updates
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zeit.\" post_id=\"2041326\" time=\"1633594016\" user_id=\"194295:
If you're intending to travel overseas, better make sure you get the best travel insurance with maximum coverage for all travelers in event someone tested PCR-positive (i.e. especially given how infectious delta are) while you're on tour. Extended hotel stay and medical expenses in a foreign country are not going to be cheap (i.e. unsubsidised rate for foreigner) and you do not want to run any risk of being financially indebted after a trip. Beside that, you will also have to make sure that your company is agreeable for extended leave of absence in the unfortunate event that you tested positive during a PCR test and are not allowed to board a flight before you fully recovered.
Thanks, not interested in the US as the journey is too long.
Am looking at Cat 2 which has reduced to 14 days, meaning one might be able to squeeze in a 2nd or even 3rd neighbouring country, if the criterion is to have stayed continuously for 14 days in the final Cat 2 country before flying back to Singapore. For instance, you can enter France first, but you can drive across to Germany/Switzerland for a quick 1-2 day trip, and return to France to tour continuously for 14 days before coming back.
Now the big problem is whilst there are no restrictions to enter many Cat 2 EU countries, Singapore's ICA requires you to take a PCR test 48 hrs prior in that Cat 2 country before you can fly back to serve your 7-day home quarantine.
The list of accredited PCR centres on ICA website is too short. If one wants to go to any other country not listed here, one might have to contact the embassy/consulate here to know where to take that pre-departure PCR test.
https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/statistics/accreditation-bodies-for-covid-19-testing
There is one more incentive I spotted, which is they allow you to serve SHN at home if all your household members share the same travel history. It's not difficult to fulfil this criterion because pp usually travel as a family, and if we could isolate together for just 7 days under 1 roof, that's tolerable and more importantly, free of charge...
This will not apply if you're on a business trip as presumably, your company is responsible for all expenses incurred as a result of an official trip. -
WE2012\" post_id=\"2041335\" time=\"1633596173\" user_id=\"138082:
I find the whole mess of what happens if I/we test positive elsewhere (where do I need to stay, can I move freely), how much does it cost, when can I ever return to where I started from too much of a burden right now. Unless I have some essential travel, will just stay put. I fear being like Tom Hanks in the movie The Terminal...
If you're intending to travel overseas, better make sure you get the best travel insurance with maximum coverage for all travelers in event someone tested PCR-positive (i.e. especially given how infectious delta are) while you're on tour. Extended hotel stay and medical expenses in a foreign country are not going to be cheap (i.e. unsubsidised rate for foreigner) and you do not want to run any risk of being financially indebted after a trip. Beside that, you will also have to make sure that your company is agreeable for extended leave of absence in the unfortunate event that you tested positive during a PCR test and are not allowed to board a flight before you fully recovered.zeit.\" post_id=\"2041326\" time=\"1633594016\" user_id=\"194295:
Thanks, not interested in the US as the journey is too long.
Am looking at Cat 2 which has reduced to 14 days, meaning one might be able to squeeze in a 2nd or even 3rd neighbouring country, if the criterion is to have stayed continuously for 14 days in the final Cat 2 country before flying back to Singapore. For instance, you can enter France first, but you can drive across to Germany/Switzerland for a quick 1-2 day trip, and return to France to tour continuously for 14 days before coming back.
Now the big problem is whilst there are no restrictions to enter many Cat 2 EU countries, Singapore's ICA requires you to take a PCR test 48 hrs prior in that Cat 2 country before you can fly back to serve your 7-day home quarantine.
The list of accredited PCR centres on ICA website is too short. If one wants to go to any other country not listed here, one might have to contact the embassy/consulate here to know where to take that pre-departure PCR test.
https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/statistics/accreditation-bodies-for-covid-19-testing
There is one more incentive I spotted, which is they allow you to serve SHN at home if all your household members share the same travel history. It's not difficult to fulfil this criterion because pp usually travel as a family, and if we could isolate together for just 7 days under 1 roof, that's tolerable and more importantly, free of charge...
This will not apply if you're on a business trip as presumably, your company is responsible for all expenses incurred as a result of an official trip. -
Finally, rec’d call fr MOH hotline but quickly thank them as MIL walk-in for booster jab alr & don’t want to hog the hotline. Guess they’re clearing the backlog of calls of diff genere.
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ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2041273\" time=\"1633582738\" user_id=\"3:
\"Endemic\" is another word for \"Survival of the Fittest\".
That's exactly what we have been told to expect. Andemic mah.lee_yl\" post_id=\"2041247\" time=\"1633578889\" user_id=\"17023:
...
We are in a bipolar situation, most will be ok even if infected but a significant segment of the population will be extremely vulnerable and the challenge is how as a society we can continue taking care of the vulnerable minority.
As for how society can take care of the vulnerable... well
... andemic mah.
The government may not want to say it out directly for political reasons. But in \"endemic\" strategy, vulnerables with conditions (i.e. inborn or accquired) that make them susceptible to covid-19 virus will perish, it is just a matter of \"when\" they will get infected and perish as a result. This is the \"price\" we as a society have decided to pay in order to get back to a life of normalcy for the majority of us.
Just look at our death rate in the past 2 weeks. -
SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2041339\" time=\"1633597179\" user_id=\"188234:
Insurance is mentioned on Safetravel website.
I find the whole mess of what happens if I/we test positive elsewhere (where do I need to stay, can I move freely), how much does it cost, when can I ever return to where I started from too much of a burden right now. Unless I have some essential travel, will just stay put. I fear being like Tom Hanks in the movie The Terminal...WE2012\" post_id=\"2041335\" time=\"1633596173\" user_id=\"138082:
If you're intending to travel overseas, better make sure you get the best travel insurance with maximum coverage for all travelers in event someone tested PCR-positive (i.e. especially given how infectious delta are) while you're on tour. Extended hotel stay and medical expenses in a foreign country are not going to be cheap (i.e. unsubsidised rate for foreigner) and you do not want to run any risk of being financially indebted after a trip. Beside that, you will also have to make sure that your company is agreeable for extended leave of absence in the unfortunate event that you tested positive during a PCR test and are not allowed to board a flight before you fully recovered.
This will not apply if you're on a business trip as presumably, your company is responsible for all expenses incurred as a result of an official trip.
I guess that leaves pp with only Germany which also carries some risks should you be tested positive during your trip.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/germany-vaccinated-travel-lane-safe-rules-covid-situation-2225081
It'll be less of a headache if you have relatives/BFFs there. Yes, they might loan you some cash and extend some assistance to you who's stranded. LOL!
Hopefully the MTF is doing something about the escalating cases, else potential countries/territories might bail out, like Indonesia's Batam has just called off the travel bubble with us.
I feel cheesed off seeing LW, GKY, OYK, VB being able to travel, while the rest of us are stuck on this boring island for 2 years. On the one hand, they want more visitors to come here to help increase SIA/CAG/tourism sector's revenue, but on the other hand, as a result of lifting some border restrictions, we now get more cases. And ironically due to this, fewer pp would be incentivised to come here when they see our 10,000 daily cases, and fewer countries would want to do VTL with us. :slapshead: -
Woah how to travel out for holiday like that, stressful. Really unless necessary for us.
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zeit.\" post_id=\"2041344\" time=\"1633598479\" user_id=\"194295:
I actually don't miss travel that much. Previously, it was mainly a way to unplug and spend time with the kids. The last two years forced me to figure out how to make more time for them all the time, even if just in a room a few meters away or to go somewhere nearby that we've already been to a ton.
.....
while the rest of us are stuck on this boring island for 2 years.
.....
We will definitely travel again when it is hassle free. In the near-term, I am more watching/hoping for school related travel to return than leisure travel. I guess probably not much difference in when both are going to be freely available / low risk. -
Hospitals will take months to clear backlog amid Covid-19 pandemic: Kenneth Mak
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/hospitals-to-take-months-to-clear-backlog-says-singapores-director-of-medical? -
I truly believe that the Merck drug is a game changer.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-says-deal-signed-with-singapore-covid-19-antiviral-pill-2021-10-06/
It actually treats COVID patients with a 50% success rate if done early. Not sure if the patients are already vaccinated.
Once a drug appears that treat people successfully if they catch the disease, I think its the end of the virus. Anti-vaxxers and vaxxers can stop fighting and go back to their lives.
Finally.
PS. Nah... I'm still not going into a cinema... :nunchuk: -
ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2041353\" time=\"1633601790\" user_id=\"3:
It depends on the price for the drugs, if the price is so high and lot of people in the development countries cannot afford, then the death rate is still high.
I truly believe that the Merck drug is a game changer.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-says-deal-signed-with-singapore-covid-19-antiviral-pill-2021-10-06/
It actually treats COVID patients with a 50% success rate if done early. Not sure if the patients are already vaccinated.
Once a drug appears that treat people successfully if they catch the disease, I think its the end of the virus. Anti-vaxxers and vaxxers can stop fighting and go back to their lives.
Finally.
PS. Nah... I'm still not going into a cinema... :nunchuk:
Maybe most cinema will be closed down after the pandemic and we just watching Netflix at home.
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