Singapore morning news for April 22, 2020

Singapore to extend circuit breaker by 4 weeks to June 1: PM Lee
SINGAPORE’S circuit breaker will be extended by another four weeks to June 1, with tighter measures to be in place from now until May 4, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a ‘live’ address to the nation on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

Singapore’s COVID-19 cases top 9,000 after 1,111 new cases reported
Singapore reported 1,111 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday (Apr 21), taking the national total to 9,125.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

S’pore and Malaysia fuel prices amidst negative world oil prices
On Monday (20 April) the price of oil declined to the lowest level never before seen in history.
— The Online Citizen

COVID-19 in Asean: update for April 21 — infections soar in Singapore, fewest in Cambodia
As of 01:02 GMT April 21 there was 21,044 active cases of COVID-19 throughout the 10 Asean member countries, an increase of 1,536, or 7.87 per cent, on the day prior. Of this 141, or 0.67 per cent, are classified as serious or critical. An additional 319 people were discharged and sent home after successful treatment.
— AEC News Today

Coronavirus: All foreign workers in dormitories to stop work until May 4
All foreign workers currently living in dormitories have to stop moving in and out from Tuesday (April 21) until May 4, including going to work, as the authorities step up measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus among this group that has been hard hit.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore falls to 158 on 2020 World Press Freedom Index; categorised as “black”
Singapore has dropped 7 spots in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index to an all-time low of 158, down from 151 ranking in 2019.
— The Online Citizen

Fruit juice product from Australia recalled due to exceeded level of a mycotoxin
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has recalled a fruit juice product originating from Australia after the level of patulin, a mycotoxin, had exceeded the maximum limit in fruit juice.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: 75% wage subsidy for firms in all sectors to be extended till May, measures to cost S$3.8 billion
A 75 per cent wage subsidy for firms in all sectors will be extended till May to help businesses and workers, as circuit breaker measures are extended by four weeks, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Tuesday (Apr 21).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

21 migrant workers allegedly locked inside their room after colleague tested positive for COVID-19
It was reported that 21 migrant workers staying at Joylicious dormitory were allegedly locked inside of their own room after a fellow colleague was tested positive for the deadly COVID-19.
— The Online Citizen

Visits to 4 popular markets to be restricted based on patrons’ IC numbers: NEA
Access to four popular markets will soon be restricted based on the last digit of patrons’ identification card numbers, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday (Apr 21), as Singapore extended its COVID-19 circuit breaker period by four more weeks.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: MOM, BCA remind employers to provide meals for construction workers during stay-home period
Employers must make sure their foreign construction workers under the newly mandated stay-home notice get proper meals, the authorities said on Tuesday (April 21).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Does MOM need to revise its advisory in tandem with PM Lee’s latest address about migrant workers?
In his speech, he spent a significant amount of time addressing our migrant workers directly, reassuring them that Singapore will take care of them.
— The Online Citizen

COVID-19: Employers to get almost S$675 million in levy rebates to help in ‘upkeep’ of foreign workers
Almost S$675 million will be disbursed to 62,000 employers of foreign workers on work permits or S Passes starting from Tuesday (Apr 21), said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19: June school holidays brought forward, GCE Mother Tongue exams rescheduled
The June school holidays will be brought forward to May 5 in light of the extension of the “circuit breaker” period to Jun 1, announced the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Tuesday (Apr 21).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Concerns over ‘hidden reservoir’ of coronavirus cases: PM Lee
While the number of Covid-19 cases in the community has fallen in recent days, the number of unlinked cases has not come down, suggesting that there is a larger, hidden reservoir of cases, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Be prepared for a different kind of Ramadan, says Mufti
Even though Muslims in Singapore should prepare for a different kind of Ramadan amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to keep in mind the holy month’s core activities of fasting and helping those in need through alms giving, said Singapore’s highest Islamic authority.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore facing two separate outbreaks: in the community and in foreign worker dormitories
An expert said that while there is potential for the outbreak to spill over from the dormitories to the community, the risk is low while circuit breaker measures are in force.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

LTA modifies MRT frequency to address crowding
Trains should be less crowded from this week, after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) fine-tuned service frequency on Monday (April 20) following an outcry from commuters last week.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: Hairdressers, confectioneries, standalone beverage outlets to close as essential services list trimmed
Standalone outlets that sell only beverages, packaged snacks, confectioneries or desserts will have to close their shops as the authorities further tightened the list of essential services to curb the spread of COVID-19.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Police investigating debt-laden oil trader Hin Leong Trading: What we know so far
The Singapore police have begun investigating Hin Leong Trading after the home-grown oil trader filed for bankruptcy protection amid a startling revelation from its billionaire founder that the firm had failed to disclose hundreds of millions in losses over several years.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19: Older foreign workers to get ‘special attention’, be moved to separate dorm: PM Lee
Older foreign workers will be given special attention and moved to a separate dormitory for monitoring, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday (Apr 21).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

LTA claims that crowds are “reduced” on public transport, but commuters note some trains are still crowded on Tuesday
Since Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated on 18 April that he had told Land Transport Authority (LTA) to handle the overcrowding issue on public transport, he said that LTA would “refine the headways for implementation” on Monday (20 April).
— The Online Citizen

IMDA figures show more Singaporeans turning to Mediacorp for COVID-19 news
More audiences are engaging with Mediacorp amid the current COVID-19 situation, said the national media network in a news release on Tuesday (Apr 21).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

New training academies to be set up within prisons to help inmates carve careers
From precision engineering classes and media skills training, prison inmates here will have access to specialist training programmes to help them land a career after their release.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

At least $380k lost to e-commerce scams for electronic products in first 3 months of year
A spike in e-commerce scams involving electronic products between January and March this year saw victims losing at least $380,000 in total, said the police on Tuesday (April 21).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Disbelief, a birthday in hospital and the road to recovery: Certis officer who had COVID-19 recounts his experience
Before testing positive for COVID-19, he was serving quarantine orders – but this Certis officer, also known as case 44, never expected to contract the novel coronavirus.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Grab-Singtel digital bank venture hires Charles Wong from Citigroup
Charles Wong, Citigroup’s former retail banking head in Singapore, has joined a new venture between Grab Holdings and Singtel that’s competing for a digital bank licence.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Long waiting queue of deliverers outside of Ding Tai Fung restaurant at Seletar Mall; workers could not cope with large volume of order
A long waiting queue was seen outside of the Ding Tai Fung restaurant at Seletar Mall, spurring resentment among the customers and food delivery riders.
— The Online Citizen

MP Cheryl Chan reminds public to show kindness to cleaners and essential workers
It is important for the people of Singapore to show kindness and care to cleaners and essential workers on a daily basis, said Member of Parliament (MP) for Fengshan Cheryl Chan in a Facebook post on Tuesday (21 March).
— The Online Citizen

S’porean who returned from Wuhan shares the difference between Singapore’s circuit breaker measures and lockdown in China
Singaporean, Chris Tong, who self-quarantined after returning home from Wuhan, China–the epicenter of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)–shared with TODAY his observations on the “circuit breaker” measures in Singapore which contrasted heavily with the lockdown in China.
— The Online Citizen

Kenneth Jeyaretnam encourages Singaporeans to keep guessing about Ho Ching’s salary
“While the Government refuses to give us information about how much the PM’s wife is paid out of public funds, about the size of the reserves, about the fake Budget accounting, we have every right to make educated guesses,” said Secretary General of the Reform Party Kenneth Jeyaretnam on his blog today (21 April).
— The Online Citizen

Sembcorp Marine told to stop all on-site work due to Covid-19 spread in foreign worker dorms
Sembcorp Marine’s repairs and upgrades unit has received a government order to stop all on-site work with effect from Tuesday (April 21), until May 4 or the end of the circuit breaker period.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Death of toddler pinned under 170kg mirror in Jewel Changi Airport store ruled a misadventure
The state coroner, in her findings, said the toddler’s mother had earlier stated that she accepts that her daughter’s death was the result of an accident and does not blame anyone for the tragedy.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

(Exclusive) Singapore’s new AI foodtech startup Easy Eat raises pre-Series A funding
Easy Eat, a new Artificial Intelligence-powered foodtech startup headquartered in Singapore, has secured an undisclosed amount in pre-Series A investment round from half-a-dozen investors.
— e27

COVID-19: Family members with loved ones in nursing homes endure time apart
When Mr Derrick Loke was not working, he spent time with his ailing mother – giving her massages and sharing the latest happenings in his life.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

NetLink service suspension lifted, contractors step up COVID-19 safety measures
NetLink Trust has been given permission to continue servicing homes and in-office premises, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said on Tuesday (Apr 21).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19 superheroes disappear, less than a day after their debut
Virus Vanguard, no more. The COVID-19 superhero team has disappeared, less than a day after they made their debut.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

S’porean writer Joshua Ip suggests free platforms for F&B operators, encourages them to hire drivers directly
Food delivery platforms such as GrabFood, Deliveroo, and Foodpanda have drawn flak from local netizens, particularly food and beverage (F&B) operators, over their high commission rates after the Singapore Government prohibited dine-in services on 4 April amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
— The Online Citizen

Feature photo Singapore Centre for Chinese Language – SCCL
This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on Chinese Language Day, April 20

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 22 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on April 22, 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.