The 4G ministers are supposed to be the creme-de-la-creme, the brightest Sinkies, and they have to be paid millions in order to attract them into public service.
Why then are the 4G ministers slower than HK and UK in banning travellers from India?
Even ordinary Sinkies can see that India is the biggest source of imported covid-19 cases, and have been calling for a reduction or ban.
But the 4G ministers, in their groupthink and in their ivory tower, think they are smarter than the ordinary Sinkies and refuse to consider this action.
Until now.
Quote: "He added that the SHN period is not "100 per cent foolproof", noting that any leaks among newly arrived Indian workers could possibly introduce new strains into dormitories and result in new clusters."
Don't the 4G ministers already know this, but chose not to act earlier?
Quote: "The recent spate of cases has reminded us that we cannot let our guard down.""
Saying the obvious. Then why didn't the 4G ministers stopped incoming travellers from India earlier?
S'pore to bar long-term pass holders, visitors travelling from India as Covid-19 cases there surge
The move takes effect from 11.59pm on April 23, 2021.PHOTO: ST FILE
Linette Lai
Political Correspondent
Apr 22, 2021
SINGAPORE - All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have travelled to India within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore, as the country goes on "heightened alert" against Covid-19.
This move takes effect from 11.59pm on Friday, and includes people who have prior approval to enter Singapore, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (April 22).
In addition, people who have recently travelled to India and have not completed their 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) by 11.59pm on Thursday night will have to complete their additional seven-day SHN at a dedicated facility rather than their places of residence.
This group will undergo three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the virus: when they arrive, on the 14th day of their SHN and before the end of their SHN.
Explaining why Singapore has tightened its border measures, Mr Wong said the situation in India has worsened since the start of the week.
He added that the SHN period is not "100 per cent foolproof", noting that any leaks among newly arrived Indian workers could possibly introduce new strains into dormitories and result in new clusters.
India reported 314,835 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, the world's biggest single-day surge. The country has recorded 16 million cases and 184,657 deaths so far. A new "double-mutant" variant has also emerged in India, and is thought to be fuelling the country's second wave.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who with Mr Wong co-chairs the multi-ministerial task force handling the pandemic, said Singapore is on heightened alert against the coronavirus, given rising case numbers and emerging virus variants around the world.
The situation may escalate quickly, necessitating the tightening of measures in Singapore, he added at a virtual press conference.
Viral variants - including those first detected in South Africa and Brazil - have been found in 342 imported cases, said the Health Ministry's director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak. All the cases were isolated on arrival and no community spread has been detected.
He warned that this number may increase over time as more Covid-19 cases are detected and more testing done.
Mr Gan urged Singaporeans to continue to be socially responsible and adhere to safe management measures.
This applies to those who have already been vaccinated as well, he said. "The recent spate of cases has reminded us that we cannot let our guard down."
"We are facing an invisible and very formidable enemy," Mr Wong said, adding that the spate of new strains detected in other countries is a worrying development.
"Even after this round of vaccination, we might have to continue with further rounds of vaccination... The fight against Covid is not over, but working together, we can emerge stronger and defeat virus."
Why then are the 4G ministers slower than HK and UK in banning travellers from India?
Even ordinary Sinkies can see that India is the biggest source of imported covid-19 cases, and have been calling for a reduction or ban.
But the 4G ministers, in their groupthink and in their ivory tower, think they are smarter than the ordinary Sinkies and refuse to consider this action.
Until now.
Quote: "He added that the SHN period is not "100 per cent foolproof", noting that any leaks among newly arrived Indian workers could possibly introduce new strains into dormitories and result in new clusters."
Don't the 4G ministers already know this, but chose not to act earlier?
Quote: "The recent spate of cases has reminded us that we cannot let our guard down.""
Saying the obvious. Then why didn't the 4G ministers stopped incoming travellers from India earlier?
S'pore to bar long-term pass holders, visitors travelling from India as Covid-19 cases there surge
The move takes effect from 11.59pm on April 23, 2021.PHOTO: ST FILE
Linette Lai
Political Correspondent
Apr 22, 2021
SINGAPORE - All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have travelled to India within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore, as the country goes on "heightened alert" against Covid-19.
This move takes effect from 11.59pm on Friday, and includes people who have prior approval to enter Singapore, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (April 22).
In addition, people who have recently travelled to India and have not completed their 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) by 11.59pm on Thursday night will have to complete their additional seven-day SHN at a dedicated facility rather than their places of residence.
This group will undergo three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the virus: when they arrive, on the 14th day of their SHN and before the end of their SHN.
Explaining why Singapore has tightened its border measures, Mr Wong said the situation in India has worsened since the start of the week.
He added that the SHN period is not "100 per cent foolproof", noting that any leaks among newly arrived Indian workers could possibly introduce new strains into dormitories and result in new clusters.
India reported 314,835 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, the world's biggest single-day surge. The country has recorded 16 million cases and 184,657 deaths so far. A new "double-mutant" variant has also emerged in India, and is thought to be fuelling the country's second wave.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who with Mr Wong co-chairs the multi-ministerial task force handling the pandemic, said Singapore is on heightened alert against the coronavirus, given rising case numbers and emerging virus variants around the world.
The situation may escalate quickly, necessitating the tightening of measures in Singapore, he added at a virtual press conference.
Viral variants - including those first detected in South Africa and Brazil - have been found in 342 imported cases, said the Health Ministry's director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak. All the cases were isolated on arrival and no community spread has been detected.
He warned that this number may increase over time as more Covid-19 cases are detected and more testing done.
Mr Gan urged Singaporeans to continue to be socially responsible and adhere to safe management measures.
This applies to those who have already been vaccinated as well, he said. "The recent spate of cases has reminded us that we cannot let our guard down."
"We are facing an invisible and very formidable enemy," Mr Wong said, adding that the spate of new strains detected in other countries is a worrying development.
"Even after this round of vaccination, we might have to continue with further rounds of vaccination... The fight against Covid is not over, but working together, we can emerge stronger and defeat virus."
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