Goh Meng Seng tries too hard to discredit the PAP

First there was Terry Xu and his attempt to discredit police with fake news.

And then, there is Goh Meng Seng, the leader of an opposition party (People's Power Party) with his fake news to discredit the government.

These are also the same people who talk about integrity and accountability.

South Asians? When you need them to do the cleaning, they are there.

When you need them to clean your blocks and neighbourhood so that you can have a safer environment, they are the ones to do the job, increasing their risk of exposure to the virus. You don't care which part of South Asia they hail from.

Our border restriction measures are strict. How do I know, you ask? From a daily average of 200,000 arrivals a day at Changi Airport pre-covid to an average of 1200 arrivals a day. Changi Airport is like ghost town. If that is not strict, what is? Total shutdown?

You charged that the government cares more for 'their' economy than your lives. 'Their' economy is 'your' jobs. You expect them not only to keep your safe, but to ensure your livelihoods. Yes, you do. Because if there is no food on the table and your children are hungry and crying, you won't say, "Thank you, government, that our lives matter more than our livelihoods."

Since 23 April 2021, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history (including transit) to India within the last 14 days are not allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore.

#overheard

*the suffering is real*

Just caught up briefly with an Indian friend of mine recently.

He is originally from India. His family and him decided to settle down and make a living in Singapore a number of years ago.

He shared that close to thirty of his colleagues in India recently passed away because of Covid. Within his business unit, just slightly less than ten also contracted Covid but thankfully they survived, for now.

The suffering in India is real. It is pervasive and is widespread.

* an Indian friend of my wife described the situation in New Delhi as "a bloodbath".

I can imagine the desperation of those who are living and working here would feel, when they have loved ones stranded in India, especially so if they are young or elderly, vulnerable and living alone.

It is a life and death issue to them, literally.

And it is not unreasonable and perfectly understandable to expect some of them living here, to try their utmost to ensure the safety of their loved ones by arranging for them to be moved here. I would do the same too if I know that the safety of my loved ones is being threatened.

Perhaps we need to view Covid not simply as a country-specific problem.

Perhaps we need to view Covid more broadly as a shared humanity problem.

Perhaps.......

When viewed in this light, yes, we may be suffering much unwelcomed inconveniences because of the semi lockdown situation we are in.

But when compared to the dire and hopeless situation in India, our 'suffering' really pales in comparison.

..... we weep with those who weep.

You need workers to do the installation.

Singapore General Hospital has decided to enhance the ventilation in their B2 and C class wards (which are currently spot-cooled with opened windows and oscillating fans) by installing air extractors. These will remove stale and humid air from the wards, keeping everyone safe.

Here's a learning point for everyone.

You need workers to do the installation. If you are shorthanded, the installation will either take a very long time to do, or not be done at all.

Now, I am just using this installation job to illustrate to you - the netizens - the impact on companies deprived of workers. Eventually, the impact will reach you. Your BTO, the hospital still under construction, your renovation work, that urgent repair.

So when you shout 'projects can wait' on social media, you haven't understood the full impact.

Every day, every week, every month, migrant workers who have finished their contract go home because they are homesick, they are worried about their families.

With a daily arrival of an average 1200 a day at Changi Airport and this figure includes returning Singaporeans and PRs, the number of workers allowed to enter barely replaces those who have gone back.

These workers are not just in the CMP sector. They are also in essential services such as PUB, checking on the quality of water every day etc.

The impact is not limited to companies when they have to shut down. Eventually, you will be the ones suffering a degradation of services.

Photo credit: Singapore General Hospital Facebook

The Delhi Chief Minister has no competence to speak on behalf of India.

 

Ban flights from India?

If we had banned flights from India, we would be able to keep out the double mutant infectious Indian variant of the virus?

If only it is so simple.

First, it is infectious. This variant is now circulating in more than 44 countries according to WHO. The virus does not have to come in from India. It can come in from anywhere in the world as long as the world is not free of COVID-19.

So what do we do? Ban all flights from all countries?

Can Singapore ban all flights and shut down Changi Airport until the pandemic is over?

Can Singapore also shut down our seaport since the virus also comes in through sea crew?

Can Singapore afford to break our own supply chains and expect manna from heaven while we close all our doors and keep the storm out?

Talk is cheap. If you are required to stay at home and shut your doors, and there shall be no movement in and out of your home, in no time you will run out of supply, and starve.

Incidentally, international flights between India and Singapore have been suspended by the Indian Government since March 2020.

Given the infectiousness of the double mutant, the taskforce is casting the net wide to detect every case circulating in the community. They are testing not just close contacts but people who could have come into contact with confirmed cases, people with possible exposure.

For every case placed on quarantine that tests positive, it means they have succeeded in removing one potential spreader in the community and cut a potential chain of transmission.

But controlling the spread is not the responsibility of the taskforce alone. It is everyone's responsibility. It is a social compact. Everyone has to adhere strictly to the safe management measures.