The
COVID-19 Pandemic has been going on for at least 18 months now. Life
has never been the same and the economy has taken a trashing. Economic
activities have been restrained, restricted, regulated and re-aligned.
Every government in the world is very anxious and eager to bring its
country's economy back to shape. The question is how.
How to
guide the economic activities back to normal while ensuring that the
spread of COVID-19 does not get out of control and causes lockdowns
again?
Many governments have been desperate to come up with an effective solution to this COVID-19 problem.
The easy way out is the all-encompassing magical word: VACCINES!
The
race to invent a vaccine that can counter the spread of the COVID-19
coronavirus started in January 2021. This is big money. This is once in a
blue moon opportunity that must be seized at all cost. The faster the
better.
So, the profit-oriented Big Pharmaceutical Companies
like Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca,
etc. got to work in double quick time to produce their
once-in-a-blue-moon money-making vaccines.
Within ten months,
Pfizer-BioNTech combined force and produced their lucky charm. Of
course, there have been many short cuts. Even though not really ready,
must say it is ready. It's new tech. Next logical move must be to sell
the product. CHARM OFFENSIVE!
Ah yes, of course, the charming and attractive statement:
"The benefits of the vaccine outweigh its risks!"
In
desperation, many governments quickly jumped onto the bandwagon of the
new and experimental mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer and Modena. Yes,
vaccination is the key to check the spread of COVID-19. "Hey, presto! We
have found the solution!" governments shouted in unison. So they get
their respective scientists and doctors under their payroll to shout
loudly:
"The benefits of the vaccine outweigh its risks!"
The
race for vaccination began. At least 70% of the population must be
vaccinated to create "herd" Immunity! By hook, by crook, by snook or by
stoop, respective governments geared all their efforts towards achieving
herd immunity. All of them simply follow the leader like a herd of
sheep being led to the abattoir.
"We must achieve herd immunity
so that our economic activities can resume to normal," leaders
repeatedly telling themselves in secret meetings.
Yes, economy
is very important. Economic activities must resume as soon as possible.
Economic activities entail hunan communications, contacts, exchanges,
gatherings, movements and transportation. All these activities are
necessary for the economy to recover. All these activities also serve
as conduits for the COVID-19 to spread. This fact, which requires no
rocket scientist to establish, must be fully understood and be used to
serve as the basis for all decisions in making adjustments to the safety
protocols in the prevention COVID-19 infections.
In order to
stop the COVID-19 from spreading, all the six categories of economic
activities must be observed, monitored and controlled, so that no
parties, organisations or people may do funny things that promote,
unwittingly or purposely, the spread of COVID-19 or other diseases.
You
can't just throw away all the efforts, money and time spent in the last
18 months just because you need to open up the economy.
You
can't allow the COVID-19 coronavirus to continue to spread just because
you have a vaccination program to help you achieve herd immunity.
You
can't let loose your guards just because you think that the economy is
more important than the lives and health of your fellow countrymen.
Without healthy people, what is the use of a healthy economy?
You have to strike the right balance between economic activities and the safety of your people!
LIPS
COVID-19 Singapore: Expect More Infections And Deaths!
ReplyDeleteThe pragmatic ruthlessness of Ong Ye Kung has been revealed by himself for us to see, when he said:
"Singapore must be prepared for more Covid-19 infections, deaths with reopening" - Ong Ye Kung
To him as the Health Minister, the health and lives of the people can be sacrificed for the sake of opening up Singapore for travels.
To him, the interests of the businessmen and managers, the interests of Multi National Companies, and their ability to travel in and out of Singapore freely are of paramount importance:
"Our companies cannot grow if businessmen and managers cannot travel overseas to meet clients and partners. MNCs (multinational corporations) will find it hard to invest here if their people are not able to travel in and out of Singapore." - Ong Ye Kung.
Reference:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/singapore-must-be-prepared-for-more-covid-19-infections-deaths-with-reopening
Water-Tight Bulkhead Quarantine Model
ReplyDeletePosted in TRE on August 11th, 2021.
It is next to impossible to contain a pandemic with the current strategic actions taken by individual countries, including China. Unless and until the world used the ancient Chinese invention of water-tight bulkheads from stem to stern (siloed ship hull) model for containment of an epidemic, the next pandemic can cost billions of lives worldwide instead of mere millions.
The concept of air bubbles between ‘safe’ countries is an illusion. A truly safe country may be endangered by a pseudo safe country. To trust the official contagion record of a foreign ‘safe’ country is wishful thinking and an inevitable recipe for failure.
Each and every country during a pandemic must be a water-tight bulkhead acting as a guarded rampart, both to keep out foreign epidemics and keep in local ones. In this respect, globalisation must be fine-tuned.
We know that as a rule of thumb, in addition to the usual mask-up directive, a 14-day quarantine can be effective as a firebreak in a pandemic. The idea of instituting lockdowns is an attempt to contain epidemics within a silo. Unfortunately, most lockdowns are leaky in nature, either through a lack of official will or civilian ineptitude.
For the movement of people globally, it could be mandated that a 14-day quarantine period is required for people already vaccinated arriving into and departing from a country. Unvaccinated people must have a longer quarantine period of at least 21 days or more. Movement of people globally during a pandemic, officially declared by the WHO, must meet this reciprocal water-tight quarantined bulkheads requirement.
If the quarantine of arrivals from a particular country is showing unusual high incidences of infectee, it is not difficult to conclude, the ‘leaky’ quarantine of departees in the foreign country is systemic. This must be contained. All arrivals from the ‘leaky’ country must be banned.
It stands to reason that current airport designs must be modified to include both quarantined hospitals and hotels incorporated into it but separated from the main terminals. It is not necessary to mothball the main airport terminals during a pandemic. All arrivals and departures must be via separated arrival and departure ‘hotels’, for the mandated 14 or 21 days, as the case may be, after which they will use the airport terminals to fly out or clear customs and immigrations.
These quarantine hotels and hospitals must be specially designed. As an example, the open air corridors of Singapore HDB apartments is better than enclosed corridors favoured by private apartments. For greater safety, stop all lifts and mandate that movement within must be through open air corridors and stairwells.
This water-tight bulkheads quarantine model is the only viable solution to a global pandemic. Any other containment strategy is illusory at best and will be effectively a call to live with the ill effects of the pandemic: a perpetual hidden recurring cost of lost lives, wasted resources, money and time.
Written by APolitical
The current batch of ruling PAP 4G elites are certainly not in the same class as Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP old guards. Comparing Ong to LKY is like comparing a drain cockroach to a widely revered God !
ReplyDeleteWhy is Ong Ye Kung so kay poh? The economy is none of his business.
ReplyDeleteAs the health minister, he should be more concerned with the health of the citizens and his voters.
Business and economy is under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Travel is under the Ministry of Transport.
He still thinks he is the Transport Minister?
As long as the virus is allowed to travel freely via the human carrier, there is no way the Covid-19 War can be won. Countries may win a few small battles here and there, but the war will be lost for sure.
ReplyDeleteWho wants to be Prime Minister ?
ReplyDeleteHe can't even get his priorities right. How can he be a Prime Minister?
DeleteHe clearly shows that he is shirking his primary role and responsibility as the Health Minister.
The greed for more power must have affected his thinking so much that he can't even think straight. This is a sign of a square peg in a round hole.
He is not fit to hold such a high responsibility position.
A Singapore Collaborator Of India Exposing Himself Intentionally or Unwittingly?
ReplyDeleteVivian Balakrishnan (VB) has written an article, in his personal capacity, for the bias Indian media The Hindustan Times on 56th Singapore's National Day, 9th August 2021.
He strongly advocated that "Singapore and India are natural partners and must continue to collaborate."
Everyone must take note that when Singapore became independent in 1965, India was one of the first countries our first PM Lee Kuan Yew reached out for help to form and train our Singapore Armed Forces so that we can defend ourselves against external aggression. The Indian government at that time rejected PM Lee Kuan Yew's request and turned us down flat.
VB began by saying that August is a special month (Hungry Ghosts' Month) for Singapore and India as both countries had their independence in the same month (Month of the Hungry Ghosts) and that ASEAN was also established in the month of August (Month of the Hungry Ghosts) in 1967. The Month of the Hungry Ghosts is a bad omen. Trying to imply that it is something good is a wild imagination of a distorted mind.
VB also said that India is a “longstanding friend of Singapore”. I am not so sure of that. If so, then the CECA agreement should be abolished because it plays to the advantage of India at the expense of ordinary Singaporeans, including Indian Singaporeans.
VB added, "The historical, literary, cultural and economic ties go back many centuries. Many Singaporeans have family ties in India.” This must be seen in proper perspective. Much more Singaporeans have ties with China and Malaysia. The Singapore Chinese comprise 75% of Singapore's population, Singapore Malays comprise 16%, while Singapore Indians comprise only 9%.
VB emphasized, “Singapore and India are natural partners. We must continue with this spirit of collaboration as we navigate a pathway out of the pandemic and re-emerge stronger.” What does this pathway entail? Open door policy for infected Indians to enter Singapore freely to steal our breakfasts, lunches, dinners and suppers?
He added, “Bilaterally, we enjoy close partnership in the economic, security, and people-to-people domains, including on skills and urban development.” What security? Allowing the Indian Navy to make use of the Changi Naval Base and participating in joint naval patrols to provoke and intimidate China in the South China Sea?
VB further revealed that Singapore has been India’s largest source of foreign direct investment for three consecutive years, averaging US$16 billion in total equity inflows annually. Is is stupidity or wisdom? Only time will tell. As it is, for the past two years, Singapore's investments in India have taken a tremendous trashing, especially in the case of DBS India.
Just like a lower caste Indian in awe of a higher caste Indian, VM was also quick to seize the opportunity to praise the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unveiling India’s “Act East" policy in 2014.
The "Act East" policy is India’s active and dominant strategic initiative to engage in cultural, economic, military, political and strategic influence, control and dominance in the Asia-Pacific region, especially Singapore.
VM then said, “Singapore has always been one of the earliest and strongest proponents of closer ASEAN-India ties. We believe that the growth and opening up of India will contribute greatly to peace, prosperity, and stability in our region.” Singapore cannot speak on behalf of the other ASEAN countries. Writing in his personal capacity, the use of the word "We" in this instance is fundamentally erroneous.
From his article, it is clear that VB could have intentionally or unwittingly revealed his personal bias inner feelings towards India and his intention and involvement as an active collaborator of the India-Singapore narrative for a very long time.
LIPS At Your Service.
A public servant and politician of the ruling political party cannot write anything on personal basis for a foreign news media. It is against the law, against ethics, against morale of the people, and against better judgement and decorum.
DeleteIt looks like MAS is now under the control of India.
ReplyDeleteHow many Indians are holding key appointments in the MAS and Local Banks?
Things are getting very hot.
Curious.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Vivian Balakrishnan writing an article in his personal capacity on a country-to-country Singapore-India relationship when he himself is the Singapore Foreign Minister?
They have a natural personal anxiety over the welfare of the people of India and a natural personal inclination to promote the welfare of the people of India.
ReplyDeleteThe India govt keeps track of the number of overseas India nationals and residents of Indian origin seemingly in every country on Earth.
Looks like the Indians in Singapore are getting bolder and bolder. As the critical mass approaches, they are starting to show their heads and tails as mastermind and collaborators of a foreign power to undermind Singapore at the detriment of the other races of Singaporeans.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12.51 "As the critical mass approaches, they are starting to show their heads and tails as mastermind......."
ReplyDeleteHow come 7% can become critical mass?
Population = 5.8 million.
DeleteSingapore Citizens = 3.1 million.
Therefore, PRs = 2.7 million.
Singapore Citizens: 3.1 million =
Chinese = 74.5%
Malays = 16.7%
Indians = 9.3%
Others = 4.5%
PRs 2.7 million =
Indians = 70%
Chinese = 20%
Malays = 0%
Others = 10%
Calculate and combine Citizens and PRs together by Racial Categories.
What about the 61%?
ReplyDeleteHow many Indians are holding key appointments in the MAS and Local Banks? Things are getting very hot.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Just look at all the CECAs who are filling the positions which should be for our home grown talent. The government must put a stop to this immediately.
https://www.mas.gov.sg/who-we-are/Management-Team
https://www.dbs.com/about-us/our-leadership/group-management-committee.page
https://www.uobgroup.com/uobgroup/about/management/group-management-committee.page
https://www.ocbc.com/group/about-us/our-leadership
Scary. Thanks to the traitors that sold out this country.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2.20 pm.
ReplyDeleteWhere you get the PR numbers from? Any sources?
I am 100% sure the ethnic breakdown in Singapore is for 5.7 million people.
June 2018 Statistics:
ReplyDelete1. Singapore Citizens = 3.47 million.
2. Permanent Residents = 0.52 million.
3. Plus 1.64 million dependants, students, and workers.
Source:
https://www.strategygroup.gov.sg › ...
Population in Brief 2018 - Strategy Group.
P/S:
1. The statistics in 2021 would be much higher.
2. On average New citizens increase by 30,000 each year.
3. On average PRs and dependents increase by 40,000 to 50,000 each year.
Doesn't say anything about country breakdown of PR. That 70% number seems to be pulled out of someone's backside.
ReplyDeleteSource: UN Worldometer
ReplyDeleteSingapore Population (LIVE)
5,902,047
Singapore Population (1950 - 2020)
Date Singapore Population
1950 1,022,096
1951 1,067,798
1952 1,119,930
1953 1,177,582
1954 1,239,688
1955 1,305,105
1956 1,372,511
1957 1,440,491
1958 1,507,543
1959 1,572,173
1960 1,633,130
1961 1,689,589
1962 1,741,460
1963 1,789,376
1964 1,834,523
1965 1,877,826
1966 1,919,284
1967 1,958,732
1968 1,996,866
1969 2,034,524
1970 2,072,283
1971 2,110,963
1972 2,150,504
1973 2,189,607
1974 2,226,377
1975 2,259,721
1976 2,288,862
1977 2,314,988
1978 2,341,405
1979 2,372,595
1980 2,411,688
1981 2,460,500
1982 2,517,985
1983 2,580,912
1984 2,644,497
1985 2,705,534
1986 2,762,438
1987 2,816,971
1988 2,873,281
1989 2,937,276
1990 3,012,966
1991 3,101,147
1992 3,199,642
1993 3,305,807
1994 3,415,703
1995 3,525,969
1996 3,638,187
1997 3,752,140
1998 3,860,714
1999 3,954,743
2000 4,028,871
2001 4,077,145
2002 4,104,419
2003 4,129,225
2004 4,177,213
2005 4,265,687
2006 4,402,331
2007 4,578,630
2008 4,775,804
2009 4,966,614
2010 5,131,172
2011 5,263,636
2012 5,369,476
2013 5,453,737
2014 5,525,626
2015 5,592,152
2016 5,653,634
2017 5,708,041
2018 5,757,499
2019 5,804,337
2020 5,850,342
Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)
Date Yearly Growth Rate (%)
1951 4.47
1952 4.88
1953 5.15
1954 5.27
1955 5.28
1956 5.16
1957 4.95
1958 4.65
1959 4.29
1960 3.88
1961 3.46
1962 3.07
1963 2.75
1964 2.52
1965 2.36
1966 2.21
1967 2.06
1968 1.95
1969 1.89
1970 1.86
1971 1.87
1972 1.87
1973 1.82
1974 1.68
1975 1.5
1976 1.29
1977 1.14
1978 1.14
1979 1.33
1980 1.65
1981 2.02
1982 2.34
1983 2.5
1984 2.46
1985 2.31
1986 2.1
1987 1.97
1988 2
1989 2.23
1990 2.58
1991 2.93
1992 3.18
1993 3.32
1994 3.32
1995 3.23
1996 3.18
1997 3.13
1998 2.89
1999 2.44
2000 1.87
2001 1.2
2002 0.67
2003 0.6
2004 1.16
2005 2.12
2006 3.2
2007 4
2008 4.31
2009 4
2010 3.31
2011 2.58
2012 2.01
2013 1.57
2014 1.32
2015 1.2
2016 1.1
2017 0.96
2018 0.87
2019 0.81
2020 0.79
The current population of Singapore is 5,901,133 as of Tuesday, August 10, 2021, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
Singapore 2020 population is estimated at 5,850,342 people at mid year according to UN data.
Singapore population is equivalent to 0.08% of the total world population.
Singapore ranks number 114 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
The population density in Singapore is 8358 per Km2 (21,646 people per mi2).
The total land area is 700 Km2 (270 sq. miles)
100% of the population is urban (5,850,342 people in 2020)
The median age in Singapore is 42.2 years.
Why is there a big difference in population reports between the United Nations and Singapore Government?
ReplyDeleteUN Worldometers reports that Singapore population is 5.9 million.
Singapore Government reports that Singapore population is 5.7 million.
Where are the 200,000 missing people?
Out of the total population of 5.9 million people, 46% are foreigners.
ReplyDeleteChinese from China, Hongkong and Taiwan migrated to Singapore during the from 1980s to 1990s. They usually become New Citizens. Very few remain as Permanent Residents. Chinese from Malaysia very few become New Citizens but many remain as PRs.
ReplyDeleteIndians migrated from India, like the Chinese from Malaysia, mainly remain as PRs, few become New Citizens.
Each PR brings along wife, children and parents and/or parents-in-law as dependents. That means the 0.52 million PRs must include their dependents of at least 3 more people on long-term visit pass. Therefore, the total is 2.4 million.
Afghanistan:
ReplyDeleteTaliban captured the 9 Provincial Capitals in 5 days.
Afghan government officials resigned in droves, including Ministers and senior civil servants.
Many of them have absconded and left the country. These must be the corrupt fat cats, got rich at the expense of their people by siphoning foreign aids into their own bank accounts.
Mostly are American stooges, like South Vietnamese officials during the fall of South Vietnam to the North Vietnamese.
What do you think our Ministers and top civil servants will do if there is a war between Singapore and Indonesia or Malaysia? Do you think they will stay until Singapore has fallen and their $millions get confiscated by the Enemy Occupation Forces?
Each PR brings along wife, children and parents and/or parents-in-law as dependents.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot bring parents as dependents. The rest of your post is speculative coffee shop talk.
Who says parents cannot be dependents? You alone.
DeleteYou are the one speculating.
I said you cannot bringparents as dependents. Only spouse and minor children. That's why your numbers are all speculation, not to mention the nonsense you wrote about who applies for PR and citizens.
ReplyDeleteMalaysians form the highest numbers of new Singapore citizens, beating even the Chinese and Indians. Most Taiwanese and Honkies don't usually apply to become new citizens if they or their children have to do NS. Mainlander mixed. Some do, some don't.
Queen of Heart!. Politicians can and often do write opinions in newspapers.
ReplyDeleteIn the Singapore context, so far, for the past 56 years of Singapore's independence , this is the first I have come a sitting Minister who wrote for a foreign news paper. Whether in personal capacity or not is immaterial. His words still carries weights because of the fact that he is still officially a sitting Minister of Singapore.
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected.
Preparing for Singapore to be part of India? An Indian protectorate?
ReplyDeleteWhy would a first world country want to integrate with a third world country that wanted all the protection for its own industries and people and refused to join the RCEP?
ReplyDeleteWhy would a teeny weeny country want to pump hundreds of billions into a third world country that it has no way of controlling its money when it could behave like any third world country and nationalise everything invested in that country?
Is the benefit so high and worth the political risk? Or is it that OPM is ok, not money from my own pocket? Lose never mind, can tax from the people again?