NEWS TIMELINE
2019
‹November›
• In China, covid outbreak started in Wuhan
‹December›
• In Singapore, 166 more people died in the month of Dec 2019 than in Nov 2019
2020
‹January›
• 244 more people died in the month of Jan 2020 than in Jan 2019
January 3
• Travellers arriving at Changi Airport from Wuhan to undergo temperature screening after pneumonia outbreak
January 27
• Correction order issued to HWZ for a post that claimed a 66-year-old man died in Singapore from a newly identified virus that caused him to develop severe pneumonia.
January 31
• Visitors with recent travel history to China not allowed to enter or transit in Singapore
March 21
• First 2 official covid deaths reported in Singapore
‹April›
• Circuit breaker started with progressively tighter mearures. Wearing of masks became compulsory
‹August›
• Essential travel permitted & gradual resumption of activities
2021
‹January›
• Phase 3 reopening
• Emergence of new COVID-19 variants and deteriorating global situation
January 1
• Reciprocal green lane for Indonesia suspended
January 14
• Reciprocal green lane for Japan suspended
January 24:
• All travellers (including SC & PR) require PCR test on arrival in Singapore.
• And those who have traveled from the UK and South Africa required to serve 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities and extra 7-day self-isolation at home
February 1
• Reciprocal green lanes for Malaysia, Germany and South Korea suspended
February 10:
• India second wave started in Maharashtra
‹March›
• Double-mutant virus detected in Maharashtra
March 24:
• India's health ministry acknowledged the presence of B.1617, but the Indian government said that there was no evidence that the new variant is more transmissible or lethal.
March 26:
• Although the Indian government downplayed the situation, India's TPR (test positivity rate) rose above 5% on March 26
April 11:
• NZ banned all flights from India, followed by HK for all flights from Indian & Pakistan on Apr 18, and Canada on Apr 22
April 24:
• Singapore stops entry for all ltvp, stvp, and tourists with recent travel history to India. But there were still many arrivals from India because Indians form
- 7.5% of citizen population
- 9% of PR population
-25% of EP population
-xx% of S-Pass population
-xx% of work permit population
April 27:
• TTSH nurse at Ward 9D tested positive for B.1617
(From whom did she get infected?)
May 2:
• LTVP and short-term visitors from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka barred
May 10:
• Cleaner at Changi Airport tested positive for B.1617
(This was 2 weeks after TTSH nurse was tested positive)
May 11:
• WHO classified B.1617 as a variant of concern.
May 16:
• Singapore enters Phase 2 (Heightened Alert)
June 14:
• Singapore returns to Phase 3 (Heightened Alert)
• Social gathering increased to 5
June 21:
• Dine-in permitted (max 2 pesrons)
July 12:
• Dine-in permitted (max 5 pesrons)
July 16:
• Nightlife extablishments suspended because of KTV cases
• Infected cases reported at Jurong Fishery Port
July 22:
• Singapore reenters Phase 2 (Heightened Alert)
August 10:
• Social gatherings limit increased to 5 persons for vaxxed (remained at 2 for unvaxxed)
August 19:
• 50% of WFH employees allowed to return to the workplace
September 14:
• Quarantine period for close contacts reduced from 14 days to 10 days.
September 24:
• All visits to hospital wards suspended
September 30:
• Between Sep 24 and Sep 30, MOH reported an average of 3.57 deaths daily (7-day rolling average)
To be continued ...
