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Jumat, 04 September 2020

COVID-19: Singapore to prioritise vaccination of higher-risk groups, those more likely exposed to virus - CNA

SINGAPORE: Once COVID-19 vaccines become available, Singapore approach will be to protect those at higher risk or people who may be more likely exposed to infection, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Friday (Sep 4).

He was responding to a question from Member of Parliament Murali Pillai on what the Government's strategy is for vaccinating Singaporeans and residents. MP Ang Wei Neng had also asked what the country's COVID-19 vaccine plans are.

In his written reply, Mr Gan said: "Our vaccination approach aims to protect individuals who are more vulnerable or at higher risk from the disease, as well as those who may be more likely exposed to infection, while progressively expanding the coverage of vaccination to our population."

Mr Gan noted that the vaccination strategy and schedule would depend on several factors, including the suitability of different vaccines for different groups, as well as the quantity of vaccines available.

"We will continue to adapt our vaccination strategy as more information from the various vaccine candidates becomes available," he added.

READ: Singapore’s race for a vaccine: Can it be won before second wave of COVID-19 hits?

READ: When can you get a COVID-19 vaccine? Five things you should know

The Government is “closely monitoring” the global progress in developing COVID-19 vaccines, said Mr Gan, adding the authorities are taking “active steps” to ensure that Singapore has “timely access” to an effective and safe vaccine.

Singapore is in discussions with multiple pharmaceutical companies developing vaccines. It is also “actively engaged” in international discussions to “accelerate development and promote fair and equitable access” to COVID-19 vaccines, Mr Gan added.

This includes the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, a multilateral collaboration between the World Health Organization, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and dozens of countries.

It will allow countries to “pool risk and resources to gain access to a portfolio of vaccines from different vaccine developers”, said Mr Gan.

“Ensuring equitable access to vaccines will help to better contain and eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic, not just in Singapore but also globally.”

READ: Widespread COVID-19 vaccinations not expected until mid-2021, says WHO

Mr Gan added that the Government is also supporting local efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. The Duke-NUS Medical School is collaborating with United States biotechnology company Arcturus Therapeutics to develop an mRNA vaccine, he noted.

Phase 1 human clinical trials for the vaccine candidate started in early August.

Apart from such trials, Singapore is building up its vaccine manufacturing capacity to provide “fill-and-finish” contract manufacturing services to vaccine developers and ramp up production of vaccines once they are available, said Mr Gan.

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2020-09-04 12:50:49Z
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Widespread COVID-19 vaccinations not expected until mid-2021: WHO - CNA

GENEVA: A World Health Organization spokeswoman said on Friday (Sep 4) it does not expect widespread vaccinations against COVID-19 until the middle of next year, stressing the importance of rigorous checks on their effectiveness and safety.

None of the candidate vaccines in advanced clinical trials so far has demonstrated a "clear signal" of efficacy at the level of at least 50 per cent sought by the WHO, spokeswoman Margaret Harris said.

Russia granted regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine in August after less than two months of human testing, prompting some Western experts to question its safety and efficacy.

US public health officials and Pfizer Inc said on Thursday a vaccine could be ready for distribution as soon as late October. That would be just ahead of the US election on Nov 3 in which the pandemic is likely to be a major factor among voters deciding whether President Donald Trump wins a second term.

"We are not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year," spokeswoman Margaret Harris told journalists at a briefing in Geneva.

"This phase 3 must take longer because we need to see how truly protective the vaccine is and we also need to see how safe it is," she added. This referred to the phase in vaccine research where large clinical trials among people are conducted. Harris did not refer to any specific vaccine candidate.

READ: US CDC tells states to prep for COVID-19 vaccine distribution as soon as late October

READ: EU hopeful first vaccine doses will come by end of year

All data from trials must be shared and compared, Harris said. "A lot of people have been vaccinated and what we don't know is whether the vaccine works ... at this stage we do not have the clear signal of whether or not it has the level of worthwhile efficacy and safety," she added.

The WHO and GAVI vaccine alliance are leading a global vaccine allocation plan known as COVAX that aims to help buy and distribute shots fairly. The focus is on first vaccinating the most high-risk people in every country such as healthcare workers.

COVAX aims to procure and deliver 2 billion doses of approved vaccines by the end of 2021, but some countries that have secured their own supplies through bilateral deals, including the United States, have said they will not join.

"Essentially, the door is open. We are open. What the COVAX is about is making sure everybody on the planet will get access to the vaccines," Harris said.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

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2020-09-04 10:23:54Z
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Malaysia water cuts: At least 4 days before supply can be restored to 1.2 million consumers, says Air Selangor - CNA

KUALA LUMPUR: About 1.2 million consumers in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur affected by the ongoing water disruption will need to wait for a minimum of four days before regular supply resumes, said Air Selangor's chief executive officer Suhaimi Kamaralzaman.

In a press conference on Friday (Sep 4), Mr Suhaimi said the water concessionaire would only be able to resume the treating and pumping of the water at Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2, 3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants, when the Threshold Odour Number (TON) of the water is measured at 0 TON for three consecutive times.

“As of 2.30pm, the pollution level detected is at 1 TON and that is an unsafe level. Therefore, the plants are still not in operation.

“Everyone does not get the magnitude of the problem. This is not a small fry problem, it is a big problem. We do not want to take 1 TON polluted water and process it. We do not want to give consumers smelly water,” he said.

He added that the intervals between tests would be 30 minutes.

"We are hoping for it to go down to zero very soon. We are hopeful because it went down from 3 TON yesterday to 1 TON now. However, I do not dare to make a prediction as it would be dependent on the flow of the river and its dilution levels," he said.

“Based on our current simulation, it would take a minimum of four days after we begin re-operating the plants for consumers to begin getting the water supply. But we cannot schedule accurately until we actually begin the process as it would be subject to the water levels in the reservoirs and all of that,” Mr Suhaimi explained.

According to United Kingdom-based Water Research Center, the TON of pollutant in water can be determined by adding a volume of unpolluted water into a volume of polluted water, and then divide the total volume by the volume of polluted water.

The more water needed to make the odour undetectable, the higher the TON reading.

READ: Selangor residents reel from water disruption caused by foul smell

Over 1,292 areas in seven districts have been affected by water disruption since the early hours of Thursday, after pollution was detected at the raw water source of the four water treatment plants.

Air Selangor said in a statement on Thursday that the pollution level was detected at 3 TON.

Earlier on Friday, Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari said that one of the factories behind the cause of contamination in Sungai Selangor has been shut down by authorities for two weeks.

“This unscheduled water disruption is caused by a factory that is believed to have released harmful solvent into Sungai Gong. With regard to the contamination that resulted in the water treatment plants being shut down, the factory in question has been confiscated and closed.

“Efforts to rid the water of the source of contamination has been going non-stop since last night to ensure the water is clean and safe for consumption,” he said.

The chief minister added that efforts are being made to clean the water. This included using activated carbon to reduce the bad odour, pumping 400 gallons of water from the Bestari Jaya water catchment and releasing water from the Sungai Tinggi dam to flush and dilute the contaminated water.

He also said that 78 tankers, 22 jumbo tankers, 54 static tanks, 18 local service centres, eight public taps, as well as 23,000 bottles of five-litre drinking water have been distributed to help those affected.

READ: Explainer - What are the implications of dry dams and polluted rivers in Johor?

The Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources said in a statement that evidence has been collected from the suspected premise to be analysed.

“The authorities are waiting for the results of the analysis for further action and the premise has been suspended for two weeks," it said.

“Site remediation works have begun immediately to ensure remnants of the pollutants are not left at the river banks or the main river flow."

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2020-09-04 09:43:40Z
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Kamis, 03 September 2020

UNICEF says drugmakers can produce unprecedented vaccine quantities for COVID-19 - CNA

NEW YORK: Unprecedented quantities of vaccines could be produced by 28 manufacturers in 10 countries over the next two years to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN children's agency UNICEF said on Thursday (Sep 4), as it announced it would help lead efforts to procure and distribute them.

UNICEF's role is part of a COVID-19 vaccine allocation plan - known as COVAX and co-led by the World Health Organization - that aims to buy and provide equitable access to the shots. So far, 76 wealthy nations committed to joining the COVAX effort.

READ: 5 things you need to know about a COVID-19 vaccine

READ: Poor countries desperate for COVID-19 vaccines may be outbid by richer neighbours

UNICEF said the 28 vaccine manufacturers had shared their annual productions plans for COVID-19 vaccines through 2023.

A UNICEF market assessment "revealed that manufacturers are willing to collectively produce unprecedented quantities of vaccines over the coming 1-2 years".

But drugmakers have signaled the projections are "highly dependent on, among other things, whether clinical trials are successful, advance purchase agreements are put in place, funding is confirmed, and regulatory and registration pathways are streamlined".

READ: US CDC tells states to prep for COVID-19 vaccine distribution as soon as late October

Safe and effective vaccines are seen as essential to ending a pandemic that has so far claimed more than 864,000 lives globally.

UNICEF's new role with COVAX stems from its status as the largest single vaccine buyer in the world. The UN agency said it procures more than 2 billion doses of vaccines annually for routine immunization and outbreak response on behalf of nearly 100 countries.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

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2020-09-04 00:58:35Z
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Shops in Suntec City and NEX among places visited by COVID-19 cases during infectious period - CNA

SINGAPORE: A restaurant in Suntec City and a beauty salon in NEX were added to the list of public places visited by COVID-19 community cases during their infectious period, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (Sep 3) .

White Restaurant in Suntec City was visited on Aug 29 from 7pm to 8 pm and Perky Lash in NEX was visited on Aug 26 from 1.05pm to 2.30pm.

The Kopitiam food court at VivoCity was also added to the list, after other locations within the mall were included on Wednesday.

The new locations are as follows:

UPDATED MAP: All the places that COVID-19 community cases visited while they were infectious

MOH said that people who were identified as close contacts of confirmed cases would have been notified by the ministry.

As a precautionary measure, people who were at those locations during the specified timings should monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit, the ministry added.

"They should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history."

MOH said there is no need for people to avoid places where COVID-19 cases have been, and that the National Environment Agency will engage the management of the affected premises to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfection.

Singapore reported 48 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, including two in the community and five imported infections.

The two community cases are a 56-year-old permanent resident and a 45-year-old male work permit holder who is an Indian national.

Both cases, who were asymptomatic and unlinked to previous cases, were picked up as a result of rostered routine testing of workers in the construction, marine and process sectors who are living outside the dormitories.

The 56-year-old's serology test result came back positive, indicating a "likely past infection", said MOH.

The five imported cases had travelled from Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, India and the Philippines.

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2020-09-03 15:42:22Z
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Malaysia bars entry for citizens from countries with more than 150000 COVID-19 cases - CNA

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian government will impose an entry ban on citizens from countries with more than 150,000 COVID-19 cases starting from Sep 7, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday (Sep 3).

Countries on the list include the United States, Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Bangladesh, he said.

“We will add more countries deemed high-risk, which have more than 150,000 positive cases, into the list. Their citizens will be barred (from entering Malaysia)," the minister told reporters.

“However, for emergency cases or involving bilateral relations, such as if a person needs to come for a meeting between countries, we will allow entry. But it requires permission from the immigration department."

READ: Commentary: Malaysia goes slow on COVID-19 reopening for good reason

He added that the health ministry would announce more details on countries which have recorded more than 150,000 COVID-19 cases at a later date.

On Tuesday, Malaysia announced that long-term pass holders who are citizens of India, Indonesia and the Philippines will be barred from entering the country effective Sep 7.

The decision was made after considering the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases within the three countries, said Mr Ismail Sabri.

“The barring would be applicable to permanent residents, holders of Malaysia My Second Home passes, expatriates of all categories, those with resident passes, spouse visas and students who are citizens of the respective countries," he said.

“This decision was made as per the advice of the ministry of health, which felt that the barring would be an effective method in curbing the community spread of the COVID-19 virus resulting from import cases."

READ: Malaysia’s recovery movement control order extended to Dec 31, tourists still not allowed in: PM Muhyiddin

However, the government will allow Malaysians from high-risk countries to return, he added. They will be subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine as stipulated in the country's standard operating procedures.

The "Embracing New Norms" campaign launched earlier this year to ensure people continue to comply with procedures set out to curb the spread of COVID-19 will continue until Dec 31, added Mr Ismail Sabri.

Various campaigns will be carried out in shopping malls and on social media and print media to make sure people comply with the standard operating procedures.

"As for now, the SOP (standard operating procedure) compliance is high as Act 342 (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988) is in force and the police can carry out the enforcement," he said.

“We want the people to keep practising self-control such as wearing a face mask, frequently washing their hands and maintaining physical distance."

Malaysia reported 14 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 9,374.

Four were imported cases while the remaining 10 were local transmissions, according to health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

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2020-09-03 10:31:42Z
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Malaysia bars entry for citizens from countries with more than 150000 COVID-19 cases - CNA

Countries on the list include the United States, Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Bangladesh, he said.

“We will add more countries deemed high-risk, which have more than 150,000 positive cases, into the list. Their citizens will be barred (from entering Malaysia)," the minister told reporters.

READ: Commentary: Malaysia goes slow on COVID-19 reopening for good reason

He added that the health ministry would announce more details on countries which have recorded more than 150,000 COVID-19 cases at a later date.

On Tuesday, Malaysia announced that long-term pass holders who are citizens of India, Indonesia and the Philippines will be barred from entering the country effective Sep 7.

The decision was made after considering the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases within the three countries, said Mr Ismail Sabri.

READ: Malaysia’s recovery movement control order extended to Dec 31, tourists still not allowed in: PM Muhyiddin

Various campaigns will be carried out in shopping malls and on social media and print media to make sure people comply with the standard operating procedures.

“We want the people to keep practising self-control such as wearing a face mask, frequently washing their hands and maintaining physical distance."

Malaysia reported 14 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 9,374.

Four were imported cases while the remaining 10 were local transmissions, according to health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

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