Usually, we’ll welcome our fellow Singaporeans back with open arms. Fellow Singaporeans mah, you reason. Brotherhood, you know. We’re all about Brotherhood.
Yet even with our trademark unity in mind, I just can’t help but feel a little flustered at the news of our fellow brethen returning to Singapore, after a particularly torrid spell in the now locked-down Wuhan.
Now, make no mistake. I’m not suggesting that we turn our backs on the poor fellas, who must’ve suffered immense psychological trauma and fear over in Wuhan.
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Rather, I’m just being concerned for the general welfare of the population: is it truly the optimal solution to adopt, especially now that the world lives in fear of the enigmatic pathogen?
Boss: AIYA. SO SCARED FOR WHAT? THE MORE YOU FEAR IT THE MORE LIKELY YOU’LL KENA.
Aren’t you wearing a mask yourself though-
Boss: AND PLUS, THE FLIGHT THEY’RE ON IS A SPECIAL ONE, AND THEY’LL BE QUARANTINED RIGHT AFTER LANDING.
Oh, that’s a relief but why’re you wearing a protective suit in the office-
Boss: SO STOP WORRYING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL OKAY. STOP BEING SO KIASI AND GET TO WORK, OR I’LL DOCK YOUR PAY.
Well folks you heard the boss. It’s time to get down to work.
92 S’poreans Flown from Wuhan Back to S’pore in Special Flight; All to be Quarantined Immediately
According to The Straits Times, ninety-two Singaporeans have touched down in Singapore on Thursday morning (30 Jan) after vacating Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of a now viral coronavirus outbreak.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since released a statement, expressing that the returning Singaporeans will go through medical screening tests upon arrival at Changi Airport.
“MFA consular officers accompanied the Scoot flight to facilitate the ground operations at Wuhan,” the statement said.
“In a telephone call with PRC State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday, Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan expressed the Singapore Government’s appreciation to the PRC government, Hubei provincial government, Wuhan city government, and the PRC Embassy in Singapore for facilitating the safe return of these Singaporeans.”
In addition, those with fever or respiratory symptoms will be fetched to designated hospitals for further examination, while the rest will be quarantined for 14 days.
“Those with fever or respiratory symptoms will be taken to designated hospitals for further examination, while the remaining passengers, including the MFA Consular Officers who facilitated the return of these Singaporeans from Wuhan, will be quarantined for 14 days.”
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The evacuation of the Singaporeans comes after a “specially arranged” Scoot Flight departed Changi Airport on Wednesday night (29 Jan). The flight had carried Wuhan residents who were stranded in Singapore.
According to Scoot, the plane landed in Singapore at around 11:40 a.m. The flight, TR121, had vacated Wuhan for Singapore at about 3:00 a.m. on Thursday
Measures were taken to ensure the safety of both passengers and crew members on the four-hour-40-minute flight.
Temperature screening was conducted at check-in and prior to boarding, and any passengers with fever symptoms were not allowed to board.
“Surgical masks were provided to all passengers, and all operating crew were required to wear N95 masks and surgical gloves on board the flights,” said Scoot.
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The aircraft was also disinfected before boarding and after arrival in Singapore.
According to Mothership, some Singaporeans in Wuhan were unable to return, as they already exhibited symptoms.
The Singapore embassy, however, will be in touch with all of them.
Evacuation Flights
According to the same report, several other countries have also made the necessary arrangements for their citizens to leave Wuhan, as concerns about the spread of the virus escalate.
Japan, for instance, evacuated more than 200 of its citizens from the city via two flights on Wednesday. 3 of those evacuated tested positive for the virus, while 14 people displayed symptoms of fever or coughing.
The World Health Organisation’s Emergency Committee is due to reconvene in Geneva later today, as they seek to determine whether the rapid spread of the virus constitutes as a global emergency at present time.
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