Angelababy and her husband received backlash for their donation to the Wuhan virus outbreak. Picture: Instagram
Since the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, celebrities everywhere have been lending a hand by donating money and goods to help those in need in the capital of Central China’s Hubei province.
Actress-model Angelababy and her husband Huang Xiaoming reportedly donated money to buy masks for medical staff in Wuhan.
News Straits Times reported that netizens were not happy with the initial donation from the Chinese power couple.
The Siyuan Poverty Alleviation Fund disclosed their act of kindness on Weibo last week and netizens criticised the amount of the donation by Huang, 42 and Angelababy, 30 (whose real name is Angela Yeung Wing).
Huang and Angelababy donated 200,000 yuan which was not enough according to netizens.
A commentator wrote that the couple could spend 200 million yuan (39,352,283 SGD) for their wedding but when China faces a crisis, they can only donate 200,000 yuan (39,352 SGD).
After being criticised, the couple donated another 800,000 yuan, totalling the amount to one million yuan.
Angelababy and her husband got married in 2015 and they share a son together.
Angelababy’s marriage was rumoured to be on the rocks.
The speculation came after news of Huang was embroiled in a stock price manipulation controversy last year.
After six years of courtship, the couple tied the knot in 2015 and had a baby in 2017.
Angelababy and Huang Xiaoming top up Wuhan donation. Picture: Instagram
They first met through a mutual friend in 2009 at a karaoke bar.
Their wedding was attended by 600 people including prominent guests such as Ni Ni, Li BingBing, Wang Jianlin and Jack Ma.
Huang proposed to Angelababy in the United States with a Chaumet Josephine Aigrette Imperiale ring and it is worth over $8 million dollars.
He also surprised Angelababy on her 25th birthday with flowers and a HK$2.3 million Lamborghini.
Before dating Huang, Angelababy was in a four-year relationship with celebrity William Chan.
She was also linked to K-pop star G-Dragon.
Huang announced their wedding by posting their marriage certificate on Weibo. /TISG
Photo: YouTube screengrab, US Health Secretary Alex Azar
by Issam AHMED
The US said Friday it was declaring a public health emergency and temporarily banning the entry of foreign nationals who had travelled to China over the past two weeks to contain the spread of a deadly new virus.
Sweeping new restrictions will also be imposed on American citizens, with those returning from the province at the disease’s epicentre placed in facilities for mandatory 14-day quarantines, said Health Secretary Alex Azar.
US citizens coming from other parts of China will undergo health screening at ports of entry and then be placed under monitored self-quarantine at home.
“I have today declared that the coronavirus presents a public health emergency in the United States,” said Azar during a briefing at the White House, adding the directives would take effect on February 2 from 5:00 pm eastern time (2200 GMT).
“Foreign nationals, other than immediate family of US citizens and permanent residents, who have travelled in China within the last 14 days will be denied entry into the United States for this time,” he added.
The restrictions apply to people who have travelled to the designated areas in the two weeks prior to their attempted entry.
There have been seven confirmed US cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, which originated in a live seafood market in Wuhan, in Hubei province, in December.
The World Health Organization has already declared the epidemic a global emergency, and the Chinese death toll has risen to 259 while total infections reached nearly 12,000, surpassing the SARS epidemic of two decades ago.
Three US airlines, American, Delta and United said they would soon suspend all flights to China.
– First federal quarantine in 50 years –
Earlier, officials imposed mandatory 14-day quarantine orders on 195 Americans who were air evacuated from Wuhan, the first time a federal directive of this kind was issued for more than 50 years. The last case involved a person who was evaluated for smallpox in the 1960s.
A plane carrying the repatriated citizens, who include diplomats and their families, touched down at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California, on Wednesday and officials initially said the passengers would be asked to voluntarily isolate themselves for up to 72 hours.
Early signs were good, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared that none of the individuals showed symptoms of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
One of the individuals tried to leave the base and was placed under quarantine by the state of California, said CDC official Marty Citron, before the federal action.
– Questions over test accuracy –
The repatriated group submitted samples for testing at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta — but officials now say they are not certain about the accuracy of their diagnostic tools.
“We are seeing in the cases that are in the hospital, we’ve seen people who had detectable virus, and they didn’t have the technical virus, and then three days later they had detectable virus,” said Robert Redfield, the CDC’s director.
Given that the extent of asymptomatic transmission was not yet clear, a negative test was not being used as a release criteria.
“It isn’t like it’s a horrible test, but it is not a test that’s absolute,” added CDC immunologist Anthony Fauci.
Despite the seemingly drastic actions, the US public “should not let fear or panic guide your actions,” said senior CDC official Nancy Messonnier, but instead exercise normal precautions for stopping the spread of respiratory viruses.
These include washing your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, disinfecting surfaces, staying home when sick and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throwing it in the trash.
“We do not currently recommend the use of facemasks for the general American public,” said Messonnier. “This virus is not spreading in your communities.”
“Please do not assume that just because someone is of Asian descent that they have this new coronavirus,” she added, noting there are four million Chinese Americans in the United States.
With the total count of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Singapore going up to 16 this week, people have gone to extreme measures such as hoarding masks.
According to Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Thursday (Jan 30) who addressed this problem, he said that saying that doing such things out of fear and panic will do nothing but “destroy the entire system.”
With fear hanging in the air, people have gone to drastic measures in order to secure protective face masks amid the growing concern over the Wuhan outbreak. Recently, long queues outside stores selling masks have become quite a common sight in Singapore–not to mention unreasonably high prices re-sellers have listed them for online. Online prices have gone as high up as S$288 for a box of 20 N95 masks.
In order to help meet the need of the growing demand, in the past nine days, the Government took 5 million masks from its stock and gave them to retailers. However, only after a few hours of the release, stocks were depleted. The Government bases its management of Singapore’s national mask stockpile by taking into consideration the current number of masks in its stockpile, the rate at which Singaporeans are consuming this stockpile, and the rate and quantity of its resupply. However, with some people resorting to rather selfish methods of ensuring their safety, Mr Chan says that the equation has been upset.
“We understand that when people are fearful, there’s a tendency to panic buy or hoard. But this is not very useful to the entire system,” he reminded.
On Thursday (Jan 30), Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong, who is co-chair of the multi-ministry task force for combating the Wuhan outbreak, said that Singapore would best be prepared for the implications of the banning of mask exportation in countries worldwide. “The current rate of consumption of masks in Singapore is not sustainable… especially with the global shortage and the likely export bans,” he said.
Though many are following the advisory to stay calm and to remain vigilant, some have let fear get the best of them, leading them to hoard supplies. Mr Chan referred to such actions as “selfish” and “inappropriate.”
“Prepare for the long haul but never, never succumb to short-term fears and panic buying and hoarding behaviours, because this will destroy the entire system we have,” he said. He also urged people to be aware of the fact that Singapore is not the only country in need of such supplies, mentioning other crises around the world such as the Australia bushfires. “Collective defence is our strongest defence. We must all act in unison and not jeopardise the entire system by doing things that we think might benefit and protect ourselves, to the detriment of all else and everyone else in society,” he said.
On the other hand, with regard to resellers who seek to take advantage of the high demand for masks given the frightening situation, the Government is set to take action against such over-chargers.
Mr. Wong assures that if people will cooperate and act responsibly, then Singapore will not have to worry about an insufficient mask supply as there will be enough to go around. /TISG
Prince Harry has been suffering since stepping down as a royal. Picture: Instagram
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has been going through rough times since stepping down from royal duties on Jan 8.
This was disclosed by a close friend of his, Nacho Figueras, in an ABC News documentary about the royals that was aired on Jan 29.
The moment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they were stepping down as senior royals, the news shook the world. Their announcement left the royal family rather unhappy as they did not inform anyone beforehand.
It was reported that his brother, Prince William, felt blindsided although he later reached out to the couple, that his father Prince Charles was incandescent with rage, and that his grandmother the Queen called it a complicated issue. The whole incident was a mess but nobody asked what Prince Harry and Markle were going through.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will “balance” their time between Canada and Britain. Picture: Instagram
Figueras was one of those who took notice of it. Insiders have shared that Markle was doing well in Canada. However, the whole incident has been quite rough on Prince Harry.
In the ABC News documentary, Royal Divide: Harry, Meghan and the Crown, Figueras revealed how Prince Harry had been faring. He had spoken to the prince a few days earlier and found that he had suffered a lot from everything that had happened to him. He had also suffered from people judging him.
Furthermore, Figueras shared, the prince was getting scrutinised for trying to do what was best for his family. He said Prince Harry was being a father, and a guy who was trying to protect his cub and lioness no matter what.
The documentary, which interviewed royal experts and people who had written about the royal family, discussed the prince’s reasons for stepping down. Also under focus was the different treatment accorded by British tabloids to Markle and to Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William. /TISG
Taylor Swift was spotted with a diamond ring. Picture: Instagram
Taylor Swift shared about her personal life in her new documentary Miss Americana. She also revealed a pear-shaped diamond on her ring finger. Could it be that the ‘Lover’ hitmaker is engaged?
While it may seem unexpected, there were some hints that something huge like an engagement could have happened, or is set to happen.
Rumours about her being engaged to boyfriend Joe Alwyn started last August when Swift launched her seventh album titled ‘Lover’.
The lyrics to hit single ‘Lover’ could be hints at her engagement.
Taylor Swift may be engaged. Picture: Instagram
Swift sings “I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover” and “My heart’s been borrowed and yours has been blue.”
With fans speculating whether or not there was any truth to the matter, they added that only a diamond would count as proof.
Swift was discussing her disapproval of Tennessee-born Republican Senator-elect Marsha Blackburn in the documentary.
She was sitting with her parents and two team members who are male. That was the moment where the diamond was spotted.
Swift said she wants to be on the right side of history while showing off her ring.
Although she has not said about it yet, it is possible that Swift may be engaged.
In other news, Swift turned 30 on Dec 13 last year saying she is feeling a bit more secure about approaching her thirties.
Swift spoke about this in a video interview with British Vogue’s Editor in Chief Edward Enninful.
The singer also said that her age helped her analyse toxic messages about her body and improve her relationship with body positivity.
Swift said she is excited that she can now really recognise and diagnose toxic messages being sent to her by society and by culture about her body.
She said that she is a woman, not a coat hanger and that she needs to feel healthy in life. She needs to take pleasure in food and not to use her body as a tool to control her life when she feels out of control.
Taylor who started her singing career in her teens said believes the next decade will bring her more freedom and control with her music. /TISG
Photo: National Development Minister Lawrence Wong speaking on the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Photo: YouTube screen grab
SINGAPORE — On Friday (Jan 31), Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong announced that all visitors to Singapore who have also travelled to China within the last 14 days will not be allowed into or even transit through Singapore. This and other new travel restrictions set by the government will take place from Saturday (Feb 1), 11:59pm.
Mr Wong, who is spearheading the multi-ministry task force handling the country’s response to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, noted that the government is widening the current restrictions on travel, in order to minimise the risk of spread and infection.
The Wuhan coronavirus epidemic, which has already claimed the lives of 213 persons and infected more than 9,800 worldwide (as of 10:30pm on Jan 31), is showing no signs of slowing down and has already been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
New travel restrictions
1) New visitors with recent travel history to mainland China or with PRC passports
Visitors into Singapore who have travelled to China within the last 14 days and those holding Chinese passports—except Singapore permanent residents (PRs) and long-term pass holders—will be barred from entering and transiting through Singapore.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced that effective immediately, they are suspending all issuances of any types of new visas to persons with Chinese passports. Also suspended are any previously-issued visas (whether short-term or multiple-entry) to Chinese passport holders.
Additionally, Singapore is no longer a “visa-free transit facility” for PRC passport holders, during the suspension period.
2) Returning residents and long-term pass holders with recent travel history to mainland China or with PRC passports
Singaporeans and long-term pass holders who are returning to the country but have travelled to mainland China in the last 14 days are allowed entry into Singapore but will be issued a travel advisory and placed on a mandatory 14-day leave of absence from work or school.
The 14-day period should be sufficient time for symptoms of the virus to show up or for the individuals to be pronounced clear and healthy.
During the leave of absence, people should “stay at home and avoid social contact,” said MOM in a statement released on Friday night (Jan 31). Crowded places and social or public gatherings should be avoided at all costs, and persons should monitor their health closely and call for medical attention the moment any fever or symptoms of acute respiratory illness—like coughing or shortness of breath—are displayed.
MOM noted that existing work pass holders with passports issued from Hubei or with recent travel history to the province will continue to be quarantined upon their return to Singapore.
New employment restrictions
In light of the virus risks, and in coordination with the Ministry of Health (MOH), MOM also announced that all new work pass applications for foreign workers from mainland China will automatically be rejected, for the time being.
This work restriction does not apply to existing work pass holders who are renewing their passes.
MOM noted that as the situation with the Wuhan coronavirus continues to change, additional requirements may be imposed on work pass holders.
New restrictions are not a “nationality issue”
Replying to a media query, Mr Wong emphasised that the new restrictions are not an issue of nationality.
“It is not a nationality issue. The motivation is the origins of the virus and that beyond Hubei, the virus is now spreading to other parts of China – as we have said, there is assessment that this is happening,” said Mr Wong.
When asked about the entry ban for all Chinese passport holders (who are not also Singapore residents) regardless of their travel history, Mr Wong noted that it is “because it is difficult to know [their] previous travel history”.
He added that persons can put in individual appeals if they want to challenge the restriction.
“I can imagine somebody may say ‘I’m a passport holder, but I have not be in China all this while’. I think we can take that separate from the policy, and at the operational level, ICA will have to deal with these instances,” he said.
Virus transmission on the rise
At the beginning of the week, travel restrictions were only applied to new visitors whose recent travels had taken them to China’s Hubei province.
That all changed, however, as the number of infections in China has risen to more than 9,000 cases. China has also said widespread community transmission in other parts of the country is now a very real and probable risk.
“As a result, we are likely to see a sharper rise in the local transmission of the virus in Chinese cities beyond the Hubei province in the coming days,” said MOH in a press release on Friday (Jan 31).
At the moment, MOH’s director of medical services Kenneth Mak said there is still no evidence of community spread in Singapore.
Airlines to be informed of new restrictions
Commissioner of ICA Marvin Sim announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will be passing on the information on the new travel restrictions to all airlines, for effective implementation.
In addition, MOH announced that any cabin crew members who fly China on the job are not subject to the restrictions but will have to take precautionary measures and be monitored by the ministry. Once the MOH determined that they are virus-free, only then will they be able to enter or transit into the country. /TISG
Singapore – Senior Minister of State for Transport Dr Janil Puthucheary reiterated the importance of personal hygiene and responsibility among Singaporeans amidst the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
On January 30, Thursday, Dr Puthucheary explained that the government initiative of distributing a pack containing four surgical face masks to every household is for emergency purposes only.
“What we’re going to do is we’re going to make sure that every home, every household in Singapore gets a pack with four surgical masks in it,” said the Minister. “We’re hoping that the residents won’t open it and use it right away.”
He then explained that the masks are to be used by those who feel unwell and need to visit a doctor. “When you go to see the doctor, the polyclinic, the hospital, you’ll be given another mask, as many masks as you need,” he added.
“The message we want to send is, ‘Use the mask if you’re unwell. If you’re well, don’t use the mask and don’t worry about whether you need to go and get a mask. We’re putting that mask in your hand, so you don’t need to go and join these long queues just to stock up on masks just in case,'” advised Dr Puthucheary.
When asked if there were risks involved should the government not receive the needed cooperation from Singaporeans during the campaign, the Minister described the situation from two perspectives.
“Washing our hands, practising personal responsibility and hygiene and getting on with all the other things we have to do is important,” said the Minister for his first message.
“Second, we are taking steps to protect Singapore and Singaporeans.” Restricting travel to Hubei and Wuhan and removing visa arrangements from incoming individuals are some ways the government is protecting the country from the outside.
He added that all of Singapore’s health care facilities are on high alert and standby for any signs of the epidemic.
“What we hope to do is reduce the anxiety that drives people to hoard the masks,” said the Minister.
“Right now, the masks that have been provided to the retailers and various other distribution channels are not being distributed out equally to all Singaporeans.” Dr Puthucheary added that the people who are getting the face masks are those willing to queue again and again and keep the masks for themselves.
The campaign to hand out the four face masks to each household aims to create equitability of access among residents.
Distribution of face masks will begin on February 1, Saturday. -/TISG
Singapore — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who visited the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on Friday (Jan 31), said afterwards that he was very happy with what he saw and glad for the opportunity to personally thank the staff for their work during the current Wuhan virus outbreak.
Mr Lee told the media that the Government had been preparing for such an outbreak, ever since Sars affected thousands of people worldwide. “Because we knew that one day something like that would happen again.”
For him, the Wuhan virus outbreak was “a shock, but not a surprise”.
When the multi-ministry task force to address the Wuhan virus outbreak was brought together, the Prime Minister was in Davos for the World Economic Form.
On his return, he said, he wanted to have a look at the preparations and facilities for the outbreak but, most of all, he wanted to see the people, “the teams who are working day and night” to look after the patients, or even the suspected patients of the virus, tracking the people who have come into Singapore, “making sure we have a coordinated response to this new coronavirus … which the WHO has recognised has become an international emergency”.
He lauded the efforts of the health workers in tracking down those who had been exposed to the illness.
Doctors had told him that the patients were generally doing well and he said that this was good news. He added, however, that he had called for continued vigilance since the outbreak was far from over.
In fact, he said, the sickness may still be accelerating in its country of origin, China, and that it was not known what may happen in the rest of the world.
“You don’t know how the countries will be able to react, detect, contain…, and it can become a major problem for the world for a long time to come.”
Mr Lee said the public seemed to be well informed regarding the virus, with over a million people signing up on the Government’s WhatsApp chat group.
“So we are doing everything that we can. I think there is every reason to be watchful, but there is also every reason to be confident, and for each of us to do our part, to be sensible.”
Mr Lee mentioned the general tips on hand hygiene and urged those who were unwell to avoid crowds and stay at home. He added that those who are not sick do not need a mask, since there is no community spread of the virus. “If you are well, go about your life as normal,” he said.
“I am very happy with what I saw this morning … More than a thousand are working at NCID, the ICA staff, the other hospitals, and all over the ministries, the SAF and the PA who will be distributing the masks this weekend.”
“I think that if we work together,” the Prime Minster said, “we can overcome this challenge. I have every confidence of that.” -/TISG
The latest updates on the Wuhan coronavirus. Infographic: The Independent SG (*The total death count now stands at 213)
As of 5am, Feb 1, 2020:
CHINA: There are 9,798 confirmed cases of infection in China. The death count of the virus has risen to 213 people—42 more than yesterday—and no deaths have yet been reported outside of mainland China. Macao has reported no new cases, maintaining its count at seven cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, while Hong Kong’s reported two more cases, bringing its case number up to 12. On Friday (Jan 31), China chartered two flights to bring stranded travellers from the Hubei province back home. The flights will be headed for Bangkok, Thailand, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported another three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus in Singapore on Friday (Jan 31), bringing the total number of infected persons in the country to 16. Case 14 is a 31-year-old Chinese man with a Singapore work pass who arrived in Singapore from Wuhan on Jan 26. He is currently in the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). Before admission, the man stayed at his place in Jurong East Street 13. Case 15 is a 47-year-old Singaporean woman, one of the 92 citizens evacuated from Wuhan (along with her family) on Thursday (Jan 30). She is also warded in an isolation room at NCID. Case 16 is a 38-year-old Chinese man who arrived in Singapore on Jan 22 on a flight from Wuhan. He is in an isolation room at the Singapore General Hospital. MOH said that all three new cases are in stable condition. On Friday (Jan 31), Singapore declared travel restrictions for and suspended visas of all Chinese visitors.
ASEAN: On Friday (Jan 31), Thailand confirmed five additional cases of coronavirus, bringing the country total to 19. Singapore reported three new cases to reach a new total of 16. Malaysia has eight cases, Vietnam has five cases, and the Philippines and Cambodia both have 1 confirmed case each.
ASIA: India, currently with one confirmed case of the virus, announced that it would be evacuating 400 of its citizens on a “special” flight with Air India on Friday (Jan 31) from Wuhan. In South Korea, the 200 citizens who were flown home from Wuhan were met with a mix of welcome signs and protests that they would spread the coronavirus in the country. Japan’s case count has increased to 17, Taiwan has 10 cases, the United Arab Emirates has four cases, Nepal has one case and Sri Lanka has one case. Israel’s Ministry of Health is requiring all passengers returning to the country from mainland China to self-quarantine for 14 days to minimise the chances of transmission.
EUROPE: The United Kingdom reported its first two cases of the Wuhan coronavirus on Friday (Jan 31). The patients, who are members of the same family, were brought by the National Health Service to the High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) treatment centre in Newcastle, northeast England. Russia has announced its first two Wuhan coronavirus cases—Chinese citizens. The country will begin evacuating around 600 citizens from Wuhan and Hubei. On Friday (Jan 31), Sweden’s Public Health Authority confirmed its first case of the coronavirus, a woman in Jönköping county who had visited the Wuhan area of China. A day after confirming its first two confirmed cases of the virus, Italy has declared a state of emergency throughout the nation and has also suspended flights to and from China.
NORTH AMERICA: The United States has reported seven cases of the coronavirus so far. The country’s top infectious disease doctor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, says a study published Thursday night (Jan 30) shows people can spread the Wuhan coronavirus even before symptoms begin to show. Delta Airlines in the US will temporarily suspend all flights from the US to China from February 6 through April 30, due to concerns relating to the virus. On Friday (Jan 31), Canada evacuated a group of diplomatic staff along with their family members from mainland China. Those at higher risk, like the elderly, those with existing medical conditions or those with mental health concerns were flown out of China on Thursday (Jan 30).
AUSTRALIA: At least nine cases so far have been reported in Australia. The Australian Government is making arrangements to help isolated and vulnerable Australian citizens leave Wuhan and is setting up a quarantine facility on Christmas Island where patients will be quarantined for 14 days.
AFRICA: As of yet, no confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus have been reported in the region. On Friday (Jan 31), African Airlines, Kenya’s national carrier, suspended all flights to and from China, to mitigate the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus.
WUHAN CORONAVIRUS COUNTER(as of 5am on Feb 1, 2020)
On Jan 28, Lin and Sun uploaded the song on their Weibo accounts, tagging Chinese state media People’s Daily in their captions.
This is not the first such song for Lin. In 2008, he wrote Love And Hope to console those who had lost family members and friends during an earthquake in Sichuan.
This is the second time JJ Lin has done such a song. Picture: Instagram
The magnitude 8.0 earthquake killed 87,000 people and made five million homeless.
Sun wrote in a social media post that Lin had approached her to write a song to pay tribute to the people working against the Wuhan virus. She thanked these people again and noted that it had been hard for them.
Sun also donated money to help people in Wuhan, the city that is ground zero for the virus outbreak. She did this in response to a call by Chinese singer Han Hong. She signed off the donation as “Han Hong’s old friend, Mdm Sun”. /TISG
