[Sent by Gov.sg]

COVID-19: 25 Mar Update

New imported cases: 38 [37 S’pore residents & long-term pass holders, 1 visitor; travelled from Europe, N.America, ASEAN and other parts of Asia]

New local cases: 35 [27 linked to previous cases, 8 currently unlinked]

Total cases in Singapore: 631
Discharged today: 5
Total discharged: 160
Total remaining in Hospital: 404

Most in hospital stable or improving. 17 in ICU.

Go.gov.sg/moh25mar

No need to panic buy

Singapore has implemented tighter measures to protect Singaporeans

But there is no need to panic buy or hoard

🥚🥬 We have adequate supply of food and essentials

Our supply channels remain open

🙅‍♀ Do not spread unverified information

Take tighter measures seriously

🚫 Do not attend “Farewell” events at entertainment venues tonight

👥 Large congregations will undermine our fight against COVID-19

👍 Be socially responsible. Don’t put yourself and those around you at risk of contracting the virus

[Sent by Gov.sg - 26 Mar]

MOM entry approval and Stay-Home Notice (SHN) for all Work Pass Holders

- All Work Pass Holders (including dependants) planning to enter/return to S’pore, regardless of mode of travel, must apply to MOM for entry approval
- Requests can be submitted up to 10 days before the date of arrival
- Employers should wait for MOM’s approval before asking pass holders to travel to S’pore
- Pass holders must show printout of approval on check-in and at ICA checkpoint
- All returnees will be placed on a 14-day SHN
- Enforcement action may be taken against errant employers and employees who do not comply with requirements

More: go.gov.sg/momentry

Exemption: Those conveying essential services or supplies via land and sea links from M’sia
More: Go.gov.sg/mom25mar

[Sent by Gov.sg - 26 Mar]

False rumours on the COVID-19 situation

There are rumours circulating that Singapore:
(1) will go to DORSCON red 🔴
(2) will go into a lockdown 🔒
(3) Bus and MRT services will reduce / stop

These are all untrue 🙅‍♀🙅‍♂
Please do not spread unverified information 🗣🗯

Check official sources and sign up with Gov.sg WhatsApp for updates: go.gov.sg/whatsapp

The Resilience Budget will focus on three key areas:

1. Save jobs, support workers and protect livelihoods
2. Help enterprise overcome immediate challenges
3. Strengthen economic and social resilience

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore-supplementary-budget-2020-live-blog

Another $48 million for the Self-Employed Person Training Support Scheme
- Extended to December 2020
- Enhance the hourly training allowance from $7.50 to $10, with effect from May 1

For lower-income workers:
- Increase the payout under Workfare Special Payment
- This group of Workfare recipients to get $3,000 each, in cash

For self-employed people:
- Direct cash assistance through new Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme
- Eligible self-employed persons will receive $1,000 a month for nine months
- $1.2 billion set aside for this

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore-supplementary-budget-2020-live-blog

SGUnited Traineeships are to be launched for first-time jobseekers to help them develop skills and boost their employability.

Workforce Singapore (WSG) will co-share manpower costs with enterprises offering traineeships.

WSG is looking to support 8,000 traineeships in 2020, which includes science and technology traineeships in R&D labs and deep-tech start-ups.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid19-coronavirus-stimulus-budget-heng-swee-keat-parliament-12571140

All adult Singaporeans to receive $300-$900 cash in Care and Support Package, up from earlier announced $100-$300.

Each Singaporean parent with at least one young child to receive $300, up from $100 announced in Budget 2020.

COVID-19 Budget: Government fees and charges frozen for one year, late payment charges on HDB mortgage arrears suspended for 3 months.

No property tax for commercial properties badly hit by the outbreak, landlords urged to pass on rebate to tenants by reducing rentals.

Support for aviation sector

1. Enhanced Jobs Support Scheme to help businesses whose activities are based principally in the aviation sector retain their local workers.
For every local worker in employment, he will provide a total of 75 per cent wage offset for the first $4,600 of monthly wages.

Mr Heng says this will be paid in the same months as the main Jobs Support Scheme pay-outs. This enhancement will cost the Government more than $400 million.

2. $350 million enhanced aviation support package to fund measures such as rebates on landing and parking charges, and rental relief for airlines, ground handlers and cargo agents.

He says this will also allow Singapore to retain a minimum level of connectivity to the world during the pandemic, and will enable overseas Singaporeans to return home and keep the country's supply lines for essential goods open.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore-supplementary-budget-2020-live-blog

[COVID-19 Budget] Sectors that involve high level of human interaction

1. Enhanced Jobs Support Scheme for F&B firms, providing a total of 50 per cent wage offset for the first $4,600 of monthly wages.

2. Taxi and private-hire car (PHC) drivers have seen their takings fall significantly, so the Government will extend and enhance the Point-to-Point Support Package. This will cost the Government another $95 million.
DPM Heng says eligible taxi hirers and PHC drivers will continue to receive the Special Relief Fund payments of $300 per vehicle per month until end-September.

3. To help private bus owners, he will provide them with a one-year road tax rebate and a six-month waiver of parking charges at government-managed parking facilities. This will cost the Government $23 million.

[COVID-19 Budget]

There will be an additional $55 million support package for the arts and culture sector to save jobs and support upskilling and digitalisation of the sector.

COVID-19 has shown the need for resilient supplies of food and essential items. Mr Heng says he will set aside S$1.9 billion to build resilience in the economy and society.

Singapore will:
- Continue to invest in long-term capabilities for growth
- Build up national stockpile of health supplies, including masks and sanitisers
- Strengthen food resilience: aiming to produce 30 per cent of our nutritional needs by 2030