The first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by United States pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German firm BioNTech arrived in Singapore on 21 December 2020 after the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore granted interim authorisation for its use. Singapore is one of the first countries to obtain this vaccine,…
Category: Public Interest
3 Social Media Posts You can be Charged For in Singapore
Popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, are often used by people to express their thoughts and discuss socio-political issues. However, some social media posts may be considered offensive to others, or may spread misinformation. In such circumstances, you may be charged for the content of your social media posts…
COVID-19 Penalties for Not Social Distancing or Staying Home
On 7 April 2020, Singapore entered the “circuit breaker” period which had been announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, to pre-empt the escalating number of COVID-19 infections across the country. This article outlines the various measures that have been implemented, including social distancing, contact tracing and ensuring that individuals…
COVID-19 Changes to Singapore’s General Elections 2020
Singapore’s next general election must be held by 14 April 2021, and it is unclear whether the current coronavirus pandemic will clear up by then. However, holding a general election amidst the pandemic is not impossible. For instance, South Korea held its elections last month and had implemented measures like…
Blood Donation in Singapore During COVID-19: Can I Donate?
Why is it More Important to Donate Blood During COVID-19? Blood banks are in dire need of donated blood during the current Covid-19 outbreak. This is because many people have been cancelling their blood donation appointments due to current stay-at-home measures. According to the Red Cross, 15 units of blood…
Foreign Interference in Singapore Elections: Laws and Penalties
Foreign interference in elections refers to attempts by foreign actors (people, agencies or countries) to influence the domestic elections of a sovereign state. The motive of such interference is to impact people’s voting behaviours in a way that is consistent with the foreign actor’s agenda. With the massive amount of…
4 Reasons to Hire a Criminal Lawyer to Defend You in Singapore
When faced with a criminal charge, you will need to decide whether or not to hire a criminal lawyer. Some people may shy away from this due to the potential costs and hassle of engaging a lawyer, while others may think that they have the ability to conduct their own…
Singapore Launches COVID-19 Online Symptom Checker
Members of the public who use the system receive “immediate suggestions on possible next steps, be it continuing to monitor their symptoms or seeking medical attention at the appropriate healthcare setting.” An automated resource website specifically created to help people living in Singapore spot Coronavirus symptoms, and help them decide…
What Parents, Pregnant Women Need to Know About COVID-19
To help parents better understand COVID-19, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions with accompanying answers by UNICEF, WHO and other experts on the matter. — The most recent strain of the Coronavirus infection, now known as COVID-19, is grouped together with the same family of viruses such…
Disease Outbreak: How Singapore Responds & Do’s and Don’ts
COVID-19 has gripped headlines in recent weeks as the world struggles to contain this outbreak. Singapore has not been spared but has responded well. Singapore’s Harvard-praised “gold-standard” response is made possible by a system of emergency preparedness measures supported by the legal framework of the Infectious Diseases Act (IDA). The…
