Had many useful meetings and engagements during my visit to Davos for WEF 2020. Ended my trip with a special reunion dinner with overseas Singaporeans based in Zurich and elsewhere in Switzerland.

Wishing everyone a prosperous and fruitful year of the 🐀 –– one abundant in health and happiness! 祝大家鼠年吉祥，万事如意! 🍊 🍊

MOH & Gov.sg have issued a new advisory on the Wuhan coronavirus in 4 languages. It is worth sharing. Our officials have been working hard over CNY, do help by ensuring only accurate info is shared.

I have received many messages from you expressing concerns about the Wuhan coronavirus. I fully understand your feelings. We are all worried for ourselves and our loved ones, here and overseas.

The situation is developing rapidly. We have activated our contingency plans, and all our agencies are working together. Our hospitals and healthcare workers are well prepared. We have been preparing for something like this ever since SARS in 2003.

Meanwhile, scientists and medical professionals across the world are working around the clock to understand the virus and develop a vaccine. Experts think the Wuhan virus may be less lethal than SARS, but more infectious. Patients who are infected may possibly be contagious before symptoms show. If true, this will make it harder to screen and detect new cases, and to stop the spread.

So far, all seven confirmed cases in Singapore are Chinese nationals from Hubei. We have not had local transmission or community spread yet, but that can happen, and we must be prepared for it. Meanwhile, we have suspended entry into or transit through Singapore for people who have recently travelled to Hubei, and those with PRC passports issued in Hubei. We will quarantine Singapore residents and those holding long term passes who are returning here, who have recently visited Hubei.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and do more if necessary. Meanwhile, we should all remain calm. All of us can do our part to limit transmission of germs by practising good hygiene. Wash your hands regularly, and seek medical advice early and wear a mask if you feel unwell. But in general, there is no need to wear a mask if you are not ill.

Also please do not listen to or spread rumours and untrue reports — alas there is a lot of that circulating around, on WhatsApp and social media. Sharing news responsibly is an important way we can protect ourselves.

You can get updated with the latest information from trusted sources here:

1. Ministry of Health, Singapore website: https://www.moh.gov.sg/2019-ncov-wuhan

2. Gov.sg WhatsApp push notification: sign-up at https://go.gov.sg/whatsapp

3. CNA microsite: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/topics/wuhan-virus

4. ST microsite:
https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/wuhan-virus

5: ZB microsite:
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/…/fight-wuhan-coronavirus-misinfo…

6. Factually
https://www.gov.sg/factually

A reminder that you only need a mask if you are sick, to prevent spreading your sickness to others. You don’t need to wear a mask if you are well.

https://youtu.be/PaZuucI2g-s

Visited the National Centre for Infectious Diseases this morning, to learn more about the screening and treatment facilities, and meet and thank some of the people working there during this difficult period. The medical teams and staffers took on the job fully aware of the risks involved, and they deserve our utmost respect and support.

https://youtu.be/b-zsytSUZkg

Chingay Parade 2020 was lively, engaging and full of energy as always! The coronavirus is understandably on many peoples’ minds, but we cannot let fear stop us from carrying on with our lives.