Here we go again - Heightened Alert

Honestly, the different phases has really fanciful names .

Restricted to 2, then 5 then 8 then 2. Somebody needs to write a song on this covid with numbers starting with "19". And can they name the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) with another name? So many times I keep thinking what is this group named 'mother....' ? Haha! I do sound real pissed off huh? 

This is a pictorial chart on the phases we went through  

Quote from MOH website :

14TH MAY 2021

        The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) has been closely monitoring the local and global COVID-19 situation. The number of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and unlinked community cases has continued to increase. This is concerning as the situation could quickly escalate if these cases are not contained swiftly and decisively. 

Update on Local Situation

2.     We have detected several clusters of infections emerging in the past 2 weeks around (i) an ICA officer and his extended family, (ii) Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), (iii) Tuas South Community Care Facility, and (iv) Pasir Panjang Terminal. Most recently, we have an emerging cluster at Changi Airport Terminal 3 with a total of 46 cases to date. 

3.    To reduce the risk of any spread from undetected cases in the community, we have cast a wide net and taken swift action to detect, isolate, and ringfence any possible emerging transmissions to the community. We have carried out mass surveillance testing of persons with possible exposure to cases surrounding these clusters, such as TTSH patients and visitors who were at TTSH during the infectious period. Special testing operations have also been conducted to test port workers who had been deployed at Pasir Panjang Terminal, as well as workers at Changi Airport Terminals 1 and 3 and Jewel Changi Airport. Since 1 May 2021, we have also implemented additional pre-emptive measures to minimise interactions at both social settings and workplaces so as to break the chains of transmission to the community. These measures were further enhanced with effect from 8 May 2021, with reductions in the prevailing group size of social gatherings and the size of larger scale events or activities, to minimise the likelihood of large clusters forming.

4.    However, a pattern of local unlinked community cases has emerged and is persisting. This is worrying as it suggests that there may be unknown cases in the community with possible ongoing community transmission and that our earlier and ongoing measures to break the chains of transmissions may be insufficient. We need to act decisively to contain these risks as any one leak could result in an uncontrolled resurgence of cases. Hence we will move to impose targeted restrictions on higher risk settings such as those where there is a high density of people who are unmasked for prolonged periods.

Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) in the Fight Against COVID-19

5.    Following the measures introduced on 8 May 2021, we need to tighten more measures to decisively arrest the increasing number of cases in the community. The following measures will take effect from Sunday 16 May 2021 through Sunday 13 June 2021. 

With this same reason, the schools have switched to HBL as stated in MOE website :

Primary, Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute to Shift to Full Home-based Learning

Starting from Wednesday 19 May 2021, all primary, secondary, junior college (JC) and Millennia Institute (MI) students, including students from Special Education (SPED) schools, will shift to full Home-Based Learning (HBL) till end of the term on 28 May 2021.

Tuition and Enrichment Centres to Shift Online or Suspend Activities

7. All centre-based tuition and enrichment classes must move activities online till the end of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert). This is necessary to reduce the intermingling of students from different schools and enhance the safety of our students. These measures will hold until end of Phase 2 Heightened Alert or further notice.

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My thoughts after this announcement.

1) Zoom for school and tuitions. Lil' one surprisingly was very productive with Zoom last year but I'm not sure about this year. Too many Zoom does lead to fatigues and I'm beginning to feel that she won't benefit much from it. And if I had wanted to rely on tuitions to help her close up the learning gaps, the Zoom tuitions might not be able to help her.  

2) I'm on the other hand relieved that I do not have to leave the house with the chauffeuring duties.

3) Everyone were sick of my cooking during CB last year and this year I'm going to be a little smarter but not cooking that often this year. Can go and pack food or order food in. I'm not going to make myself so crazily busy like last year and tire myself every night. A year older and I'm a little wiser.  

4) I still have the room door label in the computer so I got it printed out and pasted on the room door today (17th May). 

5) Fight Do will be on Zoom. Like duck to water, it was easy for us. All of us are experts now. 

6) Time to lock up my PES gate since we won't be seeing the tutors for at least a month.

Like any typical people, we rushed out to have our last meal together before the mini CB. We unanimously asked to go Siam Square Mookata. I ordered 3-4 plates of pork belly and the portion was far much more than what I usually get. Perhaps they were trying to finish up their supplies? We came to the conclusion that before any next lockdown we shall come to eat here again as we will get more than we bargain for.   

A drop by to NTUC, not that we're in any mad rush to get any groceries. Coz I don't intend to cook that often. BUT I do need to get supplies for myself since I'm already on keto and it's never easy to order any ketogenic food on the food delivery platform. 

Anyway, we were panicking this time round. We can really order food in. I guess after last year's apocalpyse mad-rush to supermarkets, we tend to have confidence in our government to stock up food supplies. WE WON'T STARVE!