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Experts call for tighter measures at bus interchanges after COVID-19 clusters – but netizens ask why only take action now
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In light of the growing COVID-19 clusters at bus interchanges, some experts are now calling for measures at these places to be tightened to reduce the likelihood of further virus transmission.
As at Wednesday (1 Sept), 284 frontline staff at bus interchanges have tested positive for COVID-19. This amount represents 3 per cent of 11,000 frontline staff in the bus sector, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Thursday.
“Our public transport frontline workers were among the first groups to be offered vaccinations earlier this year. To date, over 99 per cent have completed their first dose of the vaccine and over 95 per cent are fully vaccinated,” it stated in a press release.
LTA noted that the infected workers are mostly asymptomatic or showing only mild symptoms, and that no one has fallen seriously ill. All detected cases at the bus interchanges so far have been confined to workers and some household members.
According to the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) update on Wednesday, a total of 314 COVID-19 cases have been linked to clusters at eight bus interchanges – at Tampines, Boon Lay, Jurong East, Toa Payoh, Bishan, Punggol, Clementi, and Sengkang.
Following that, some experts interviewed by The Straits Times (ST) on Thursday have called for tightening measures at bus interchanges.
An infectious disease expert from the Rophi Clinic, Dr Leong Hoe Nam, cautioned that the rising COVID-19 clusters at bus interchanges indicated that workplace practices across different interchanges could be causing the virus to spread.
“It could be the rest areas, the way they hand over and talk. There might also be a need to look at toilets, where they take out their masks, wash their faces – the toilet may turn out to be the most contaminated place.
“The really essential workers, who cannot afford to fall sick, should wear proper surgical masks instead of cloth masks. I still see some people using last year’s National Day Parade masks – those are not good,” he told ST.
While Dr Leong noted that vaccinated commuters should not be panic over the situation, he reminded them to take extra precautions such as wearing two masks, or ones that loop around the back of their heads.
“Bus interchange clusters are highlighted because of contact tracing, but the same scenario may happen to, say, a popular nasi lemak store with many people queueing.
“Some people might ask why (bus interchange clusters did not occur) earlier, but the opportunity had not arisen, the virus was maybe not as transmissible,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Assistant Professor Terence Fan at the Singapore Management University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business, who specialises in transport issues, suggested setting up plexiglass panels around the bus driver’s seat to minimize risks of virus transmission.
It was noted that the National Transport Workers’ Union trialled this measure amid reports of assaults on bus drivers last year, but it has not been widely adopted as there were concerns that the reflection caused by these panels affected the drivers’ vision.
In addition to that, Prof Fan also suggested increasing the frequency of rostered testing for bus drivers until the situation improves.
However, he said that it remains uncertain as to whether all the bus drivers were infected by the same strain, adding that the situation will be clearer after virologists’ analyses.
Prof Fan pointed out that the risk of mutual infection increased among those who are close contacts of one another, but even without such factors, the risk of exposure for bus drivers is already “inherently high” because they come into contact with commuters daily.
Even so, he highlighted that the practice of interlining – a practice in which bus drivers ply multiple routes – may not be as dangerous as it sounds, given that the number of commuters the driver is exposed to remains roughly the same.
“It does not hurt to encourage more instances of working from home in the meantime,” said Prof Fan. “This can help reduce the number of commuters on buses and slow down any continuing spread.”
LTA enhanced measures at bus interchanges, segregate staff resting areas from dining areas
The growing clusters at bus interchanges have also prompted LTA to enhance measures at these places. These measures include segregating staff resting areas from dining areas, single seating at dining areas, as well as setting up physical separators at designated smoking areas.
The frequency of cleaning of “high touch points” at staff areas will also be doubled to at least once every hour, it said in a press release on Thursday.
LTA noted that these measures are aimed at reducing the likelihood of “further workplace transmissions”, adding that they have worked with public transport operators and the National Transport Workers’ Union to enhance safe management measures.
The authority also clarified that there has been “no major impact” on bus operations so far.
“LTA has worked with the PTOs [public transport operators] to develop contingency plans that can be implemented quickly to minimise the impact on commuters should more cases emerge from ongoing community surveillance testing.
“Any lengthening of bus service headways required will be progressive, starting with low demand bus services to minimise the impact on commuters,” it asserted.
Minister Ong Ye Kung said in May that public transport can be “very safe” if commuters refrain from talking
All these, however, seem to be contrary to the claims made by then-Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung, who said that public transport can be “very safe” if commuters refrain from talking and keep their masks on.
Mr Ong, who is now Minister for Health, was responding to questions from the media during the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force press conference which took place in May this year.
“Be assured that the air ventilation within the train is actually very good. Excluding the opening and closing of train doors, every six minutes, all the air is being replenished,” he remarked.
CNA quoted him saying: “So with good ventilation… [if commuters] refrain from talking, keep your masks on, and LTA and the public transport operators running the train frequencies normally like pre-COVID, I think we can keep public transport very safe.”
Netizens slam govt for only taking action after more COVID-19 cases happened
Penning their thoughts under the comments section of ST’s Facebook post, many netizens slammed the government for only taking action after there were more cases being linked to bus interchanges.
One netizen blamed the government for its “constant oversight”, saying that the authorities “just turned a deaf ear” when the people called for stricter measures to be enforced.
“I am so sick with this constant oversight. First it was the airport, now the bus interchange, readers have written to the press for stricter measures to be enforced , authorities just turned a deaf ear to them. How many times these people at the top need to learn before lessons are taught,” the netizen wrote.
Another netizen wrote: “Before any cases detected, anything goes. After cases detected then only take action! What kind of mentality is that? There are still so many people drinking and eating and walking and smoking along crowded areas, or even jogging and cycling amongst the crowded masked pedestrians. All these are waiting for something to happen before actions will be taken.”
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Netizens see Mediacorp actor Shaun Chen’s move to JB as response to Singapore’s high living costs
In a recent interview, Mediacorp actor Shaun Chen, a Singapore PR, announced that he and his family have relocated to Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Netizens view his move as a practical response to Singapore’s rising cost of living and note a growing trend of ‘dual-country living’ among Singaporeans. Many are considering retirement in Malaysia or managing child-rearing expenses while maintaining ties to Singapore, reflecting broader concerns about healthcare and living costs.
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SINGAPORE: Following Mediacorp actor Shaun Chen (陈泓宇)’s recent announcement that he and his family have moved back to Malaysia, many netizens have praised his decision as both smart and practical, given Singapore’s rising cost of living.
Additionally, some users observed a growing trend of ‘dual-country living’ among Singaporeans, noting that many are considering retirement in Malaysia or managing the costs of raising children while maintaining connections to Singapore, highlighting broader concerns about healthcare and living expenses.
In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Chen, 45, revealed that he and his family moved to the Eco Botanic township estate in Johor Bahru on 1 August.
They are currently renting a place while searching for a home to buy.
Houses in Eco Botanic, a sought-after residential area about a 10-minute drive from Legoland Malaysia, are priced from RM1,000,000 (S$300,000).
His two daughters, who hold Malaysian and Singaporean PR status, are enrolled in an international school in Johor Bahru.
Chen, originally from Negeri Sembilan, explained that the move was largely influenced by his age and his plan to retire in Malaysia eventually.
“I’m not young anymore. I was going to return to Malaysia to retire anyway, so I decided to enroll my daughters into the international school in JB while they are still young,” said the actor.
Chen noted that their new home is just a half-hour drive from the Malaysia-Singapore second link bridge and that their living expenses have decreased by 30 percent since the move.
The cost of international schooling in JB is comparable to the school fees and student-care fees for PRs in Singapore, according to Chen.
Chen mentioned that his daughters, who have been at the new school for less than a month, are enjoying their experience.
They find the environment welcoming, with a manageable workload and opportunities to interact with students from around the world.
Regarding his previous residence, Chen shared that he had owned a house in Tiong Bahru, Singapore, but sold it during the pandemic due to lack of occupancy.
He has also sold his apartment in Singapore.
As for his career, Chen reassured that the move would not impact it.
He said he will continue traveling between Singapore and Malaysia for work, with smooth traffic conditions except during public holidays.
Netizens View Shaun Chen’s Move to Malaysia as a Practical Response to Singapore’s Rising Cost of Living
Commenting on posts by Singapore’s state media Lianhe Zaobao and CNA on Facebook, some users reacted positively to Chen’s decision and suggested that, given the rising cost of living, more Singaporeans might consider relocating to Malaysia for retirement, particularly if their health permits, as it could significantly help manage expenses.
Some commented that it makes sense for Shaun Chen to move to JB since he is Malaysian, noting that the cost of living there could be significantly lower, and that he can afford a larger, freehold property compared to smaller flats.
A comment suggested that it is common for Malaysians to work in Singapore and spend their earnings in Malaysia, which enhances their quality of life. The netizen also pointed out that the high cost of living in Singapore makes this arrangement particularly advantageous.
Concern over raising child in Singapore
Another netizen analysed Chen’s decision in the context of raising children, noting that as children grow, expenses increase.
He noted that, unlike Chen, who can relocate to Malaysia to manage costs, Singaporean citizens like himself have to stay in Singapore and cope with the financial pressures.
A comment questioned why the Singaporean government may not fully consider the reasons many Singaporeans are buying property in Johor Bahru or moving their elderly parents to elder care facilities there, driven by high living and medical costs in Singapore.
The comment also noted that some Singaporeans are migrating or retiring overseas for similar reasons.
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Netizens question NTU’s choice of timber for Gaia Building amid mould issues
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SINGAPORE: The Gaia building at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), which opened in May 2023 as Asia’s largest wooden structure, was initially celebrated for its sustainable design and architectural beauty.
However, just over a year later, the S$125 million (US$95.5 million) timber building is facing an unexpected challenge: mould growth.
The 450,000-square-foot Gaia building, constructed with sustainable timber beams and panels, has developed mould on its walls, raising concerns about the suitability of timber for large-scale construction in tropical climates like Singapore’s.
The mould issue highlights the global challenges that timber structures can face, especially in environments with high humidity.
According to Bloomberg, the mould problem at Gaia underscores the difficulties that timber buildings encounter worldwide.
The Gaia building’s timber supplier claims that the structure sequesters over 5,000 tons of CO2, even when accounting for shipping, as trees absorb carbon dioxide during growth.
However, Singapore’s tropical climate, with its high humidity and frequent rainfall, has revealed the limitations of using timber in such environments.
The wood used in Gaia, primarily Austrian spruce processed into mass-engineered timber, is less resistant to mould compared to other species.
In Singapore’s humid conditions, untreated spruce is particularly vulnerable to mould and rot, according to Andrew Wong of the International Wood Culture Society.
Erik L’Heureux, an associate professor of architecture at the National University of Singapore, emphasized that different climates present unique challenges for timber construction.
He noted that in tropical regions, special care is required to prevent issues like mould, while in other climates, such as deserts or freezing environments, timber faces other risks like cracking and splitting.
Singapore has used mass-engineered timber in over 20 projects in the past decade, but it remains unclear if other buildings are experiencing similar issues.
In contrast, Singapore’s colonial shophouses, built with regionally native hardwoods, are naturally resistant to mould.
However, sourcing these traditional hardwoods today is both difficult and costly.
Loh Kee Soon, the lead architect for Gaia at RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, explained that while thicker protective coatings could have mitigated some of the mould issues, his team opted against it due to cost concerns and a desire to showcase the natural wood grain.
Despite its aesthetic appeal, the presence of mould has raised health concerns among staff and students.
While the mould is not expected to affect the building’s structural integrity, NTU has implemented a comprehensive maintenance plan, which includes reapplying sealant to the timber, adjusting air-conditioning settings, and instructing staff to keep windows closed to reduce condensation.
Experts also recommend treating surfaces with bleach, applying thicker coatings, installing dehumidifiers, and running the air-conditioning continuously, although these measures could undermine the building’s sustainability.
Netizens question sustainability of NTU’s Gaia building amid mould concerns
Under Mothership’s Facebook post, netizens have expressed various concerns regarding the mould issue at Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Gaia building.
One user questioned whether continuing to use the building is worth it, given the upcoming maintenance and potential health risks to staff and students.
They suggested that if maintenance is not feasible, it might be better to endure a one-time inconvenience of demolition rather than face ongoing issues.
One commenter questioned the logic of using wood in Singapore’s hot and humid climate, suggesting that protective coatings should have been applied to prevent mould.
They pointed out that NTU should have had the resources to implement such measures.
Another netizen proposed that demolishing the building and replacing it with a concrete structure might be a better long-term solution than continually dealing with mould.
Netizens raise concerns over material choices for NTU’s Gaia building
Several netizens focused on the choice of wood for the building, criticizing the decision to use Austrian spruce instead of locally sourced tropical wood that is more resistant to humidity.
One commenter pointed out that using wood from Austria hardly seems sustainable or environmentally friendly when considering the carbon footprint.
Another suggested that the building should have used hardwoods like teak, ebony, or mahogany, which are more resistant to termites and mould.
Further criticism focused on the project’s planning, with some questioning why wood from a cool climate was used in Singapore’s tropical environment.
They speculated that the original committee might have prioritized reducing construction costs, leaving the current management to deal with the consequences.
One commenter expressed disbelief that the project proceeded with wood susceptible to mould, despite the availability of more suitable materials like teak and cedar.
They criticized the $125 million price tag, suggesting it reflects a “lowest cost wins” mentality that overlooks potential long-term costs.
One netizen also raised doubts about the building’s sustainability, questioning whether the cost of treating and preventing mould might become exorbitant over time and ultimately undermine the building’s sustainability claims.
The post Netizens question NTU’s choice of timber for Gaia Building amid mould issues appeared first on Gutzy Asia.
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