A thermal scanner installed at Changi Airport of Singapore checks passenger's body temperature (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Singapore has begun to chargeforeigners infected with coronavirus for treatment after recording three newimported cases.
In its statement, the country’s Ministry ofHealth said foreigners who are short-term visit pass holders seeking treatmentfor COVID-19 in Singapore will need to pay for their treatment. However,testing for the novel coronavirus that causes the disease remains free.
It noted: “In view of the rising number ofCOVID-19 infections globally, and the expected rise in the number of confirmedcases in Singapore, we will need to prioritise the resources at publichospitals.”
Treatment of severe respiratory infections inpublic hospitals of Singapore costs between 6,000 – 8,000 SGD (4,300 – 5,800USD), according to the ministry’s website.
The new policy came into force on March 7, whenlocal authorities announced two Indonesians with COVID-19 symptoms arrived inSingapore. Earlier, they had reported symptoms in Indonesia, and one of themhad sought check-up at a hospital in Jakarta.
Another case is a Singaporean citizen whovisited a relative who had pneumonia in Indonesia.
So far, Singapore has confirmed 160 cases ofCOVID-19 infection. Of those, 33 were infected with the virus in othercountries, including 24 cases from China, three from Indonesia, and some othersfrom Italy, the UK, France and Germany./.
Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing has stressed the need for the country to be mentally prepared for a possible spike in the number of COVID-19 cases and increase supplies of necessities amid complicated developments of the disease around the world.
Indonesia’s hotel occupancy rate has dropped significantly since the outbreak of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in China in early January, according to the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI).
The Singaporean government will soon roll out a second package to help businesses tide over the acute respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak.
Indonesian authorities on March 9 confirmed that the country reports 13 new cases of the acute respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), bringing the total number in the country to 19.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on late March 9 that the total number of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 cases in the country has risen to 24, asking for all school closure in Manila capital city in four days from March 10.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
A thermal scanner installed at Changi Airport of Singapore checks passenger's body temperature (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
