Blog | Global Indian International School

5 Things to Know About Moving to Singapore Post COVID

Written by Rajeev Katyal, Country Director, Singapore | May 28, 2020

As the number of COVID-19 cases start subsiding and the travel restrictions are gradually loosening, people will soon start travelling for business.

Many professionals or their families whose relocation plans to Singapore was deferred due to the outbreak of the virus, will now be able to finally make the move and relocate to one of the world’s safest country in the world, ranked #2 after Tokyo in Safe City’s Index, 2019.

If you're moving to Singapore, here are five things to know about public health and safety, that will free you from all the doubts and apprehensions that you might have in view of your safety from coronavirus: 

Dedicated Government

The Singaporean government has received recognition, both domestically and internationally, for effective contagion-containment measures such as:

  • Large-scale testing
  • Effective contact tracing
  • Shutting down hard-hit areas and monitoring disease clusters
  • Distribution of masks to households

Excellent Healthcare

Global consulting firm Towers Watson reports that Singapore has one of the most successful healthcare systems worldwide. The country can test thousands of people daily. This is especially important considering that many patients are asymptomatic or only experience mild symptoms, so they may not otherwise know they are infected.

Additionally, Singapore set up "community care beds" in public places such as convention centres. These facilities only treat coronavirus patients, minimising the risk of infecting hospital patients who don't have COVID-19. Singapore currently has 10,000 of these beds but hopes to double that number by the middle of June.

The mortality rate from COVID-19 is remarkably low here — less than 0.1%. For years, the Singapore Ministry of Health has been preparing for pandemics such as this by replenishing stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) and simulating outbreaks so healthcare workers know how to respond.

Effective COVID-19 Management

Singapore deploys 3,000 enforcement officers and safe distancing ambassadors to ensure residents comply with containment measures. The government discourages loitering and imposes heavy penalties for not wearing a mask or practising social distancing when out in public. Officials also manage to trace at least 80% of COVID-19 cases, requiring anyone who has been in contact with an infected person to quarantine for 14 days.

Precautions at School

Watch the safety measures implemented by GIIS:

Singapore is committed to providing a safe learning environment. Before circuit breaker (lockdown) measures were instituted, school infection control protocols included:

  • Examination-style seating arrangements to ensure social distancing
  • Daily temperature checks
  • Thorough disinfecting, giving special attention to frequently touched surfaces
  • Granting leaves of absence to anyone whose household members had recently travelled to affected countries

With circuit breaker measures implemented, schools shifted to a Home-Based Learning System, a centralised portal that allows students to access coursework and interact with teachers and peers. International schools are providing virtual learning that very closely simulates in-class learning.

Safest Country to Live In

Singapore leads the world in safety. In its 2019 Global Competitiveness Report, the World Economic Forum ranked Singapore second globally in terms of security (measured by crime rates, terrorism, homicide rates and public service reliability).

Factor in how safe Singaporeans feel and the country takes first place. On the 2019 Gallup Law and Order Index, Singapore scored 97 out of 100 points. (The average worldwide was 81). Another reason to feel safe is natural disasters are almost unheard-of here. It's no wonder safety and security are so deeply embedded in Singaporean culture.

So, if you have any doubts concerning your or your family’s health due to coronavirus, please be assured that at Singapore you will be in the safest hands, with world’s most dedicated Government and superb Healthcare system at your fingertip.

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