Singapore's Neighbourhood: COVID-19 Challenges and Responses

This report provides an analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the neighbourhoods of Singapore. It begins with an introduction to the coronavirus and its effects, followed by an examination of relevant quantitative data, including graphs illustrating total cases, active cases, and deaths. The main body of the report delves into the challenges faced by individuals, groups, and businesses, such as social distancing measures and economic impacts. The report also proposes policy recommendations to support strengths within the neighbourhoods. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and suggests further measures, such as continued adherence to safety protocols and flexible work arrangements. References include books, journals, and online sources used to support the analysis.

Social Science
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Relevant quantitative data......................................................................................................4
Individuals, groups, and/or businesses faced challenges posed by the COVID-19...............7
Proposals to continue supporting strengths in neighbourhood...............................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
Coronavirus is an infectious disease which is caused due to newly discovered coronavirus. It
affects people in distinct ways and most of them will develop mild-to-moderate illness as well as
recovery without hospitalization. In Asia, Singapore has been ranked as one among the top city
in terms of living quality (Pani, Lin, & RavindraBabu, (2020). It is also regarded as happiest
nation in South East Asia. There are some factors which influence the life quality in the
Alexandra North neighbourhood in Singapore. These includes economic environment, political
and social environment, health and sanitation, natural environment, social cultural environment,
consumer goods, recreation, housing etc. This policy memo covers qualitative and quantitative
data in substantiating the position and the way members of community faced challenges posed
by the COVID-19.
MAIN BODY
Corona virus infection is mainly transmitted by droplets generated when an infected
individual exhales, sneezes or coughs. As of now, the number of corona virus cases in Singapore
has crossed the mark of 60000. Most of the people are asymptomatic and detected through
surveillance are screening. Spread of virus highly impact on the daily life of people. They
threaten to go outside due to the risk of spread of infection. The lifestyle of Singapore is
multicultural and which of the ethnic communities like Chinese, Malays, Indians etc.
maintaining their unique way of living life as well as at the similar time, they are living
harmoniously (Wong, Leo, & Tan, (2020). The society of Singapore is Cosmopolitan because of
influx of foreigners in recent times. Individuals are courteous and amenable to each other. In the
country, much focus is placed on racial and communal harmony. The government has laid down
some shared values in order to develop a distinct identity of Singapore - nation before society
and community above self; community support and respect for individual; family as basic unit of
society; racial and religious harmony; and consensus not conflict. Ensuring the personal safety
and security for expats as well as their families has made the country one among the popular
destination for International relocation.
Unlike numerous other Nations which are witnessing the cases of coronavirus in travellers,
Singapore is concerned with more transmission of virus among humans. The transmission cases
since February has been increasing. The Government of Singapore has imposed restrictions in
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order to control the community spread through disallowing passengers from China. The ministry
of Health has issued advisories for distinct sectors. In the healthcare sector, the staff has been
advised to avoid contact with animals involving birds and poultry. Apart from this, consumption
of undercooked and raw meats is also avoiding. The business events have been advised to
postpone and entry restrictions on work pass holders are also the measures taken by Singapore
government (Lee, Chiew, & Khong, (2020).
Relevant quantitative data
Singapore is one of the countries from the several counties which is affected by sudden
break down of COVID-19 which has created and lead to a situation of elicited panic along with
unease among the public of Singapore. Various measures are taken by government, neighbouring
communities, public and local media news to outlet and discuss positional measures and
strategies to reduce the panic and support better management among public during the situation
of global pandemic of COVID-19. The some recent facts which are presenting and showing the
situation of COVID-19 and its severances in Singapore is provided below in form of quantitative
charts along with their analysis to support current position of Singapore under situation of
COVID-19.
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Figure 1: Total Coronavirus Cases in Singapore, 2021
Interpretation
On the basis of above line graph an analysis can be made out that from 15 Feb 2020 till
end of march there were no cases of COVID-19 but from the starting of April the cases of
COVID-19 starts appearing with a rapid speed in Singapore from 0 to 60,000 cases
(Coronavirus Cases, 2021). The cases of COVID-19 keeps on increasing from 15 April till
mid of august with a rapid speed and after that the cases become constant and keeps on
revolving near around 60000 cases which is a high number and presenting the adverse
situation and panic created by Covid-19 in Singapore.
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Figure 2: Active Cases in Singapore, 2021
Interpretation
The above graph us presenting about the active cases and infected people present in
Singapore who are suffering with the infection of COVID-19. It has been interpreted that till
15 Feb there were no active cases which rapidly stared increasing after April and soon
reached to 20000 till may. After that many preventive action like, social distancing and
lockdown are implemented in more strict way which resulted in form of decrease in active
cases in Singapore.
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Figure 3: Total Coronavirus Deaths in Singapore, 2021
Interpretation
The above drawn graph is presenting about the number of deaths which was caused by
COVID-19 in the Singapore that is main cause of panic and issue lead by COVID-19. It has been
interpreted that everything seems under control till march but after the month of march and in
April the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 has started increasing with a rapid speed which
lead to panic situation in public of Singapore (Pung & et. al., (2020). Still the issues and cases of
COVID-19 are present in Singapore and also the deaths due of infection of COVID-19 are also
taking place at a constant speed which is presenting the main challenges associated with this
global pandemic.
Individuals, groups, and/or businesses faced challenges posed by the COVID-19
It has been analysed that COVID-19 is a severe global pandemic which is creating many
issues and challenges for all individuals, groups and business organisation. A sense of fear and
concern is seen in public along with an overwhelming tone in individuals associated with great
worries about the regarding the rapid spread of virus. The main challenges and issues which was
faced by faced by Individuals, groups, and/or businesses lead out and created by COVID-19
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comprises of sudden lockdown and strict social distancing measures. The above bar graph is
presenting about the issues posed by COVID-19 that has negative impact on lives of all
individuals and groups along with hampering the productivity of businesses.
Figure 4: Share of Singaporeans practicing social distancing measures during the COVID-19
pandemic in 2020, 2020.
It has been observed from above bar graph that around 52 % people of Singapore has
stopped engaging in social activities and going out only for essential purpose which has affected
their daily lives and created many challenges in meeting their daily basic needs (Share of
Singaporeans practicing social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,
2020). Further, the social restrictions and lockdown has banned and stopped all entertaining
activities like restaurants, cinema hall, malls, etc. which are leading most of people getting bored
and impacted livelihood and earnings of many people. Sudden lockdown as also stopped
production and other business operation of business which is hampering their productivity and
performance level.
Proposals to continue supporting strengths in neighbourhood
Policy capacity
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`The idea of capacity in policy making process of the state is not new. The efforts to
understand the capacity of a state were emphasized on capacity as the ability or strength of a
state in make sure economic growth. The mobilization of military as well as policing capabilities
in order to manage the crisis of covid-19 further lends credence to the realist strategy to capacity
building in Singapore. It has emphasized on different aspects of the policy process like ability to
assess multiple alternatives of policy and decision making or appropriate knowledge application
in policy making. The policy capacity in many cases associated with successful policy outcomes.
This integrated approach is specifically relevant for Singapore case, that has taken on "whole of
government" approach in order to manage the covid-19 crisis (Yi, & et. al., (2021). As a small
island city state, the well-defined borders, limited geographical size and small population of
Singapore have made it easy for policymakers to monitor as well as restricts movement of
people. The policy capacities of Singapore are the outcome of cumulative process of building the
capacity efforts over time. Much of the capacities of policies have contributed to the ability of
Singapore to manage the fatalities associated with covid-19 and perform extensive contact
tracing stem for experience of government with SARS. This policy helps government in
managing its ability to reduce infection levels.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that because of spread of corona
virus pandemic in the neighbourhood of Singapore, the people, communities, businesses etc. are
facing various challenges that impacted on their daily lives. The measures taken by government
like social distancing, restriction on movement etc. impacts adversely on the mental health of
people. However, the policy of government like Policy Capacity helps in managing the infection
levels appropriately. Further, in order to deal with the issue and future emergencies, it is
recommended that other appropriate measures should be taken like continue follow the existing
measures like wearing masks, social distancing etc. Apart from this, the Minister of National
Development should provide organisations with the advisory to work with 50% strength in the
offices or provide employees with work from home option as much as possible.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Pani, S. K., Lin, N. H., & RavindraBabu, S. (2020). Association of COVID-19 pandemic with
meteorological parameters over Singapore. Science of the Total Environment, 740,
140112.
Wong, J. E., Leo, Y. S., & Tan, C. C. (2020). COVID-19 in Singapore—current experience:
critical global issues that require attention and action. Jama, 323(13), 1243-1244.
Lee, V. J., Chiew, C. J., & Khong, W. X. (2020). Interrupting transmission of COVID-19:
lessons from containment efforts in Singapore. Journal of travel medicine, 27(3),
taaa039.
Yi, H., & et. al., (2021). Health equity considerations in COVID-19: geospatial network analysis
of the COVID-19 outbreak in the migrant population in Singapore. Journal of Travel
Medicine, 28(2), taaa159.
Pung, R., & et. al., (2020). Investigation of three clusters of COVID-19 in Singapore:
implications for surveillance and response measures. The Lancet, 395(10229), 1039-
1046.
Online:
Social distancing measures taken by Singaporeans during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020
Share of Singaporeans practicing social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in
2020. 2020. [Online] Available Through:<
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112249/singapore-impact-of-social-distancing-
during-covid-19/ >.
Coronavirus Cases. 2021. [Online] Available Through:<
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/singapore/ >.
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