Day: July 9, 2021

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Covid-19: Singapore sends medical supplies, equipment to Indonesia

SINGAPORE— Singapore sent medical supplies and equipment to Indonesia on Friday amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said.

 

Indonesia on Thursday reported a new daily record of 38,391 COVID-19 infections and 852 more fatalities from the disease, its second-highest daily death toll, official data showed.

 

More than 2.4 million COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the country since the start of the pandemic, with 63,760 deaths.

 

“Singapore stands in solidarity with Indonesia against the surge of COVID-19,” said MFA in a press statement.

 

“In response to Indonesia’s request, the Singapore Government has provided an initial tranche of medical supplies and equipment including oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, ventilators and personal protective equipment such as surgical and N95 masks, gloves, and gowns to support Indonesia’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the ministry.

 

Two Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 aircraft left Paya Lebar Air Base for Jakarta on Friday morning.

 

Multiple government agencies in both Singapore and Indonesia worked in close cooperation to arrange the dispatch of the medical supplies at short notice, MFA added.

 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan handed over the medical supplies and equipment to the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Suryo Pratomo at Paya Lebar Air Base.

 

“For the last one and a half years, we have all been coping with the unprecedented challenge that COVID-19 has caused us,” said Dr Balakrishnan in his remarks at the ceremony for the handover.

 

With the spread of the Delta variant across the world in the last few months, the challenge has “intensified”, the minister said.

 

“The situation in Indonesia right now is also due to the spread of the Delta variant, and as close neighbours and partners, we stand in solidarity with all the people of Indonesia,” he added.

 

Last year, Singapore sent COVID-19 test kits along with other equipment to Indonesia.

 

“In return – I think many people may not be aware – when we had to establish community care facilities very quickly, the Republic of Indonesia was very helpful to us in supplying essential equipment and furniture which we needed to outfit this,” said Dr Balakrishnan.

 

“So now, at their point in need, we stand in solidarity with them in support. It is this kind of mutual support that represents the strength of our relationship – not just at the government-to-government level, but at the people-to-people level.”

 

“This is a physical manifestation of the strength of our relationship and our solidarity with the people of Indonesia,” added the minister.

 

The Singapore Armed Forces and Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) are working closely together, said Dr Balakrishnan, adding that the operation would not be possible without the direct participation of both forces.

 

An “additional tranche of assistance” will be delivered through the Singapore Navy.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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Indonesia – Floods and landslides (ADINet, BNPB, BMKG) (ECHO Daily Flash of 09 July 2021)

Heavy rain has been affecting the Sulawesi Island (in particular South Sulawesi Province) since 7 July, triggering landslides and causing floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.

Across the South Sulawesi Province, the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) and the ASEAN Disaster Information Network (ADINet) reports, as of 9 July, one fatality, 40 displaced people, 575 affected people and 112 damaged buildings in Jeneponto Regency. Moreover, around 5,000 affected people were reported across Bantaeng Regency. In addition, 100 affected people, five damaged buildings and three damaged bridges were reported in Bulukumba Regency, as well as eight evacuated families across Sinjai Regency.

Over the next 24 hours, more heavy rain is forecast over the whole Sulawesi Island, with locally very heavy rain over central Regencies.

 

 

Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

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DFA GEARS UP FOR THE GLOBAL ROLL-OUT OF ONLINE VISA APPLICATION SYSTEM (OVAS)

PASAY CITY– Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido J. Dulay, together with Foreign Affairs Officer-in-Charge for Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) Senen T. Mangalile, spearheaded the launching of the Online Visa Application System (OVAS) today at OCA ASEANA.

The OVAS will be rolled out globally to the Department’s Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) for visa issuance to foreign nationals who are exempted under current IATF rules from the country’s entry ban.

In his remarks, Undersecretary Dulay underscored how OVAS will allow greater convenience and added safety for visa applicants, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic where mobility has become more limited.

“The public, both local and foreign, depend on us to improve our systems so that they may be able to reunite with their families, continue their medical treatment and studies, or participate in the Government’s various ‘Build, Build, Build’ programs”, Undersecretary Dulay emphasized.

 

OIC Mangalile added that, “the Department is ready to roll-out OVAS to an initial list of twenty-five (25) FSPs including China, Singapore, Dubai, Oman, London, Paris, among others, and will roll out the system in North America and the rest of Europe later in the year. However, the system will only be available for foreign nationals who have been granted entry exemption at this time.”

Further announcements from the local embassy or consulate will be made in due course on these developments.

 

 

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

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APPEAL FOR INFORMATION – MR MOHAMED DAWOOD BIN MOHAMED APPA

The Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of 69-year-old Mr Mohamed Dawood Bin Mohamed Appa who was last seen in the vicinity of Blk 314 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 on 6 July 2021 at about 8.30am.

 

Anyone with information is requested to call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

 

Source: Singapore Police Force

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Subseasonal Weather Outlook (12 – 25 July 2021)

Subseasonal Weather Outlook (12 – 25 July 2021)

Issued 9 July 2021
First forecast week: 12 July – 18 July
Second forecast week: 19 July – 25 July

figure1

Figure 1: Rainfall Outlook

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Figure 2: Temperature Outlook

Wetter conditions are expected in Week 1 (12 – 18 July) over much of the central and eastern Maritime Continent, as well as the southeastern part of Mainland Southeast Asia. In Week 2 (19 – 25 July), these wetter conditions are expected to ease, apart from over the southeastern part of the Maritime Continent.

Drier conditions are expected in the next fortnight (12 – 25 July) over parts of the western Maritime Continent. These drier conditions may extend eastwards in Week 2 (19 – 25 July) to cover western parts of Borneo.

Warmer temperatures than usual are expected over the southern part of the Maritime Continent in Week 1 (12 – 18 July). These warmer conditions are expected to extend to most of the Maritime Continent and southern parts of Mainland Southeast Asia in Week 2 (19 – 25 July).

An MJO signal was present over the Indian Ocean (Phases 2 and 3) at the beginning of July. Some models predict the MJO to continue propagating eastwards over the Maritime Continent (Phases 4 and 5).

The outlook is assessed for the region in general, where conditions are relative to the average conditions for the corresponding time of year. For specific updates on the national scale, the relevant ASEAN National Meteorological and Hydrological Services should be consulted.

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QuantuMDx launches Q-POC™ – rapid PCR point of care diagnostic system

QuantuMDx launches Q-POC™ – rapid PCR point of care diagnostic system

  • Roll out at ECCMID 2021 with Q-POC™ SARS-CoV-2 assay
  • 96.9% sensitivity, 98.3% specificity
  • Sample to result – approximately 30 minutes
  • CE-IVD marked – available to order now

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, UK, 09 July 2021. QuantuMDx Group Limited (‘QuantuMDx’ or the ‘Company’), a UK-based developer of transformational point-of-care diagnostics, today announces the launch of Q-POC™ – a rapid, PCR point of care diagnostic system.

Launching at ECCMID 2021, QuantuMDx’s Q-POC™ system and its first test, a SARS-CoV-2 detection assay, are now CE-IVD marked under the In Vitro Diagnostics Directive (98/79/EC), enabling use within Europe.

The Q-POC™ SARS-CoV-2 assay has been evaluated at St George’s, University of London, to assess clinical performance against tests in current use. The Development & Assessment of Rapid Technology (DART) Study shows 96.9% sensitivity (at CTs <35), 98.3% specificity and 0% cross reactivity with common commensal or potentially interfering organisms.

Q-POC™ is a portable PCR system which compresses an entire molecular diagnostic laboratory into a simple to use, accessible and affordable single device offering rapid, molecular diagnostic testing at the point of care, with results in approximately 30 minutes. Q-POC™ has been designed for front-line healthcare professionals and can be used within a wide range of settings, including emergency rooms, ICU, birthing centres, clinics, and pharmacies.

The Q-POC™ SARS-CoV-2 assay is contained within a sealed, single use test cassette designed for safety, ease of use and to eliminate contamination risk. On-board reagents are also lyophilised for room temperature storage, convenient shipping and a longer shelf life.

QuantuMDx’s Q-POC™ SARS-CoV-2 Assay has been designed with the most up-to-data sequence information to ensure 100% coverage of all known SARS-CoV-2 sequences.

Jonathan O’Halloran, Chief Executive, QuantuMDx, said: “Q-POC™ represents a new class of molecular diagnostic device: it’s fast, battery operated, can multiplex and is so simple to operate that anyone can be trained to use it. It’s a true point of care diagnostic system.

“Our Q-POC™ system is future-proof, and packs a great deal of complexity and power behind its modern lines and simple operation. Our SARS-CoV-2 test is just the first in a portfolio designed to meet real clinical needs. Over the next few years, we’ll be driving menu expansion, comprising large syndromic panels and antimicrobial resistance mutation panels, ensuring we remain at the forefront of molecular, point of care diagnostics globally.”

Sanjeev Krishna, Professor of Molecular Parasitology and Medicine at St George’s, University of London, said: “We are simply delighted to see the successful outcome of years of efforts to compress a diagnostics laboratory into a simple, portable and flexible device. The Q-POC™ platform was invented to address urgent diagnostic needs, particularly for pinch points for COVID-19 management in the NHS, and the community. In addition, how great is it to see the Northern Powerhouse delivering for us, with great potential to expand quickly and tackle other looming challenges like winter flu and antimicrobial resistance.”

Jonathan O’Halloran added: “Working with our British manufacturing partner, Cogent Technology and Singapore-based, Univac, we have scaled manufacturing to ensure security of supply for our customers and we are excited to be open for business.”

QuantuMDx was awarded £16m UK government funding in March 2020 to develop the company’s portable diagnostic testing system, Q-POC™, and disposable cassettes to allow for rapid, point-of-care testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in high and low-resource settings. The funding also included £3.2m towards production of QuantuMDx’ lab-based coronavirus test which is now commercially available.

For more information about QuantuMDx and Q-POC™, its rapid PCR point of care system, go to: www.quantumdx.com.

Notes to editor:

1)   Q-POC™ brochure and video

2)   Professor Sanjeev Krishna is a shareholder and advisor to QuantuMDx

About QuantuMDx:

QuantuMDx Group is an ambitious company with a global vision of empowering the world to control and eradicate disease by making transformative, quality point-of-care diagnostic technologies universally accessible. QuantuMDx has operations and strategic partnerships in the United States, Asia, Australasia, Europe and Africa – keeping it at the forefront of molecular diagnostics. For more information go to: www.quantumdx.com

For media enquiries:

Debra Daglish, Marketing Communications Manager, QuantuMDx Group, 0870 803 1234

Chris Gardner, Matthew Neal and Lindsey Neville, Consilium Strategic Communications, 0203 709 5700 / quantumdx@consilium-comms.com

For investor enquiries:

Financial Adviser: WG Partners LLP; David Wilson (020 3705 9315), Nigel Barnes (020 3705 9318), Claes Spång (020 3705 9317)