Threat of Recession Looms over Singapore

Singapore’s manufacturing and trade will probably be hit as it will be affected by the economic disruption in China due to the outbreak coronavirus.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Indonesian citizens who undergo quarantine and observation related to the outbreak of the coronavirus conduct a morning exercise at the Raden Sadjad Ranai Airport Hangar, Natuna regency, Riau Islands, Friday (14/2/2020). During the observation period, which lasts 14 days ending on Saturday (15/2/2020), the citizens were reported as in good health. Along with the completion of the observation period, they will later be flown from Natuna to Jakarta to return to their respective homes.

SINGAPORE, FRIDAY – Singapore’s economy may go into recession following the ongoing new coronavirus outbreak, which has hit many sectors of the tiny city-state’s economy, including tourism and manufacturing.

“The impact will be significant at least in the next couple of quarters,” Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in an interview uploaded to his official Facebook account.

Lee said that he could not be sure whether or not Singapore would have a recession. “It is possible but definitely our economy would take a hit,” he told the press at Singapore’s Changi Airport on Friday (14/2/2020).

With 58 cases, Singapore is among the areas with the highest number of new coronavirus cases outside China.

A recession occurs when economic growth is negative for two consecutive quarters. According to Lee, the Changi Airport has seen a reduced number of flights up to a third of the usual amount.

In order to curb the spread of the virus, Singapore has banned all travel from China, its largest source of tourists. On the other hand, several countries have issued travel warnings for Singapore. With 58 cases, Singapore is among the areas with the highest number of new coronavirus cases outside China.

Singapore’s manufacturing and trade will probably be hit as it will be affected by the economic disruption in China due to the outbreak. Singapore, a major business hub in Asia, has just shown signs of recovery after having its lowest growth rate in the past decade last year, namely at 0.7 percent.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

The situation at the international departure terminal I of Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Badung, Bali, Saturday (8/2/2020).

Returning from Natuna

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said that Indonesians evacuated from Wuhan, China, were in healthy condition and ready to return home. They will fly from Natuna in Riau Islands to Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on Saturday at 1 p.m.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, 238 Indonesians were evacuated from Wuhan on Feb. 1. At the time, the 238 Indonesians were flown to Batam in Riau Islands and then to Natuna for a quarantine. Apart from the evacuees, there were also five advanced team members and 42 pickup team members.

In Magelang regency, Central Java, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo requested that the public accept all the quarantined Indonesians back at home, urging people not to worry as all the evacuees had undergone medical checkups and observations and were declared healthy. The quarantine and observation lasted 14 days, in line with standard health protocols from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Aceh government said that it would greet 11 local youths who went to college in Wuhan and were put in quarantine in Natuna. In Aceh, their health would be further monitored. “There is no need to worry. They have been examined and quarantined,” Aceh Social Affairs Agency head Alhudri said in Banda Aceh on Friday.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

The ferry passengers from Singapore fill in their identities on their health alert card before entering Batam Port in Batam, Riau Islands (13/2/2020).

Eijkman Molecular Biology Agency deputy head David Handojo Muljono said that the virus’ incubation period was a consensus based on available cases. Considering the relative newness of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV02), data may still change. Health of the quarantined Indonesians will be further monitored after they arrive home.

A finding by Wei-jie Guan and a team from the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health’s National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, published in the medRxiv journal on Feb. 10, cited that the incubation period for the new coronavirus was 24 days, longer than the previous prediction of 14 days. However, the average incubation period remains very short at three days.

In Maluku, 19-year-old BN from Tanimbar Islands regency was suspected to have the new coronavirus. The student, who had traveled to Malaysia, is currently in treatment at the Magretti hospital in Saumlaki. His blood, sputum and nasopharyngeal specimens were sent to the Health Ministry’s laboratory on Saturday.

Magretti hospital director Fulfully Nuniary explained that the patient did not immediately go to the hospital upon arriving in Saumlaki on Feb. 7. The local health agency went to BN’s house after receiving reports that BN had traveled to Malaysia.

(REUTERS/ATO/TAN/EGI/AIN/FRN/AIK)