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Football: Premier League fixtures hit by Covid-19 as postponements rise

LONDON, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - The Premier League fixture list was thrown into chaos on Thursday (Dec 16) as six games were postponed because of Covid-19 outbreaks, taking the total for the past week to nine. Leicester City's home game against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday was the first to go followed by Manchester United's clash with visiting Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. As the situation escalated the Premier League announced later that four more games this weekend - Southampton versus Brentford, Watford versus Crystal Palace, West Ham United versus Norwich City and Everton versus Leicester City - had also been postponed. "The League understands fans will be disappointed these games have had to be postponed and apologises for the inconvenience and disruption caused," a statement said. "All other fixtures due to be played this weekend are currently scheduled to proceed as planned." With infection rates from the omicron variant accelerating across the country and the government racing to deliver vaccine booster jabs, the prospect of more games being called off grow. Earlier in the day, Brentford manager Thomas Frank called for all Premier League games in the coming week to be postponed to allow clubs to recover their depleted squads. Tottenham, who reported 13 positive tests among players and staff, have already had two league games postponed, as have Manchester United, Watford and Leicester. United's game at Brentford was called off on Monday and in a statement on Thursday the club said it would "suspend football training operations at the Carrington Training Complex for a short period to help reduce risk of further transmission". On Wednesday, Burnley's home match with Watford was called off shortly before kickoff after the visitors reported cases. TV prioritised over health Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers on Wednesday criticised the Premier League after an initial request to have Thursday's game against Tottenham postponed was turned down. Rodgers, who had nine players unavailable, said lucrative TV deals were being prioritised over the health of players. "I'm pretty sure that's the case," Rodgers told reporters when asked. "In terms of players, managers and coaches, we all want to play the games. Ultimately, the health of a player is the priority. If players are available, you get a better product." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Four Chelsea players including Lukaku, Werner test positive for Covid-19   Related Story Football: Brentford boss calls for Premier League pause as Covid-19 cases surge The Premier League said the decision to grant a postponement came after Leicester reported more cases and were left with an "insufficient number of players available to fulfil the game." On Monday, the Premier League said it was re-introducing emergency measures after a record 42 Covid-19 infections were recorded in the past week among players and staff. Players now need to take lateral flow tests every day and two PCR tests per week. League rules state that if a team cannot raise 14 players then a game can be postponed although other factors, such as impact on preparation and whether or not there has been an "uncontrollable outbreak" are taken into account. The Premier League's policy is to address postponements on a case-by-case basis. Explaining the latest four postponements, the league said Brentford and Watford were dealing with ongoing outbreaks and had closed their training grounds, while bottom club Norwich had an insufficient number of players owing to Covid-19, injuries and illness. 'Through the roof' Brighton, who lost 1-0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, had tried unsuccessfully to have that game postponed because of Covid-19 cases. Speaking on Thursday, Brentford boss Frank said he was dealing with 13 cases at the London club. "The Covid cases are going through the roof at all Premier League clubs," he told a news conference. "Everyone is dealing with it and everyone has a problem at this moment in time. To postpone this round (of Premier League games) and the Carabao (League) Cup would give everyone a week at least to clean and do everything at the training ground so everything is fine and we break the chain at every club." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Manager of virus-hit Spurs warns it poses a 'big problem' to all teams   Related Story Football: Vaccination a sign of 'solidarity', says Liverpool manager Klopp Two more Premier League games are scheduled for later on Thursday with Liverpool hosting Newcastle United and Chelsea at home to Everton. Liverpool were without three players after suspected positive tests while Chelsea's preparations were hit with four players unavailable. December and the holiday season is traditionally a packed programme for English football, with many games shown on live TV. But the bumper schedule could be shredded by the wave of infections sweeping through clubs. Britain reported a record number of new Covid-19 infections for the second day running on Thursday with 88,000 new cases. With so many games being postponed, the question of players'vaccination status has again been raised. The Premier League's last released data in mid-October said 81 per cent of players had received at least one Covid-19 vaccination dose with 68 per cent double vaccinated. The English Football League released its latest vaccination figures on Thursday, revealing that 25 per cent of players in November said they were not intending to get vaccinated.   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story New studies raise hopes vaccines prevent severe disease from Omicron Related Story Long Covid patients face fatigue, poor sleep even after one year Related Story Malaysia detects second Omicron case: 8-year-old girl returning from Nigeria Related Story Refugees lack Covid-19 shots because drugmakers fear lawsuits: Documents Related Story Omicron multiplies 70 times faster but is less severe, study says Related Story No need for Omicron-specific boosters currently, US' Fauci says Related Story Vaccination bookings for P3 to 5 pupils to open next week if doses arrive as scheduled

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Football: Four Chelsea players including Lukaku, Werner test positive for Covid-19

LONDON (REUTERS) - Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and the injured Ben Chilwell have tested positive for Covid-19 while Kai Havertz is unwell, manager Thomas Tuchel said ahead of their Premier League home match against Everton later on Thursday (Dec 16). "Kai feels unwell, he's not positive yet but we're waiting for test results and we decided to not bring him to the squad,"Tuchel said. "We did some extra tests at 12 o'clock today to make sure who would arrive at lunch. From there we had to pick the team... The situation started yesterday with the players feeling unwell and not training." On top of the new cases, Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic recently recovered from injury only to have to isolate after testing positive for Covid-19. "We still have a strong squad and one we want to push forward, and that should be able to compete," Tuchel said before the kickoff against Everton. "Like always, we focus on the guys who are there." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Man United's EPL match against Brighton postponed due to Covid-19   Related Story Football: Brentford boss calls for Premier League pause as Covid-19 cases surge   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story New studies raise hopes vaccines prevent severe disease from Omicron Related Story Long Covid patients face fatigue, poor sleep even after one year Related Story Malaysia detects second Omicron case: 8-year-old girl returning from Nigeria Related Story Refugees lack Covid-19 shots because drugmakers fear lawsuits: Documents Related Story Omicron multiplies 70 times faster but is less severe, study says Related Story No need for Omicron-specific boosters currently, US' Fauci says Related Story Vaccination bookings for P3 to 5 pupils to open next week if doses arrive as scheduled

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Football: Arsenal thrive despite Aubameyang row as EPL’s Covid-19 crisis deepens

LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal showed they can thrive without axed star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the Gunners moved into fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-0 win against West Ham, while the top-flight's coronavirus crisis deepened on Wednesday (Dec 15). Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe netted in the second half of a fiery London derby at the Emirates Stadium that saw West Ham's Vladimir Coufal sent off. Arsenal are one point above fifth-placed West Ham after a second successive victory eased the drama surrounding Mikel Arteta's decision to strip Gabon forward Aubameyang of the club captaincy. Arteta's side are in the top four at this stage of a season for the first time in two-and-a-half years. It is a remarkable reversal of fortune after Arsenal lost their opening three league games for the first time in 67 years. Calls for Arteta to be sacked were widespread after an embarrassing 5-0 thrashing at Manchester City in August, but the Spaniard has steadied the ship impressively. Aubameyang was absent from the squad after being removed from the captaincy due to a disciplinary breach on Tuesday. He returned late and missed training last week after travelling to France to see his ill mother. It was not Aubameyang's first transgression, having previously been dropped for the north London derby against Tottenham in March after what was described as a breach of the club's pre-match protocol. Aubameyang has also performed poorly since signing a lucrative new contract in September 2020. Martinelli broke West Ham's resistence in the 48th minute when the Brazilian ran onto Alexandre Lacazette's defence-splitting pass and stroked a fine finish into the far corner for his second goal this term. West Ham were reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute after Coufal's tackle on stand-in skipper Lacazette conceded a penalty and earned the defender a second yellow card. Lukasz Fabianski plunged to his left to save Lacazette's spot-kick, but Smith Rowe capped Arsenal's dominant display when he finished a flowing move with a clinical strike from the edge of the area in the 87th minute. Covid-19 chaos While Arsenal were hit by the coronavirus before their opening game of the season at Brentford, they have so far avoided the recent positive test plunging the league into turmoil. Watford's match at Burnley was postponed less than three hours before kick-off on Wednesday after "an ongoing Covid outbreak" left the Hornets with insufficent players to fulfil the fixture. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Watford's Burnley clash postponed due to Covid-19 outbreak   Related Story Aubameyang dropped as Arsenal captain after disciplinary breach It was the third Premier League game to be postponed due to Covid in four days as the new Omicron variant causes havoc in England's top-flight. Tottenham's trip to Brighton last Sunday was called off due to an outbreak at the north London club, while Manchester United's match at Brentford on Tuesday was cancelled after the Old Trafford club's positive tests. United, Tottenham, Brighton, Leicester, Norwich and Aston Villa had already been hit by the virus over the last week. The Premier League announced a record 42 positive tests across two testing cycles last week. Top-flight chiefs have responded to the growing number of positive cases by introducing strict virus protocols, including players and staff taking a lateral flow test every time they enter their club's training ground. Also on Wednesday, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said the Premier League had rejected an appeal from both clubs to postpone their match against Tottenham on Thursday. Leicester are currently without nine players because of Covid-related issues and injuries. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Manager of virus-hit Spurs warns it poses a 'big problem' to all teams   Related Story Football: Vaccination a sign of 'solidarity', says Liverpool manager Klopp Brighton boss Graham Potter had dealt with several Covid cases in his squad this week and his problems mounted as Wolves won 1-0 at the Amex Stadium. Potter's side are without a win in 12 games in all competitions after Romain Saiss volleyed home in first half stoppage-time. Jordan Ayew ended his 47-game goal drought to give Crystal Palace a 2-2 draw against Southampton at Selhurst Park.   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story Omicron spreading at unprecedented rate: WHO Related Story Omicron to become dominant in Europe by mid-January, EU warns Related Story Blinken cuts short S.E. Asia trip after member of entourage tests positive for Covid-19 in Malaysia Related Story Vaccination bookings for P3 to 5 pupils to open next week if doses arrive as scheduled Related Story Australia reopens borders to vaccinated students, workers despite Omicron variant Related Story Pfizer says Covid-19 pill near 90% effective in final analysis Related Story China’s southern Guangzhou city detects one Covid-19 infection of Omicron

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Football: Watford’s Burnley clash postponed due to Covid-19 outbreak

LONDON (AFP) - Watford's Premier League clash at Burnley was postponed less than three hours before kick-off because of "an ongoing Covid outbreak" within the Hornets' squad on Wednesday (Dec 15). Burnley revealed the match at Turf Moor had been cancelled at the last minute after Watford were left with an "insufficent" number of players. "Burnley Football Club can confirm tonight's match against Watford has been postponed due to an ongoing Covid outbreak within the opposition squad," the Clarets said in a statement. It was the third Premier League game to be postponed due to Covid-19 in the last week as the new Omicron variant causes havoc in England's top-flight. Tottenham's trip to Brighton last Sunday was called off due to an outbreak at the north London club, while Manchester United's match at Brentford on Tuesday was cancelled after the Old Trafford club's positive tests. Several matches in the second-tier Championship have also been postponed recently because of Covid-19 cases. "It is with regret the Premier League board has postponed Burnley FC's home fixture against Watford FC," a Premier League statement said. "The decision was taken following guidance from medical advisers due to an ongoing Covid-19 outbreak within Watford's squad. As a result, the club has an insufficient number of first-team players available to fulfil the match. "The Premier League understands this decision will disappoint and frustrate fans who were due to attend this evening's game and apologises for the inconvenience and disruption caused at such short notice. "In considering any application to postpone, the board considers a range of sporting and medical factors. Each decision is taken on a case-by-case basis with everyone's health of utmost importance." 'Extreme situation' United, Tottenham, Brighton, Leicester, Norwich and Aston Villa had already been hit by the virus over the last week. The Premier League announced a record 42 positive tests across two testing cycles last week. Top-flight chiefs have responded to the growing number of positive cases by introducing strict virus protocols. Players and staff must take a lateral flow test every time they enter their club's training ground. Twice-weekly PCR testing is also reported to have been introduced after a clubs' shareholders' meeting on Tuesday. The increased testing will sit alongside the other recently introduced emergency measures, including face coverings, limiting time in the treatment room and observing social distancing. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Manager of virus-hit Spurs warns it poses a 'big problem' to all teams   Related Story Football: Vaccination a sign of 'solidarity', says Liverpool manager Klopp British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already responded to what he called a "tidal wave" of Covid cases by reintroducing stricter protocols for the general public. Earlier on Wednesday, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said the Premier League had rejected an appeal from both clubs to postpone their match against Tottenham on Thursday. Leicester are currently without nine players because of Covid-related issues and injuries. Tottenham wanted to delay the Leicester game to play their Europa Conference League game with Rennes, which was called off last week after their outbreak. "Unfortunately we weren't granted dispensation, which is disappointing," Rodgers said. "As a team and a club, we have always wanted to support all the measures, but when we need a little support with the extreme situation we find ourselves in, we weren't able to get it." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Man City boss Guardiola urges players to get booster shots   Related Story Football: Manchester United suffer Covid-19 outbreak   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story Omicron spreading at unprecedented rate: WHO Related Story Omicron to become dominant in Europe by mid-January, EU warns Related Story Blinken cuts short S.E. Asia trip after member of entourage tests positive for Covid-19 in Malaysia Related Story Vaccination bookings for P3 to 5 pupils to open next week if doses arrive as scheduled Related Story Australia reopens borders to vaccinated students, workers despite Omicron variant Related Story Pfizer says Covid-19 pill near 90% effective in final analysis Related Story China’s southern Guangzhou city detects one Covid-19 infection of Omicron

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Football: Vaccination a sign of ‘solidarity’, says Liverpool manager Klopp

LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he believes taking the coronavirus vaccine is about "solidarity, loyalty and togetherness" as he revealed his whole squad has been at least double vaccinated. From Wednesday (Dec 15), fans in the Premier League will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result in the past 48 hours to enter stadiums as Britain battles a new wave of coronavirus cases caused by the new Omicron variant. Two Premier League games have also been postponed in the past week due to multiple cases at Tottenham and Manchester United, while there have been smaller outbreaks at Leicester City, Norwich City and Aston Villa. "We are like the whole world concerned about it, but we do what we can. The vaccination status of the team is quite good," said Klopp, at his pre-match press conference ahead of Newcastle United's trip to Anfield on Thursday. "Everyone here is at least double vaccinated and will get a booster as soon as possible. "The whole vaccination thing is for me, a question of solidarity, loyalty and togetherness and we have all the chance to help not only ourselves but other people as well by getting vaccinated. "There are no two possible answers, there is only one answer. That is how I understand it." A raft of measures were agreed among Premier League clubs on Tuesday to try and minimise disruption caused by Covid. All top-flight players and staff will have to take a lateral flow test every time they enter their club's training ground as part of the protocols. Twice-weekly polymerase chain reaction testing will also be re-introduced. The increased testing sits alongside the other recently introduced emergency measures, including face coverings, limiting time in the treatment room and observing social distancing. "I support these measures absolutely," added Klopp. "It is how it is in these times. We get tested before we arrive, go back to the cars and then when the lateral flow is negative, we can enter the training ground. "Yesterday, we were all negative and we hope the same is the case today." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Manager of virus-hit Spurs warns it poses a 'big problem' to all teams   Related Story Football: Premier League clubs return to emergency Covid measures However, Klopp would not be drawn on speculation over the status of the Africa Cup of Nations, which is due to start in Cameroon on Jan 9. Liverpool's Premier League title challenge could be severely affected by the tournament with top scorers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane due to depart to represent Egypt and Senegal respectively. The European Club Association, which represents leading clubs across the continent, has threatened not to release players due to fears over Covid protocols. Contacted by AFP, a senior official in the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) dismissed any suggestion the tournament may be called off as "fake news". More on this topic   Related Story Football: Manchester United suffer Covid-19 outbreak   Related Story Football: Man City boss Guardiola urges players to get booster shots   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story Omicron spreading at unprecedented rate: WHO Related Story Omicron to become dominant in Europe by mid-January, EU warns Related Story Blinken cuts short S.E. Asia trip after member of entourage tests positive for Covid-19 in Malaysia Related Story Vaccination bookings for P3 to 5 pupils to open next week if doses arrive as scheduled Related Story Australia reopens borders to vaccinated students, workers despite Omicron variant Related Story Pfizer says Covid-19 pill near 90% effective in final analysis Related Story China’s southern Guangzhou city detects one Covid-19 infection of Omicron

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Football: Manager of virus-hit Spurs warns it poses a ‘big problem’ to all teams

LONDON (AFP, REUTERS) - Antonio Conte on Wednesday (Dec 15) spoke of the "big problem" managers will face in future after confirming Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League clash at Leicester City today will go ahead as scheduled, following two postponed matches due to a Covid-19 outbreak in his camp. Spurs' Europa Conference League game against Rennes last week was called off, before the league match at Brighton & Hove Albion over the weekend suffered the same fate. Only 16 senior players trained on Wednesday after eight first-team players and five of the club's coaching staff had tested positive for the coronavirus. Tottenham boss Conte believes that players hit by the virus will have to be carefully managed as they gradually recover. "The players who are back in training, they need time to find the right physical condition," said the Italian, without mentioning names. "The Covid is not only 10 days and many times it makes your body not so strong. For this reason you have players injured after Covid. "We have... positives, for sure tomorrow they can't play. Today two players are back in training for the first time. Yesterday another player, but as you know, they need to be fit to play. "This is the big problem that we must be good to face in the future, not just the 10 days. To bring these players affected by Covid to be fit and avoid injuries. "After 10 days, you have players available but then you have to pay attention to the way to train, whether the body is ready to work. "You have to pay attention, moderate the training to avoid injuries. This is the big problem, not only for Tottenham but for other clubs with Covid-hit players." Spurs were not the only side who have had their Premier League match postponed, as Manchester United's clash at Brentford on Tuesday was also called off. There were a record 42 cases among players and staff at all clubs over the past week. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Vaccination a sign of 'solidarity', says Liverpool manager Klopp   Related Story Football: Man City boss Guardiola urges players to get booster shots A depleted Tottenham side will nevertheless aim to get back on track in the league today after falling two games behind, including a postponed match with Burnley last month due to heavy snow. Their 3-0 victory over Norwich City on Dec 5 was their third home league win in a row under Conte, but they have won just one of their last five away league games. Leicester beat Newcastle United 4-0 over the weekend, but they too had their issues with Covid-19, with at least seven players ruled out. "We have been taking all the precautions - wearing masks, reinforcing hygiene issues, safe distancing," said Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers. "It's just really unfortunate we've seen a number of cases. Hopefully, we can get some of these players back." Leicester's match went ahead despite their situation and Norwich manager Dean Smith is seeking clarity from the league on a "magic number" of Covid-19 cases in a team for a fixture to be called off. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Manchester United suffer Covid-19 outbreak   Related Story Football: Premier League clubs return to emergency Covid measures "Our sporting director spoke to the Premier League on guidance when we have symptomatic players around us," Smith said. "We played Tottenham, they had an outbreak. We played United, they had an outbreak. We wanted guidance over would it be fair on Villa if we had symptomatic players around us? I'm not saying our players have Covid... but we probably need a magic number telling us how many is enough." As part of new measures, Premier League players and staff must take a lateral flow test every time they enter their club's training ground. Twice-weekly polymerase chain reaction testing is also reported to be in place. The increased testing will sit alongside the other recently introduced measures, including face coverings, limiting time in the treatment room and observing social distancing.   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story Omicron spreading at unprecedented rate: WHO Related Story Omicron to become dominant in Europe by mid-January, EU warns Related Story Blinken cuts short S.E. Asia trip after member of entourage tests positive for Covid-19 in Malaysia Related Story Vaccination bookings for P3 to 5 pupils to open next week if doses arrive as scheduled Related Story Australia reopens borders to vaccinated students, workers despite Omicron variant Related Story Pfizer says Covid-19 pill near 90% effective in final analysis Related Story China’s southern Guangzhou city detects one Covid-19 infection of Omicron

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Covid-19 vaccination bookings for P3 to 5 pupils to open next week if doses arrive as scheduled

SINGAPORE - More than 300,000 children aged five to 11 will progressively be able to book their Covid-19 vaccination appointments from next week, if the delivery of the paediatric doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine arrives as scheduled. The vaccination exercise will start from the end of December for the older children in Primary 3 to 5, and the younger ones thereafter in early 2022, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Dec 14). "As more of our children get vaccinated, we will be able to resume more learning activities, sports and games, which are critical to their physical, cognitive and socio-emotional well-being and development," said Mr Chan. He added that the authorities are awaiting confirmation of the date of arrival of the paediatric doses of the vaccine. The Ministry of Health (MOH) had announced last Friday its approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged five to 11. The vaccine will also be offered to long-term pass holders in Singapore within this age group. The expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination has said the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks posed to young children.  The children will be given smaller doses - one-third of that used for those 12 and above - and the jabs will be spaced at least 21 days apart. It recommended that children with moderate to severe chronic medical conditions be given priority to receive the jabs.  The Ministry of Education is working closely with MOH and the Early Childhood Development Agency to prepare for the vaccination exercise, which will involve more than 300,000 children aged five to 11. "As parents, we all want our children to be healthy and safe. Vaccination against Covid-19 will help minimise the chances of our children getting seriously ill if they do get infected, especially with the latest Omicron variant of concern," said Mr Chan. Other nations, such as Canada, the United States, Israel and Australia, have also given the green light to the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged between five and 11. More on this topic   Related Story S'pore parents welcome Covid-19 jabs for kids, but some fear side effects   Related Story NUS to run year-long study to determine immunity of children against Covid-19   Related Stories:  Related Story HK researchers develop steel that kills 99% of Covid-19 virus within hours Related Story Will I lose fully vaccinated status if I don't get third Sinovac, Sinopharm dose? Related Story Trump's blood oxygen level in Covid-19 bout was dangerously low, former aide says in book Related Story Omicron's spread across hotel hall in Hong Kong highlights transmission worry Related Story Top Covid-19 expert hints at how China may return to 'normality' Related Story South Korea's Covid-19 rules put some vaccinated foreigners in limbo Related Story Inside South Africa's effort to halt dangerous Covid-19 mutations Related Story Lessons from travelling in a Covid-19-stricken world Related Story The week that Covid-19 sucker punched the world Related Story Pfizer or Moderna booster - which is more effective? Here's what an MOH study shows

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S’pore approves Pfizer Covid-19 jab for children aged 5 to 11; booster shots for 18- to 29-year-olds from Dec 14

SINGAPORE - Children from five to 11 years old will be able to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccine from the end of the month.  Vaccination for this group will begin once new batches of the vaccine are received, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement on Friday (Dec 10) night. Those aged between 18 and 29 years who have completed their primary vaccination jabs at least five months ago will also be able to receive their booster shots from Dec 14. The Pfizer vaccine is the first Covid-19 vaccine approved by Singapore for use for children aged five to 11, following a recommendation by the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination, which the multi-ministry taskforce has accepted. The committee said the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks posed to the young children, especially given the ongoing community transmission and emergence of the Omicron variant.  It recommended children with moderate to severe chronic medical conditions should be given priority to receive the jabs.  The children will be given smaller doses - one-third of that used for those 12 and above - and the jabs will be spaced at least 21 days apart, said the health ministry.  MOH will work with the Ministry of Education and Early Childhood Development Agency to roll out vaccinations for the school-going age group.  Senior Minister of State for Health Dr Janil Puthucheary said in a Facebook post that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) had conducted a thorough evaluation of data in consultation with two groups of experts from HSA’s Medicines Advisory Committee and Panel of Infectious Diseases Experts.  Based on the data, Dr Puthucheary said the “benefits outweigh the risks for use in the young”. He said: “In an ongoing study of over 2,000 children aged 5 to 11 years, vaccine efficacy was estimated to be 90.7%. In addition, side effects such as injection site pain, fatigue, headache, chills and fever were generally reported less frequently and were milder in severity in the children compared to adolescents... “There were also no cases of anaphylaxis or myocarditis/pericarditis in the study.” In early November, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the expert committee would make a recommendation on whether to extend the Pfizer vaccine to children aged five to 11 in the second half of the month.  His comments came after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised the use of the vaccine for children in that age group. The take up rate in the US has been low, with just 5 million out of 28 million eligible children having received at least one dose, Reuters reported on Dec 9, citing hesitation among parents and adult caregivers to inoculate their children. Other nations such as Canada, Israel and Australia have also green lit the use of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged between five and 11. More on this topic   Related Story NUS to run year-long study to determine immunity of children against Covid-19   Related Story Trend of kids in S'pore getting Covid-19, vaccines should be available from January Singapore’s director of medical services Kenneth Mak has said last month that there has been a trend of children below the age of 12 getting infected. Those under the age of 12 accounted for 11.2 per cent of all cases on Nov 19. Comparatively, infections among children made up only 6.7 per cent of all cases four weeks ago in October, he said.  “These children remain vulnerable because they are not yet eligible for vaccination to protect them from infection and it’s generally harder to get them to comply with mask-wearing and safe management measures,” said Prof Mak. More on this topic   Related Story Young children in Covid-19 isolation: Tips on how to care for them   Related Story askST: How does a child develop multi-system inflammatory syndrome from Covid-19? To date, 96 per cent of those who are eligible have received two doses of the vaccine.  “While this is encouraging, we need more people to be vaccinated and boosted, especially given the emergence of the Omicron variant, which is likely to established itself all over the world in the coming couple of months,” said MOH.  “Vaccinations and boosters are the best protection against an unknown and highly transmissible Covid-19 variant.” More on this topic   Related Story Another Changi Airport staff among 3 in S'pore who test preliminarily positive for Omicron   Related Story The big questions on Omicron: What we know and what it means for us   Related Stories:  Related Story HK researchers develop steel that kills 99% of Covid-19 virus within hours Related Story Will I lose fully vaccinated status if I don't get third Sinovac, Sinopharm dose? Related Story Trump's blood oxygen level in Covid-19 bout was dangerously low, former aide says in book Related Story Omicron's spread across hotel hall in Hong Kong highlights transmission worry Related Story Top Covid-19 expert hints at how China may return to 'normality' Related Story South Korea's Covid-19 rules put some vaccinated foreigners in limbo Related Story Inside South Africa's effort to halt dangerous Covid-19 mutations Related Story Lessons from travelling in a Covid-19-stricken world Related Story The week that Covid-19 sucker punched the world Related Story Pfizer or Moderna booster - which is more effective? Here's what an MOH study shows

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Football: Tottenham’s Brighton clash postponed after Covid-19 outbreak

LONDON (AFP) - Tottenham’s Premier League game at Brighton on Sunday has been postponed due to a severe coronavirus outbreak at the north London club. Eight Tottenham players and five staff members have tested positive for the virus, forcing the postponement of Thursday’s (Dec 9) Europa Conference League tie against Rennes. Tottenham asked Premier League chiefs to postpone this weekend’s trip to the Amex Stadium as well and their request was granted on Thursday. “We can confirm that our Premier League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion, on Sunday, Dec 12, at 2pm, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon (Thursday),” a Tottenham statement said. “The Premier League Board took the decision to postpone the game following guidance from medical advisers, with the health of players and staff the priority. The fixture will be rescheduled in due course. “The club requested the match to be rearranged following a significant number of positive Covid-19 cases among players and relevant staff. “We should like to apologise to everyone at Stade Rennais and Brighton & Hove Albion and to both their supporters and ours for any inconvenience caused.” Emotional Conte Tottenham were forced to close their first-team training centre on Wednesday as a result of the outbreak. Their Premier League match at Leicester next Thursday will also be in doubt, not only because of the situation in Antonio Conte’s squad but because the Foxes have been hit by a less widespread Covid-19 outbreak. Conte was visibly emotional about the outbreak in his press conference ahead of the Rennes game on Wednesday. “The problem is that every day we are having people with Covid,” Conte said. “People that yesterday weren’t positive, today were positive and we continue to have contact with people we think are negative but the day after become positive. I think this is a serious problem. “The situation is serious and it is contagious and there is a big infection and now for sure we are a bit scared because tomorrow we don’t know what happens.” The postponement of further games will cause significant scheduling problems for Tottenham, who have already had a Premier League game at Burnley in November called off because of snow. Discussions regarding the rescheduling of the game with Rennes are ongoing with Uefa, with rules stating there is a Dec 31 deadline for group games to be completed. It is understood there could be some room for manoeuvre on that as Tottenham have a packed domestic schedule heading into the new year. Rennes go on a winter break on Dec 22 and the French club have not taken the postponement of Thursday’s game well. They accused Spurs of causing “London fog” by refusing to tell them how many cases they had and informing them in the afternoon that the game would be played, only to call it off an hour after they had arrived in the capital. The Ligue 1 club, who returned to France on Thursday, later said they “hope the interests of the club will be respected” regarding a possible rearrangement. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Spurs game against Rennes postponed, Uefa confirms   Related Story Football: Spurs down to 10 fit players after Covid-19 outbreak, says Conte   Related Stories:  Related Story HK researchers develop steel that kills 99% of Covid-19 virus within hours Related Story Will I lose fully vaccinated status if I don't get third Sinovac, Sinopharm dose? Related Story Trump's blood oxygen level in Covid-19 bout was dangerously low, former aide says in book Related Story Omicron's spread across hotel hall in Hong Kong highlights transmission worry Related Story Top Covid-19 expert hints at how China may return to 'normality' Related Story South Korea's Covid-19 rules put some vaccinated foreigners in limbo Related Story Inside South Africa's effort to halt dangerous Covid-19 mutations Related Story Lessons from travelling in a Covid-19-stricken world Related Story The week that Covid-19 sucker punched the world Related Story Pfizer or Moderna booster - which is more effective? Here's what an MOH study shows

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Football: Spurs game against Rennes postponed, Uefa confirms

LONDON (REUTERS) - Tottenham Hotspur's Europa Conference League game at home to Stade Rennais on Thursday (Dec 9) will not go ahead as planned, Uefa has announced, after a Covid-19 outbreak at the Premier League club. Spurs said on Wednesday the match had been called off after manager Antonio Conte confirmed that there had been 13 positive cases at the club - eight players and five members of staff. Later on Wednesday, Rennes criticised the decision, saying it was taken unilaterally by Tottenham and that they reserved the right to appeal to Uefa. "Uefa can confirm that the Uefa Europa Conference League group stage match, Tottenham Hotspur versus Stade Rennais FC, which was due to be played on Dec 9 in London, will not be taking place as scheduled," the governing body said in a statement. It is currently unclear whether other Spurs games will be affected. They are due to play at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday, away to Leicester City on Dec 16 and at home to Liverpool on Dec 19. Vitesse Arnhem, level with Tottenham in Europa Conference League Group G on seven points from five games, were due to host Mura on Thursday at the same time (4am on Friday, Singapore time) as the Spurs-Rennes match. The Dutch side said in a statement that they had asked Uefa to postpone their clash as well as they were concerned about the fairness of the matches taking place separately. Vitesse and Spurs are vying with each other to finish second and secure a spot in a playoff round before the last 16. Rennes have already reached the last 16 as Group G winners on 11 points after five matches. Spurs are above Vitesse on goal difference, with Slovenian side Mura out of contention on three. "Vitesse has not (yet) received an official message from Uefa about the consequences of the cancellation in London for Vitesse versus NS Mura," Vitesse said in a statement. "If Tottenham Hotspur versus Stade Rennais FC is moved to a later date that will be a significant disadvantage for Vitesse from a sporting point of view because both teams are highly dependent on each other's result. "...Vitesse has also asked... Uefa... a number of questions and indicated that it is prepared to explore concrete solutions with the aim of creating an equal and fair playing field for all teams in the group." Uefa said on Thursday the match would go ahead as scheduled. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Spurs game against Rennes called off due to Covid-19   Related Story Football: Leicester without seven players for Napoli game   Related Stories:  Related Story HK researchers develop steel that kills 99% of Covid-19 virus within hours Related Story Will I lose fully vaccinated status if I don't get third Sinovac, Sinopharm dose? Related Story Trump's blood oxygen level in Covid-19 bout was dangerously low, former aide says in book Related Story Omicron's spread across hotel hall in Hong Kong highlights transmission worry Related Story Top Covid-19 expert hints at how China may return to 'normality' Related Story South Korea's Covid-19 rules put some vaccinated foreigners in limbo Related Story Inside South Africa's effort to halt dangerous Covid-19 mutations Related Story Lessons from travelling in a Covid-19-stricken world Related Story The week that Covid-19 sucker punched the world Related Story Pfizer or Moderna booster - which is more effective? Here's what an MOH study shows

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Football: Spurs game against Rennes called off due to Covid-19

LONDON (REUTERS) - Tottenham Hotspur’s home Europa Conference League game against Rennes on Thursday has been called off due to the number of coronavirus cases in the Spurs squad, the Premier League club said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 8). Coach Antonio Conte confirmed earlier that there had been 13 positive cases at Tottenham, eight players and five members of staff. “We can confirm that our Uefa Europa Conference League Group G home fixture against Stade Rennais will not take place tomorrow after a number of positive Covid-19 cases at the club, the statement read,” Tottenham said. “Discussions are ongoing with Uefa and we shall provide a further update on this fixture in due course. “Additionally, the club has been advised to close the first team area of its training centre at this time, in the interests of the health and safety of players and staff.” It was unclear whether other Spurs games will be affected. They are scheduled to play Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday, Leicester City on Dec 16 and Liverpool on Dec 19. “The situation makes me very upset because the situation is serious,” Conte told a news conference on Wednesday. “It’s contagious and there is a big infection. Now we are a bit scared because tomorrow we don’t know what will happen. “Every day, we are having more positives. This is not a good situation.” More on this topic   Related Story Football: Spurs down to 10 fit players after Covid-19 outbreak, says Conte   Related Story Coronavirus microsite: Get latest updates, videos and graphics   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story Nearly 20,000 in Malaysia suffering from 'long Covid' Related Story WHO, US scientists say Omicron no worse than other Covid-19 variants Related Story BioNTech, Pfizer say their Covid-19 vaccine neutralises Omicron with three shots Related Story Australia finds new Omicron lineage in arrival from South Africa Related Story Boris Johnson imposes Covid-19 'Plan B' in England to contain Omicron Related Story South Korea considers expanded Covid-19 home care as new cases top 7,000 for first time Related Story 715 new Covid-19 cases, eight deaths in S'pore

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Retail takes off at airport terminals and Jewel amid looming headwinds

SINGAPORE - Shops at the airport terminals and those at Jewel Changi Airport mall are starting to see some signs of life again, bolstered by the easing of social restrictions and the launch of vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs). But the looming threat of the Omicron variant has some retail staff concerned, even though there has not been a significant drop in foot traffic. When The Straits Times visited Terminals 1 and 3 on Wednesday afternoon (Dec 1), some restaurants were already half full at 5.30pm. Mr Martin Lee, who works at Le Shrimp Ramen, said: "The lunch crowd is a hit or miss, but the dinner crowd is definitely busier. On weekends, it can be a full house and the waiting time can stretch up to 20 minutes." The restaurant, which is located at the basement of Terminal 3, started to see a spike in traffic about two weeks ago, when up to five people from different households were allowed to dine out. While customers are still mainly locals, some shops are also starting to see travellers trickling in, with the launch of air VTLs. Singapore has so far announced a total of 27 air VTLs. Countries on the scheme include Indonesia, Australia and India. Mr Priyara Singh, manager of TGM & Root98 at Terminal 1, said the restaurant has extended its operating hours by about three hours to cater to the increased number of travellers and the school holidays. It saw about five tables of guests between 6pm and 7pm on Wednesday evening, some of them travellers. This was seldom seen before the launch of the VTLs and the relaxation of measures, Mr Singh said. At Jewel, the mall had significantly more people than at the two terminals. Queues and small crowds were already forming at the entrance of some restaurants at about 6pm, and seats around the mall were also mostly taken up by families with young children. But retail staff are wary about how long this momentum in foot traffic can last, given the emergence of a new variant, Omicron, in the past week. Singapore has two imported cases which tested preliminary positive for the variant. "Jewel would definitely be affected if the new variant starts to spread more widely. It would be one of the first malls to get hit," said Ms Lisa Mannuel, a retail store assistant at Timberland in Jewel. She added that the store had just started to see more customers last weekend. More on this topic   Related Story Return of the road warrior: Be patient with Changi Airport and other tips for business travel   Related Story Changi Airport registers first net loss amid dip in passenger numbers owing to Covid-19 Ms Regine Amoyo, manager at Andes by Astons at Terminal 1, said the new variant is indeed worrying, given how the airport had been shuttered after a large Covid-19 outbreak in May. Terminal 2, which is currently being renovated, and Terminal 4 were closed after a steep decline in passenger traffic due to the pandemic. But despite the uncertainty surrounding the tourism sector, some old and new tenants still see a value in having a presence at Jewel. Mr Dellen Soh, chairman and chief executive of Minor Food Singapore, said the company is set to open two new outlets - Mamma Mia Trattoria E Caffe, and Poulet Bijou - by February next year. The two outlets cost about a million dollars in total, and despite the Omicron variant, things will still go as planned. Mr Soh said: "The carparks are easy, they have attractions for families. Jewel's design with the waterfall, you don't see that anywhere in the world. It is an iconic landmark for overseas visitors as well as locals." Another tenant, Sift & Pick, an online marketplace, opened its second physical outlet in Jewel earlier this August, after its first outlet in Terminal 3 in 2019. The store is still seeing healthy sales and is expecting sales to pick up with the year-end holiday season, its spokesman said. More on this topic   Related Story Changi Airport, SIA and Jetstar Asia inch forward with recovery   Related Story Crucial for Changi air hub to reopen: Experts Mr Howard Lo, the co-owner of Empire Eats Group which owns Tanuki Raw, said the school break and the holiday season have resulted in "encouraging turnout", after crowd levels dropped significantly when Covid-19 heightened measures kicked in earlier this year. He said: "I believe people are still enjoying being allowed to dine in groups of five again, and since there is still much unknown about Omicron, they have adopted a wait-and-see approach." Changi Airport Group's general manager for landside concessions, Ms Phau Hui Hoon, said there has been increased footfall to Terminals 1 and 3 since the start of the December school holidays, together with festive activities by the airport. Jewel Changi Airport will also continue to reach out to more local residents until it is able to welcome more tourists, its head of corporate and marketing communications, Mr Nigel Chia, said.   Related Stories:  Related Story S'pore tightens border measures, halts further easing of social measures over Omicron variant fears Related Story Omicron poses 'very high' global risk, countries must prepare: WHO Related Story The week that Covid-19 sucker punched the world Related Story What do we know about the new Omicron Covid-19 variant? Related Story Pfizer or Moderna booster - which is more effective? Here's what an MOH study shows Related Story How Europe is starting to impose vaccine-differentiated measures amid new Covid-19 wave Related Story Living with Covid-19: Coming to grips with our anger and angst Related Story Living with uncertainty: The price of zero-Covid in China Related Story How various countries charge patients for Covid-19 treatments Related Story Why don't we have a Covid-19 vaccine for pets?

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Olympics: China says Omicron will ‘lead to challenges’ for Winter Games

BEIJING (AFP) - China warned on Tuesday (Nov 30) that the fast-spreading Omicron Covid-19 variant would cause challenges in hosting next February's Winter Olympics in Beijing. Although China has largely quashed the coronavirus within its borders through travel restrictions and snap lockdowns, recurrent domestic outbreaks linked to the Delta variant have put the authorities on high alert. "I think it will definitely lead to challenges linked to prevention and control," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, adding that Beijing "appreciates the efforts by South Africa in offering timely information" on the variant. "But China has a lot of experience in responding to Covid-19," Zhao added. "I firmly believe the Winter Olympics will be conducted smoothly." China is determined to pull off a smooth Olympic Games unmarred by Covid-19, in what would be a propaganda win for Beijing's zero-tolerance Covid-19 strategy. Thousands of athletes, media and participants arriving from overseas are required to enter a strict "closed-loop" bubble. Testing, vaccinations and the bubble are "among the vital elements that will enable the Games to take place safely," said an International Olympic Committee spokesman. "The latest developments regarding Covid-19 reinforce the importance of all the measures... which can be further adapted if necessary." More on this topic   Related Story China sees justification for its zero Covid-19 policy with Omicron variant   Related Story China more dedicated than ever to having zero Covid-19 as it battles Delta variant Organisers last month admitted that the virus would be the "biggest challenge" in hosting the Games. But health authorities said they had the means to cope with the new variant. "China has already done a good job of technical preparations" for the Omicron variant, said Xu Wenbo, head of the virus control institute at China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. "We have many lines of technical research, including preliminary technical research into deactivated vaccines, protein-based vaccines and vector-based vaccines," he said at a separate Tuesday briefing. More than 1.1 billion people have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as of Monday, according to health authorities. More on this topic   Related Story Momentum growing for political boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics   Related Story Coronavirus microsite: Get latest updates, videos and graphics   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story Vaccine for Omicron Covid-19 variant could get nod in four months: EU watchdog Related Story Toddlers make up 10% of Covid-19 hospital cases in Omicron epicentre Related Story Mutations in Omicron's spike protein may affect ability to detect and counter it: Kenneth Mak Related Story Japan's first Omicron Covid-19 case may help portray PM Kishida as decisive Related Story 1,239 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore; ICU utilisation rate up at 58.5% Related Story Biden cautions against 'panic' over Covid-19 variant Omicron, pledges no new lockdowns Related Story Australia halts border reopening over Omicron fears

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Pandemic preparedness can no longer be defined by static benchmarks, say experts

SINGAPORE - Countries that have been agile and able to scale up their responses to Covid-19 to a national level, as well as react quickly to the shifting circumstances of the pandemic, have likely fared well thus far. The measure of a nation's pandemic preparedness can no longer be defined by static benchmarks - such as the number of hospital beds or laboratories available - but by the dynamism and agility of the system to react and adapt to what the latest data shows, said Dr Michael Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme, on Thursday (Nov 25). "It's like measuring how well someone is going to do on the sports field. By just measuring how much they can bench, lift, or how fast they can run on a treadmill, you can say that they're very strong, fast and fit. But that doesn't measure how well they're going to do in a game," added Dr Ryan, who was a special guest in the final episode of the webinar series, Covid-19: Updates From Singapore. Jointly organised by the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS Medicine International Council, National University Health System and WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (Goarn), the webinar series brings together local and international experts to discuss the latest medical and scientific findings concerning Covid-19. The series was co-hosted by Associate Professor David Allen, an infectious diseases clinician, Professor Dale Fisher from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and chair of the WHO's Goarn team, and Dr Louisa Sun, an associate consultant with the infectious diseases team at the National University Hospital (NUH) and Alexandra Hospital. In each episode, special guests have been invited to speak on a variety of topics. Since the first episode on April 9, 2020, a total of 38 episodes have aired. Reflecting on Singapore's response to the coronavirus outbreak, special guest Tan Chorh Chuan, chief health scientist from the Ministry of Health, said that despite the best-laid plans and experience gained from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak in 2002, Covid-19 caught the Republic by surprise. Professor Tan said that Singapore had some "advance notice" as the health authorities here saw what was happening in Wuhan, China, in the early days of the outbreak. "The Sars paradigm takes us maybe halfway but now, we have to shift to a paradigm that is maybe Sars plus flu plus a bit more... we never really had a situation of sustained community transmission where we had to do social distancing... and many people have not really read very much about flattening the curve," he said. "Along the way, we learnt that due to the prolonged nature of this epidemic, we also had to deal with very extensive social issues, such as healthcare capacity issues and so on. "So I will say we had some early warning for Covid-19. We were prepared, but it also showed that our preparation was incomplete. And for the next one, we would have to now bring on the lessons learnt in this pandemic and prepare a more comprehensive response to much more contagious agents," Prof Tan added. COVID-19 Updates from Singapore (Season 2) | Episode 14 FINALE Associate Professor Sophia Archuleta, head and senior consultant at the division of infectious diseases in NUH, was asked what was prioritised when the healthcare system was under pressure, given the competing demands of manpower, training and balancing patient care in both Covid-19 and non Covid-19 areas. The team's health takes priority, she said. "If we don't take care of ourselves as a group, we can't effectively take care of patients," Prof Archuleta stressed. An effective workflow was called for, she added, one where patients could be taken to the right places in the hospital, with this system being dynamically adaptive depending on the amount of pressure the virus placed on the healthcare system. More on this topic   Related Story A year of ranking Covid-19 resilience reveals virus' volatility   Related Story Build better regional and multilateral partnerships to prepare for future pandemics: Lawrence Wong   Related Stories:  Related Story Dining, gathering group size raised: What you need to know about Covid-19 rules from Nov 22 Related Story South Africa detects new Covid-19 variant Related Story Pfizer or Moderna booster - which is more effective? Here's what an MOH study shows Related Story How Europe is starting to impose vaccine-differentiated measures amid new Covid-19 wave Related Story Covid-19 Delta variant dominates the world, but scientists watch for worrisome offspring Related Story Living with Covid-19: Coming to grips with our anger and angst Related Story Living with uncertainty: The price of zero-Covid in China Related Story How various countries charge patients for Covid-19 treatments Related Story Why don't we have a Covid-19 vaccine for pets? Related Story Mind over matter? Long Covid study sparks controversy

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Registration for Covid-19 vaccination trial for children has now closed, study will begin soon: KKH

SINGAPORE - Registration for a trial to determine how children aged five to 11 respond to Covid-19 vaccination has now concluded, and the study will begin "as soon as everything is in place", said the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) on Saturday (Nov 20). Dr Yung Chee Fu, a senior consultant from the infectious disease service at the KKH's Department of Paediatrics said in response to queries from The Straits Times that it is targeting 150 participants aged between five and 11 for this research study, and the children will be followed for about 15 months. The study, which is backed by the Ministry of Health, is aimed at assessing the safety and immune responses among children who receive the Covid-19 vaccines, and to "evaluate operational logistics" from rolling out the vaccine at scale. "The data will help inform and guide public health vaccination policy for young children in Singapore...We have seen a very encouraging response from parents and caregivers," said Dr Yung. He added that the study aimed to recruit children who were healthy, and did not have any previous Covid-19 infection or are considered to be "highly immunosuppressed" from cancer or chemotherapy. Participants with certain underlying but well-controlled medical conditions such as asthma or eczema were welcome to participate, said Dr Yang. Children who are assessed to be eligible for the trial will receive two paediatric vaccine doses of the Pfizer vaccine, three weeks apart. The paediatric doses are about one third of the adult vaccine, though they are made of a different formulation from the regular one. For instance, while the paediatric doses use the same mRNA ingredient as the adult vaccine, a different buffer solution is used so that it can be stored under more conventional cold chain requirements. "The child will need to have his or her blood taken at various time-points over 15 months. This is needed to help us ascertain the antibody levels and immune responses in the participant," he added. Participants will also complete a seven-day vaccine diary to assess any side effects. Side effects for children are similar to that of adults, which include injection site pain, fatigue, rash, headache, and fever, which will generally resolve on their own within a few days, said Dr Yung. "These side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection or immunity," he added. In line with MOH's guidance for adolescents and young people, children are also advised to avoid strenuous activities for two weeks post-vaccination. The vaccinations will be administered at the vaccination centre at KKH, which is set up and equipped to manage medical emergencies, he added. More on this topic   Related Story New supply agreement inked with Pfizer for Covid-19 vaccines for kids   Related Story More data needed before kids in S'pore get Covid-19 vaccine   Related Stories:  Related Story Pfizer or Moderna booster - which is more effective? Here's what an MOH study shows Related Story Covid-19 Delta variant dominates the world, but scientists watch for worrisome offspring Related Story Living with Covid-19: Coming to grips with our anger and angst Related Story Living with uncertainty: The price of zero-Covid in China Related Story How various countries charge patients for Covid-19 treatments Related Story Why don't we have a Covid-19 vaccine for pets? Related Story Germany's fourth Covid-19 wave: 'A pandemic of the unvaccinated' Related Story How does an elite athlete's body react to Covid-19? Related Story Mind over matter? Long Covid study sparks controversy Related Story Why do more men die of Covid-19?

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Football: Unvaccinated Bayern star Kimmich back in Covid-19 quarantine

BERLIN (AFP) - Unvaccinated Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich returned to house quarantine on Friday (Nov 19) after having private contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19, ruling him out of at least the next two games. Bundesliga leaders Bayern confirmed the news on Friday, when Kimmich sat out their Bundesliga match at Augsburg. Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said the club accepts some players do not want to get vaccinated. "My position, and that of the club, is that we all want to get vaccinated because that is the only way out of the pandemic, but you have to accept that not everyone sees it that way. It's a difficult situation," Salihamidzic said before kick-off in Augsburg. Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting are reportedly the only non-vaccinated players in the Bayern squad. In Bavaria, fans can only attend games if they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19, yet players must only show a negative test. Kimmich, 26, only left house quarantine on Tuesday after previously having contact with Bayern team-mate Niklas Suele, who tested positive last week while on international duty with Germany. As well as Friday's match at Augsburg, Kimmich also misses Tuesday's Champions League game away to Dynamo Kiev. Bayern have already qualified for the last 16. Bayern are also without Suele and Josip Stanisic, both of whom are fully vaccinated, after they tested positive for the coronavirus. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Kimmich among five German players in quarantine   Related Story Football: Bayern star Kimmich not vaccinated against Covid-19 due to 'personal concerns' Kimmich has been at the centre of fierce debate in Germany since revealing he opted not to be vaccinated due to "personal concerns". He was heavily criticised and accused of neglecting his duties as a role model in Germany, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Europe at around 68 per cent. Germany is currently in a ferocious fourth wave of the virus with record numbers seen this week, leading health minister Jens Spahn to describe the situation as "a national emergency".   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story Australia's cautious approach a draw for S'poreans worried about high Covid-19 cases in Europe Related Story First known Covid-19 case was vendor at China's Wuhan market, scientist claims Related Story Indonesia to tighten curbs to prevent holiday spike in Covid-19 cases Related Story S'pore records 1,734 new Covid-19 cases; ICU utilisation rate at 57% Related Story Philippines to reopen 'soon' to foreign tourists vaccinated against Covid-19 Related Story China to reopen border with HK in early December: Report Related Story France doesn't need to lock down unvaccinated people like other countries do: Macron Related Story Europe the only region with rising Covid-19 deaths: WHO

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Football: Positive coronavirus test scuppers Howe’s debut as Newcastle manager

LONDON (AFP) - Eddie Howe will miss what should have been his first match as Newcastle manager, at home to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, after testing positive for Covid-19. "I'm very disappointed that I won't be there with you all at St James' Park tomorrow, but it is incredibly important that I follow the guidelines and self-isolate," Howe told Newcastle's website on Friday (Nov 19). "I'd like to reassure everyone that I feel fine, and while this is unwelcome news for me, I know it hasn't derailed our preparations for what is an important game." The 43-year-old former Bournemouth manager added: "I have been, and will be, in constant communication with my coaching team and the players, both tomorrow and during the week, and I know they will be giving everything on and off the pitch." Assistant coaches Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones will lead Newcastle in Howe's absence, the club said. Newcastle are still searching for a first Premier League win of the season but there is renewed optimism at the northeast side following a recent Saudi-led takeover. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Immediate focus is avoiding relegation, says Newcastle boss Howe   Related Story On The Ball: Money talks as English Premier League sack game picks up   Related Stories:  Related Story Tracking Covid-19 cases in Singapore and the world Related Story Australia's cautious approach a draw for S'poreans worried about high Covid-19 cases in Europe Related Story First known Covid-19 case was vendor at China's Wuhan market, scientist claims Related Story Indonesia to tighten curbs to prevent holiday spike in Covid-19 cases Related Story S'pore records 1,734 new Covid-19 cases; ICU utilisation rate at 57% Related Story Philippines to reopen 'soon' to foreign tourists vaccinated against Covid-19 Related Story China to reopen border with HK in early December: Report Related Story France doesn't need to lock down unvaccinated people like other countries do: Macron Related Story Europe the only region with rising Covid-19 deaths: WHO

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askST: What is a valid pre-departure ART and how can I book one overseas?

SINGAPORE - As of 11.59pm on Thursday (Nov 11), most travellers can take an antigen rapid test (ART) performed by a trained professional overseas before flying into Singapore. This applies to those returning via the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) and from countries in Categories II and III, which include Australia, Britain and the United States. Previously, all travellers, except those aged two and below, had to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to return and test negative within 48 hours before departure. Travellers now have a longer window to take the tests as a pre-departure test taken any time on Nov 12, for instance, can be valid until 11.59pm on Nov 14. Here is what you need to know about the new measures and how to book an ART overseas. Q: What is a pre-departure Covid-19 test? Do I need to take a test before leaving Singapore and upon arrival? A: The pre-departure Covid-19 test refers to the test travellers take so that they can present results to airline staff at overseas airports before returning to Singapore. As for the test Singapore residents must undergo for most destinations before leaving the Republic, it is recommended that they check the websites of the immigration authorities or embassies of the destination country beforehand. Travellers can also consult Sherpa - a travel data aggregator that provides information on the destination country's restrictions, and requirements for visa application and additional documents. More information can be found at the Sherpa website. Under the VTL, not all countries require travellers from Singapore to take a PCR test before they can enter. For instance, France and Britain do not require one for vaccinated travellers, but others such as the Netherlands, which reclassified Singapore from a low-risk to a very high-risk country on Thursday, will require testing. When Singapore residents return to the Republic, they still have to undergo an on-arrival PCR at Changi Airport or an exit PCR test after serving their stay-home notice, depending on which country they return from. Q: Why is the Government allowing us to take ART now for those countries? A: The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Monday (Nov 8) that changes in border measures are aligned with the Covid-19 testing protocols in place in Singapore. Professor Dale Fisher, a senior consultant at the National University Hospital's Division of Infectious Diseases, said that as global travel resumes, requiring all those returning to take a PCR test will be increasingly challenging in terms of logistical arrangements. Prof Fisher, who is also chair of the World Health Organisation's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, said: "In 2019, Changi Airport served 68.3 million passengers, which (averages out to) 187,000 per day. Other airports, which have similar volume, may not have the infrastructure to support so many PCR tests. "Imposing such a test will mean taking away time from GPs or trained professionals and putting more demand on Covid-19 laboratories than they can handle." More on this topic   Related Story S'pore eases Covid-19 rules from Nov 10: What you need to know   Related Story askST: What is the electronic SG Arrival Card and who has to submit it? Q: In what form must my pre-departure ART result take? A: According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the test must be taken within two days before departure at an internationally accredited or recognised laboratory, clinic, or medical facility. The result certificate must be in English and contain the date and time of when the Covid-19 test was taken. It must also bear the name of the testing institution conducting the Covid-19 test. The pre-departure ART must be taken within two days before departure at an internationally accredited or recognised laboratory, clinic, or medical facility. PHOTO: AFP Self-administered ARTs are not allowed. In some countries, medical providers will issue ART results via e-mail, while others, such as Denmark, have a centralised website where test results can be downloaded or printed.  The Straits Times understands that airports generally accept both printed and digital results. In response to queries from ST, Singapore Airlines (SIA) said its website and mobile app have been enhanced to verify digital health credentials and perform entry rule checks. SIA said: "Customers can generate their own boarding passes through these channels if no other travel documents are required, eliminating the need for physical verification at airports." More on this topic   Related Story Travel to and from S'pore without quarantine: How the Vaccinated Travel Lane works   Related Story Demand rises for Covid-19 pre-departure tests as S'pore opens up more VTLs Q: Where can I take a pre-departure ART? A: MOH has a list of clinics for travel from countries such as Malaysia and South Korea. Both have VTL arrangements with Singapore which will start later this month. For travellers who prefer visiting a familiar clinic, Fullerton Health said that corporate clients registered under its Fullerton One programme can visit any of its clinics in five Asian markets, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Hong Kong, while travelling overseas. A Raffles Medical Group spokesman told ST that customers can visit its clinics in Vietnam, where antigen rapid tests are allowed for pre-departure and are certified. With a wider testing window, it is also not necessary to take the ART at the airport, although you can do so at some locations such as Heathrow Airport in Britain and Los Angeles International Airport in the United States. It is possible to take a test at some attractions such as Disneyland Paris and the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. More on this topic   Related Story Returning S'poreans, PRs and pass holders vaccinated overseas encouraged to upload certificate   Related Story 6 things to know for quarantine-free travel under VTL Q: Should I engage a travel booking company to arrange a test? A: With the Covid-19 situation constantly changing, travel agencies may be able to advise customers on the different requirements of various countries. For instance, although Singapore accepts a pre-departure ART, countries such as South Korea and Australia still require a PCR test. Booking platform Klook said its listings include information about the opening hours of the service provider and the expected time taken for the ART or PCR results. Mr Aaron Wong, 33, who runs travel website The MileLion, said the waiting time for such tests can fluctuate greatly. While visiting Munich, Germany, via the VTL on two occasions, he waited five minutes in line the first time but had to wait for 90 minutes on his second trip. Mr Steven Ler, executive director of UOB Travel Planners, said: "Buying a pre-departure test as part of a bundle makes it easier for employees going on a work trip. "It saves them the hassle of having to submit receipts to their company for reimbursement. And this will also greatly benefit leisure travellers who prefer a coordinated arrangement. " More on this topic   Related Story Over 36,000 passes issued to non-residents to enter S'pore under vaccinated travel lanes   Related Story Travellers may face tighter curbs in Europe with S'pore taken off EU list   Related Stories:  Related Story Singapore, Malaysia to start VTLs for quarantine-free air travel from Nov 29 Related Story S'pore eases Covid-19 rules from Nov 10: What you need to know Related Story Increasing ICU beds for Covid-19 patients may lead to poorer care for others Related Story Why do more men die of Covid-19? Related Story China ramps up Covid-19 controls, warns of severe situation as winter sets in Related Story How does Merck's Covid-19 pill compare with Pfizer's? Related Story Oxford scientists find gene that doubles risk of dying from Covid-19 Related Story What you need to know about the new Covid-19 Delta Plus variant AY.4.2 Related Story What scientists know about the risk of breakthrough Covid-19 deaths Related Story What the future holds for the coronavirus and us

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Singaporeans in US continue to face issues getting VTL pass due to range of Covid-19 jab cert formats

SINGAPORE - After hearing about the launch of a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme between Singapore and the US, Ms Andrea Ko arranged to fly back to the Republic in December. But the Singaporean, who is living in Texas, was dismayed to find out that she still has to serve a stay-home notice (SHN) upon returning as her US vaccination records would not be recognised as official proof by the Singapore authorities. Ms Ko received two doses of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine in an inoculation drive organised by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, but Singapore does not currently recognise her as vaccinated as Oklahoma is not involved in the Smart Health Card system allowed by the VTL as proof of vaccination. Singaporeans told The Straits Times that the lack of standardisation among vaccination certificate issuers in the United States has continued to be a barrier for those seeking to return here under the VTL scheme. "I am a graduate student in the US and am hard-pressed for time, and I would not be able to return to Singapore if I had to serve my SHN as it wouldn't be worth it," the 22-year-old wrote in an e-mail to her MP, Dr Maliki Osman, and copied to ST. "That one week (of SHN) is precious time (that could be) spent with friends and family - people I hold dear to my heart but have been separated for thousands of miles for way too long a time now." Most of the countries on the VTL scheme have a unified national system for issuing vaccination certificates. But Canada and the US currently do not. Canada is working to develop one, while the US relies on multiple issuers, such as individual state authorities, pharmacies, supermarket chains like Walmart, and various healthcare providers. To ensure the authenticity of the vaccination records, Singapore requires certificates to be issued in the Smart Health Card format by trusted issuers in the US and Canada. These issuers must also be under the CommonTrust Network (CTN) or Vaccination Credential Initiative, or a Canadian province where applicable. But not all issuers in the US and Canada fulfil these requirements. Previously, travellers from the US could rely on a third-party service provider called VaccineCheck, which would independently verify their vaccination records and issue its own CTN-recognised Smart Health Card for a fee. For a time, this was accepted as proof of vaccination for the VTL, and step-by-step guides were put up online in traveller forums and even by Singapore Airlines, so that those with vaccination records that were not recognised could port them over for travel on the VTL. Planning to travel via Vaccinated Travel Lane? Things to note when booking a flight | THE BIG STORY But VaccineCheck was dropped from CTN's list of trusted issuers on Oct 28, which meant its Smart Health Card is no longer recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), which handles the VTL scheme. This has left those like Ms Ko and fellow student Natalie Koh in a bind, as they had hoped to rely on VaccineCheck to return home. More on this topic   Related Story Some travellers face issues getting VTL pass to enter S'pore due to differences in vaccine certification   Related Story 6 things to know for quarantine-free travel under VTL Ms Koh was vaccinated through the University of Illinois in Chicago with two jabs of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, said her father Koh Ching Hong in a Forum letter to ST, which was published on Nov 6. She has documented proof which is accessible through the state’s public health database but does not have a Smart Health Card. “I have e-mailed the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Safe Travel Office, as well as the Ministry of Health and the multi-ministry task force, to explain the situation and provide documents that show the dates, place and type of vaccination,” said Mr Koh Ching Hong. “I received a standard reply both times that said only the Smart Health Card format will be recognised for the VTL scheme.” When contacted, Singapore Airlines said it updated its communications to customers after VaccineCheck was no longer listed as an issuer of Smart Health Cards under the CTN. "Smart Health Cards issued by (VaccineCheck) are no longer recognised as proof of vaccination under Singapore's regulations for designated VTL flights," said its spokesman. "Singapore Airlines has updated our communications to our customers to reflect this change." More on this topic   Related Story Demand rises for Covid-19 pre-departure tests as S'pore opens up more VTLs   Related Story What travellers can do to speed up immigration clearance at Changi Airport VaccineCheck chief executive Chris Nickerson told ST that it had "made many attempts" to contact CAAS and the Singapore Government on how it could become a recognised issuer of verified vaccination records after its Smart Health Cards stopped being recognised under the VTL scheme. Mr Nickerson said he was told that issuers of Smart Health Cards must be either directly connected to state vaccine registries in the US, or are the ones providing the vaccines, such as pharmacies. This is despite VaccineCheck working with local health departments and public health officials to verify customers' applications with state registry-verified health records, he added. "We have over 2,000 travellers that have signed a petition to allow for additional US-based providers of verified health records for travel back to Singapore," he added. VaccineCheck has posted the petition on its website. For Ms Ko, who said she got "the same stock reply as everyone else" despite an appeal through her MP, the current prospects are to spend a good part of her trip home on SHN, or to forego returning for another half a year. "All my plans are up in the air. The only thing I can do is pray that (the Singapore authorities) will accept my proof of vaccine by the time I (am supposed to) fly in mid-December," she said. ST has contacted the CAAS for comment. More on this topic   Related Story What to do in VTL destinations, from Christmas in France to 4am shopping in South Korea   Related Stories:  Related Story Singapore, Malaysia to start VTLs for quarantine-free air travel from Nov 29 Related Story S'pore eases Covid-19 rules from Nov 10: What you need to know Related Story Increasing ICU beds for Covid-19 patients may lead to poorer care for others Related Story Why do more men die of Covid-19? Related Story China ramps up Covid-19 controls, warns of severe situation as winter sets in Related Story How does Merck's Covid-19 pill compare with Pfizer's? Related Story Oxford scientists find gene that doubles risk of dying from Covid-19 Related Story What you need to know about the new Covid-19 Delta Plus variant AY.4.2 Related Story What scientists know about the risk of breakthrough Covid-19 deaths Related Story What the future holds for the coronavirus and us

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TraceTogether app adds green passes for cleared users to allow quicker entry at places

SINGAPORE - An animated otter against a green background will now show up on the SafeEntry check-in pass of some TraceTogether app users when they clear vaccination and test status checks. In an update on the TraceTogether website at around 10.20am on Thursday (Nov 11), GovTech said this applied to those who are using version 2.11 and above of the app. Those using an older version of the app can update to the latest version. "The green and white passes were designed to enable quick entry at places with Vaccination or Test status checks," said GovTech, adding that the green background will allow staff to see the pass from a distance and clear queues quickly. It said the animated otter will allow venue staff to easily ensure that the person checking in is not using a screenshot. GovTech added: "Plus, what's not to like about a cute floating otter?" In order to get a green background, also known as a green pass, a person must have a green vaccination status on his home screen and a cleared test status where applicable. Those with a green pass simply need to show that page to venue staff, instead of tapping back to their app's home screen. Those who are unvaccinated and do not have a cleared test status will have a white background on their check-in screen, also known as a white pass. They will need to provide reasons or documents to be allowed entry at places that require vaccination or test status checks. White passes will also appear for those who use the group check-in function, said GovTech, citing "privacy and security reasons". In such cases, everyone in the group will need to show staff their vaccination and test status after they have shown the group check-in pass. "We understand this may create inconvenience, but your data privacy and security takes priority," said GovTech. The green and white passes were designed to enable quick entry at places with vaccination or test status checks, said GovTech. PHOTO: TRACETOGETHER/WEBSITE The green and white passes only show when someone checks in using the SafeEntry QR code. Check-ins done by tapping the app against a SafeEntry Gateway Box or SafeEntry Business App will not trigger the display of the passes. Most users on online forum Reddit welcomed the update, with some praising the inclusion of the animated otter. More on this topic   Related Story TraceTogether vaccination status restored after being unavailable to some earlier   Related Story S'pore eases Covid-19 rules from Nov 10: What you need to know "Better late than never, and I like the otter and I like that it's used to make sure it's not a screenshot," wrote one. However, some questioned whether checking in at venues is still necessary. Checking in with SafeEntry first became mandatory on May 12 last year, in order to help contact tracers find close contacts of infected cases quickly. On Monday, Singapore's director of medical services Kenneth Mak was asked whether contact tracing is still being carried out given the high number of daily cases and the goal of living with endemic Covid-19. Associate Professor Mak said at the time that contact tracing is still ongoing, but it is now being done in a more targeted manner, focusing on clusters and locations with vulnerable people.   Related Stories:  Related Story Singapore, Malaysia to start VTLs for quarantine-free air travel from Nov 29 Related Story S'pore eases Covid-19 rules from Nov 10: What you need to know Related Story Increasing ICU beds for Covid-19 patients may lead to poorer care for others Related Story Why do more men die of Covid-19? Related Story China ramps up Covid-19 controls, warns of severe situation as winter sets in Related Story How does Merck's Covid-19 pill compare with Pfizer's? Related Story Oxford scientists find gene that doubles risk of dying from Covid-19 Related Story What you need to know about the new Covid-19 Delta Plus variant AY.4.2 Related Story What scientists know about the risk of breakthrough Covid-19 deaths Related Story What the future holds for the coronavirus and us

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