appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Agence France-Presse

Singapore’s president announced on Monday that she had tested positive for Covid-19, but said that her symptoms were mild as she had been vaccinated.
“Just tested positive for Covid-19 with mild flu-like symptoms,” Halimah Yacob said in a Facebook post.
“Thankfully, I have been vaccinated and boosted. I hope to recover soon and am sorry to have missed the events this week.”
Singapore’s presidency is a largely ceremonial role, with the prime minister running the country’s affairs.
Singapore’s return to tighter Covid rules cannot be ruled out, deputy PM says
The city state, a trade and aviation hub, reopened its borders and lifted most virus restrictions after the number of cases fell and most of its population was vaccinated, though people are still required to wear masks indoors.
But cases have risen recently, with the health ministry reporting nearly 6,000 new infections on Monday.
Apart from the president, two other senior government officials also tested positive for Covid-19: parliamentary speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong.


“All good things must come to an end. My Covid-free days are over,” Tan Juan-Jin said on Facebook.
Tong’s infection was announced during Monday’s parliamentary session.
At the start of the pandemic, the country of 5.5 million kept Covid-19 cases low through border closures and a tough lockdown.
It has faced sizeable outbreaks since last year, but with some of the world’s highest vaccination rates, authorities shifted to a policy of living with the virus.


Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotels sees ‘bleisure’ boom after pandemic curbs, CEO says

US could require US$15,000 bonds for some tourist, business visas

China’s Shenzhen, Guangzhou airports hit record highs, surpass pre-Covid passenger levels

Landmark US Chinatown survived Covid, anti-Asian violence – but tariffs pose new threat

Coronavirus pandemic

Singapore President Halimah Yacob tests positive for Covid-19

Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations at the National Convention Centre in Beijing in May 2019. Photo: AFP

Are Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong expats still living the dream? Burnout, stress and loneliness rife since Covid-19, survey finds

A woman looks at a closed public beach in Singapore in April 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Reuters

A Singapore food court in April, amid an easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Photo: Bloomberg

Singapore’s Covid-19 infections rise amid new subvariants but no change to rules – although health ministry urges boosters

A health official gives a vaccination against Covid-19. Photo: Kyodo

A mother and child get their temperatures checked before boarding a bus from Singapore to Malaysia last year. Restrictions against Covid-19 have since been eased. File photo: Reuters

Singapore unveils US$1 billion package as cost of living rises amid inflation, Ukraine war

Singapore’s central bank expects core inflation to surge further over coming months. Photo: Reuters

Singapore’s central bank expects core inflation to surge further over coming months. Photo: AFP 

Singaporeans have been told to expect ‘higher prices over the next few months’. File photo: Reuters

Singapore’s finance minister said the said the GST hike had to go ahead given steeply increasing spending needs. File photo: Reuters

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

Coronavirus


Two other senior government officials – parliamentary speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and culture minister Edwin Tong – have also tested positive
Cases have risen recently in Singapore, with the health ministry reporting nearly 6,000 new infections on Monday



Two other senior government officials – parliamentary speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and culture minister Edwin Tong – have also tested positive.


Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

Coronavirus Singapore

Singapore