COVID-19 and Singapore’s Film and TV Industry: News Roundup for Week of 17 February 202011 min read
Reading Time: 7 minutesTrue to Sinema’s core goal of supporting the local film and TV industry by being a resource hub, we will be cutting through the deluge of news relating to the Coronavirus flooding Facebook feeds and WhatsApp groups to deliver the daily news most relevant to the industry.
17 February 2020
Updates on Flight Cancellation due to Coronavirus
Have you booked your flights but unable to travel due to current situation? See what is the latest policy on refund from various airlines.
Singapore Budget 2020: Cost of living package, tax rebates among measures amid coronavirus outbreak, says Heng Swee Keat
Families will get help with daily expenses and firms can look forward to tax rebates in the Budget on Tuesday (Feb 18) as the nation deals with the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said in a video message on Sunday, February 16, that the Government will do “all that is necessary” to help workers and firms recover from the health crisis.
Mr Heng, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said the Budget will have a package to assist households with cost of living to address concerns about expenses during this uncertain period.
Other broad-based measures include wage support to help companies preserve jobs for local workers, and tax rebates and rental waivers for firms to address cash flow issues.
There will also be support to help firms and workers restructure, train and upgrade in preparation for the eventual upturn.
Hong Kong Film Festival Postponed Due to COVID-19 Fears
The 44th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) has been postponed to August due to the global COVID-19 outbreak. The festival’s organizer – the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) – made the announcement on Thursday, February 13.
Earlier that same day, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said that Hong Kong’s Filmart – Asia’s largest film and television content market will also be shifting its original dates from 25 – 28 March to 27 – 29 August.
18 February 2020
DBS, POSB Customers Can Sign up for 30 Days of Free COVID-19 Insurance; Coverage Also Offered by Insurers
DBS Bank announced on Monday (Feb 17) that it will be partnering with Chubb Insurance Singapore to offer all its five million DBS and POSB customers 30 days of free Covid-19 coverage.
From next Monday until March 15, customers aged 18 and above who sign up for the Covid-19 Hospital Cash policy will receive 30 days of free Covid-19 coverage. Family members can be added by the main policyholder even if they are not bank customers.
Then once they are signed up, if they are diagnosed with Covid-19, they will receive S$100 per day of hospitalisation and a lump sum of S$1,000 if they are admitted to the intensive care unit.
The policyholder also receives worldwide coverage if they must travel during the period of coverage, DBS said in its media statement on Monday.
NTUC Calls for Budget Support for Freelancers to Go for Training Without Employer Sponsorship
The labour movement has called on the Government to provide support in the upcoming Budget for freelancers who want to invest in upgrading their skills.
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant secretary-general Patrick Tay suggested extending absentee payroll funding to freelancers and self-employed people so as to encourage more of them to come forward for training.
Absentee payroll funding is a government grant to offset the manpower costs incurred by employers when they send staff for certifiable skills training during working hours.
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat Delivers Budget 2020
Follow the live updates from the Finance Minister’s speech here.
19 February 2020
Singapore Budget 2020: New Multi-Platform Package to Help Firms Grow and Go Global
To help them grow and create jobs, businesses will receive more aid to enter new markets, innovate and adopt digital solutions through a new, multi-platform package.
The Enterprise Grow Package will include new grants as well as enhanced versions of existing support measures, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced on Tuesday (Feb 18).
“Our enterprises must be the incubators of innovation, the crucibles for skills upgrading, and the creators of good jobs for our people,” said Mr Heng, who is also the Finance Minister.
Singapore to Manufacture Own Masks After Thailand, Taiwan, & India Tighten Mask Exports
The government has taken proactive steps to secure essential supplies, including masks.
That is according to a written reply in Parliament by the Ministry of National Development (MND) in response to a question by Ang Mo Kio MP Gan Thiam Poh.
One-Year-Old Baby Recovers From COVID-19, Is the Fastest Discharged Case in Singapore
The one-year-old Singapore Citizen was the 76th confirmed patient in Singapore.
He was among the group of Singaporeans who were evacuated from Wuhan on 9 February and was asymptomatic when he boarded the flight.
He was then put under quarantine upon landing in Singapore and was warded in an isolation room at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH).
MOH announced that this baby boy has recovered from the infection and has been discharged on 18 February, along with four other patients.
20 February 2020
Singapore Budget 2020: What Does It Means for a Freelancer
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, many have been waiting for this day – Announcement of SG Budget 2020. At a time of an uncertain economic outlook, many are hoping that the Budget can help to cushion some of the unexpected business and job losses.
So what do the measures announced on Tuesday, February 18, mean for freelancers and business owners?
Prudential Offers S$500 Cash to Those Quarantined, Defers SME Premiums Amid Outbreak
LIFE insurer Prudential Singapore on Wednesday introduced a S$1.5 million relief package for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Employees at SMEs covered by Prudential’s group insurance will continue to receive medical coverage should the firms run into cash flow difficulties.
Existing SME customers of Prudential can also defer their premium payments for up to three months. This option will be available till the end of June, although it might be extended depending on the severity of the COVID-19 situation, Prudential said.
Singapore Construction Firms Seeking Advice on Force Majeure Amidst COVID-19
Singapore construction companies are seeking advice on the possibility for them to invoke force majeure clauses in building contracts seeing that that government quarantines or turns away Chinese labour to curb the spread of Covid-19, lawyers spoke to Reuters.
The country has ongoing building projects worth estimated US$20 billion to US$24 billion this year. Because the sector is heavily reliant on foreign workers, any big adverse impact could spark a recession for the economy.
(Note: While this may not be directly relevant to the industry, it is worth following if you have force majeure in your contracts)
21 February 2020
Singapore’s Freelancers Are Losing Jobs Because of the Coronavirus
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a dramatic effect on many places in Asia. Apart from China, one of the worst-hit countries is Singapore, where a fifth of tourist visits are made up of Chinese nationals. There are now 84 cases of the virus in Singapore, changing everyday life and negatively affecting the economy.
On February 14, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong released a statement warning of the possibility of a recession.
“I can’t say whether we will have a recession or not,” he said, “It’s possible, but our economy will definitely take a hit.”
One New COVID-19 Case in Singapore, Three More Patients Discharged
Singapore reported one new confirmed COVID-19 case on Thursday (20 February), bringing the number of cases in the country to 85, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a daily update.
Three more patients were discharged from hospital on Thursday, meaning 37 have now fully recovered from the virus.
Forty-eight patients remain in hospital, with four in critical condition.
South Korea Reports 52 New COVID-19 Cases, Brings Total to 156
South Korea reported 52 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Friday (21 February), taking the national total to 156, with the majority in Daegu, the country’s fourth-largest city.
Altogether 39 of the new cases were linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southern city of Daegu, the Korean Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.
More than 80 members of Shincheonji have now been infected, starting with a 61-year-old woman who developed a fever on Feb 10 but attended at least four church services before being diagnosed.
(Banner Photo Credit: 123RF)
