TOKYO (AP) – Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi yesterday asked that the United States (US) military in Japan stay inside its bases to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. More details in Friday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Singapore must brace for ‘much bigger’ COVID-19 infection wave from Omicron
SINGAPORE (CNA) – Singapore must brace for a “much bigger” COVID-19 infection wave from Omicron compared to that from the Delta variant, Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Wednesday. More details in Friday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Nod to re-open childcare centres from January 17
Izah Azahari
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) yesterday announced Child Care Centres (CCC) will be able to re-operate in stages during the Endemic Phase of the COVID-19 Recovery Framework from January 17.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin made the announcement during a press conference yesterday. The minister said the decision was based on the agreement of the COVID-19 Steering Committee as well as the results from an online survey conducted in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Health (MoH) participated by 11,566 parents nationwide.
“Of the respondents concerned, the MCYS noted that most had agreed on the need for the re-opening of CCCs in January. The re-opening was intended to provide space and opportunities in particular for working parents to send their children for care during working hours,” said the minister. He shared that out of the 11,566 parents, 10,812 or 94 per cent are married, and out of that number, 72 per cent agreed for CCCs to re-open, while only 51 per cent agreed to the re-opening of kindergarten schools.
The minister said taking into account the parents’ needs and the MoH’s advice in ensuring compliance with the core measures of COVID-19 Control, especially since the vaccination programme for children under five years has not been implemented, the re-opening of CCCs are subject to compliance with key requirements.
The requirements include parents and staff, including support staff, must complete two doses of vaccination and with a green or yellow BruHealth code.
A proof of vaccination confirmation must be shown; ART test screening should be performed once a week for parents and staff including support staff while children should undergo ART testing using saliva swab samples.
Only individuals with negative ART results are allowed to enter the premises while individuals with symptoms and are at high risk are not allowed to enter.
CCC owners must ensure that the premises have adequate ventilation with the installation of Hepa Filter; and premise owners must comply with guidelines issued by the MoH including the wearing of face shield, face mask, gloves and aprons (partial PPE) for employees, wearing a face mask for children aged two and above at all times, social distancing, avoid physical contact, and carry out body temperature checks and ensuring the premises’ cleanliness.
“To ensure the re-opening of the CCC is in line with the conditions and guidelines agreed with the MoH, the Community Development Department (JAPEM) has and continues to inspect and evaluate the premises for approval to operate,” said the minister.
Prior to approval, the minister said CCCs are required to make preparations according to such guidelines and submit a business continuity plan (BCP) to JAPEM.
Permission will only be given to centres found to be ready in accordance with the existing guidelines, while centres that are found not to be ready will be given a period before a re-evaluation is carried out.
“After approval, premises are allowed to re-operate under the First Stage of Phased Opening from January 17 while adhering to the requirements,” said the minister. This includes permission to operate at 30 per cent capacity at a time; centres are only open to children aged two and above; centre activities are only focussed on child care while individual or group development activities are not allowed; and recommended for sessions to be divided into morning and afternoon or by day.
The minister said to date, 1,275 children have been registered in 45 registered CCCs nationwide. Of this number, 20 CCCs were inspected where six were found to be ready and allowed to operate while 14 centres require re-inspection. In addition, 13 centres are scheduled to be inspected within the next two weeks while 12 centres were found to have not submitted their BCPs.
The minister said the inspections are to ensure premises are clean and in orderly condition, and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) processes such as ART tests and locations for body temperature checks are taken into account.
“Spaces should be equipped with adequate ventilation with Hepa Filter installation as these are the requirements demanded of CCC,” he said.
The minister said 100 per cent of caregivers and assistant caregivers at CCCs are fully vaccinated. Thus, the approval is more towards a conducive environment according to the SOPs that have been set.
“The MCYS expresses appreciation to the public for the cooperation in complying with the SOPs and guidelines during the opening of the facilities under the Early Endemic Phase until now,” said the minister.
For information, the public can refer to the guidelines prepared by the MCYS in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office and the MoH by visiting www.kkbs.gov.bn or www.jpm.gov.bn.
Another Omicron case detected, amendment in RT-PCR tests’ charges
James Kon
Brunei Darussalam detected one new Omicron case yesterday with the total number of the variant now standing at nine. All Omicron cases detected in the Sultanate are import cases.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Md Isham bin Haji Jaafar shared this during a press conference yesterday.
The minister also said the COVID-19 Steering Committee announced the amendment in the rate of the charges for the SARS-CoV-2 tests in Brunei Darussalam from January 1.
The rate of the charges for the SARS-CoV-2-Virus tests applies to anyone wishing to travel abroad or enter the country, regardless of citizenship.
He said to enter the country, BND100 is levied for the RT-PCR and ART swab tests upon arrival. Meanwhile for exiting the country, BND80 is levied for the RT-PCR and ART swab tests.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham said from November 22, 2021 to January 4, 2022, gene sequencing was performed on 350 samples from positive cases detected in Brunei Darussalam. Nine samples were found to be Omicron variant while 341 were Delta variant.
This meant that the total number of Omicron cases in the country has risen by one, said the minister.
“So far, all Omicron variant cases detected in the country are cases imported from abroad while the Delta variant comprised local and foreign cases,” he said.
Meanwhile, the country recorded 16 new COVID-19 cases comprising 15 local cases and one import case. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 15,532.
The minister said the cases were detected from 2,568 laboratory tests conducted in the past 24 hours, marking a rate of 0.6 per cent positive cases.
Twelve cases had recovered, bringing the total number of active cases to 100. Meanwhile, the bed occupancy rate in isolation centres nationwide is 2.4 per cent.
Ensure thorough preparation before hosting private events, says MoH
Fadley Faisal
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar yesterday reminded the public to exercise their responsibilities, especially when holding private events.
The minister said this in response to the Bulletin’s query on the spike of 16 local cases announced yesterday after the country has been seeing low numbers of late.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham confirmed that yesterday’s 15 local cases are categorised into two clusters and surfaced from wedding events hosted at residences.
“I would like to reiterate to the public to exercise better control and conduct thorough preparations before holding events while strictly following the SOPs and guidelines,” the minister reminded.
He said hosts and guests must ensure no one attends the event with symptoms, all guests should wear face masks and follow SOPs in place. The minister also said QR codes should be created for the event at the residence to allow for the ease in contact tracing, should the need arise.
Addressing another query, the minister said that the country is still waiting for vaccines to arrive in the first quarter of this year and will be administered to children aged five to 11.
Civil servants urged to be innovative, proactive amid globalisation
Azlan Othman
Civil servants must always prepare themselves by continuously nurturing their capabilities and abilities to adapt the benefits of the process of globalisation and industrial revolution as well as based on one’s intention to safeguard the welfare and interests of the people and the country, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud said.
He made these comments at the opening of the 29th Executive Development Programme for Senior Government Officers (EDPSGO) and 31st and 32nd Executive Development Programme for Middle Management Officers (EDPMMO) at the Prime Minister’s Office building yesterday.
The minister added, “Brunei Darussalam is grappling with challenges including those brought by globalisation whose impact is increasingly felt in terms of economy, health, security, well-being, technological transition and challenges related to the environment.”
Some challenges occur on a worrying scale. An example is the COVID-19 pandemic transmission compounded by the risk of mutation of new variants that have been shown to have higher transmission rates, the minister said.
He added, “This challenge triggered many new norms in various aspects of daily life and employment, and it is undeniable that it also has a significant impact on national expenditure and resources as well as affects the delivery of the Public Service.
“What can be learned from this fact is that globalisation never allows us to be complacent or be satisfied with the norm without having to explore the paths of reform. Despite the benefits that can be achieved, it comes along with the challenges that may be in a form and scale that we have never seen before.”
Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti said, “As civil servants and responsible leaders, it is a trust that we must bear to work together in overcoming and controlling the challenges that have been or will arise brought by the currents of globalisation with an innovative and proactive approach.
“In these programmes, participants from various ministries with different backgrounds of qualifications, experience as well as assignments can be seen as a replica of the whole-of-government approach that need to be practiced in a real work environment,” he added.
“Meanwhile, modules such as study tours and community projects involving government-linked companies (GLCs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) expanded the scope of training towards further strengthening the use of whole-of-nation methods in achieving the national vision.
“These were arranged to help further enhance the participants’ ability in formulating the planning and implementation of action plans as well as strengthening resilience in the face of challenges.
“The needs related to innovation, industrial revolution, Maqasid Syariah, whole-of-government and whole-of nation approach, clean and sustainable leadership and governance were also emphasised by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in His Majesty’s titah. These will be implemented through the development programmes later.”
The 29th EDPSGO and 31st EDPMMO are coordinated by Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) while the 32nd EDPMMO is coordinated by Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA). The programme content covers current issues and policies as well as best practices in management and administration of public service practiced globally in Islamic and
conventional perspective.
Participants will also go through work placement, community projects, study visits and dialogues with local experts.
Towards improving management in public service
Azlan Othman
The Executive Development Programme for Senior Government Officials and Middle Management Government Officials is a leadership programme, which is continuously updated according to the latest global trends, Public Service Department Acting Director General Dr Norfarizal bin Othman said.
It aims to ensure that the quality of leaders will be nurtured in accordance with the
current situation, he added.
Dr Norfarizal said this at the opening of the 29th Executive Development Programme for Senior Government Officers (EDPSGO) and 31st and 32nd Executive Development Programme for Middle Management Officers (EDPMMO) at the Prime Minister’s Office building yesterday.
The leadership programme is also intended to further highlight the participants’ capabilities and abilities as leaders in the civil service who are ready to hold the trust and take on responsibilities as well as bring positive change and proactive innovation in line with Brunei Vision 2035 as well as the Prime Minister’s Office’s vision of excellent leadership and governance.
Although the nation is in the Early Endemic Phase, the programmes are still operated adapting to the new norms and in accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs). The wisdom behind this challenge is to be more diligent in working on new methods in good collaboration with stakeholders to improve the operation and management in the public service.
Some 28 individuals participated in the EDPSGO and 56 in the two EDPMMO organised by the Public Service Department and a component under the Civil Service Leadership Pipeline.
Protesters in Kazakhstan storm city mayor’s office
MOSCOW (AP) – Demonstrators angered by rising fuel prices stormed the mayor’s office in Kazakhstan’s largest city yesterday and attempted to break into the presidential residence, according to local news reports, as intensifying protests led the Central Asian country’s government to resign.
Many of the demonstrators who converged on the mayoral office in Almaty carried clubs and shields, and flames were seen coming from the building, according to the reports, but it was unclear how extensive the fire was. Meanwhile, thousands massed outside the presidential residence in the city. A fire at the city prosecutor’s office also was reported.
Yesterday afternoon, many Kazakh news sites became inaccessible and the global Internet monitor Netblocks said the country was experiencing a widespread Internet blackout.
Despite the government’s reisgnation, ministers will remain in their posts until a new Cabinet is formed – and it remained unclear if the move would result in policy changes or have any effect of the growing protests.
The demonstrations against a sharp increase in prices for liquefied gas – used by many to fuel their cars – began this week in the country’s west and have spread across the country.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a state of emergency in Almaty, imposing an overnight curfew and limiting access to the city. He later imposed a state of emergency for two weeks in the capital Nur-Sultan.
At the start of the year, prices for liquefied gas roughly doubled as the government moved away from price controls. Although Kazakhstan has extensive gas and oil reserves and mineral wealth, discontent over poor living conditions is strong in some parts of the country.
Many Kazakhs also chafe at the dominance of the ruling party that holds over 80 per cent of the seats in Parliament.
Dozens of police vehicles were set on fire or vandalised in the city, reports said.
Twins born in different years
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – A set of twins born 15 minutes apart in California have very different birthdays – one in 2021 and the other in 2022.
Alfredo Antonio Trujillo came into the world at 11.45pm on New Year’s Eve in the city of Salinas.
A quarter of an hour later, on New Year’s Day, his sister Aylin Yolanda Trujillo was born.
The Natividad Medical Center, where the babies were delivered, said in a statement last week that some estimates suggest there is a one-in-two-million chance of twins being born in different years.
“It’s crazy to me that they are twins and have different birthdays,” the babies’ mother, Fatima Madrigal, was quoted as saying in the statement.
Dr Ana Abril Arias described the births as “one of the most memorable deliveries of my career”.
“It was an absolute pleasure to help these little ones arrive here safely in 2021 and 2022.”
Big brother Alfredo tipped the scales at six pounds and one ounce while the baby of the family, Aylin, was a healthy five pounds and 14 ounces.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said around 120,000 twins are born every year in the United States, representing roughly three per cent of births.
Lost croc captured near shop
James Kon
Firefighters captured a 4.5-metre long crocodile found in a drain near a shop along Jalan Muara, Kampong Salar, Mentiri yesterday.
The firefighters found the crocodile inside a drain near a shop and captured the reptile with a rope and a snake catcher. It was passed to the Wildlife Division. No one was injured.
SO Murni bin Haji Misir led seven firefighters from the Muara Fire station responded following a call about a wild animal disturbance, according to the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD).
The FRD said unclean premises with rodent infestation are more prone to attracting wild animals such as crocodiles, snakes and monitor lizards. Abandoned and unkempt lawns may become the animals’ nesting and breeding area.
The public is urged to report to the FRD if they encounter wild animals roaming around residential or commercial areas. The public is advised not to attempt to approach or threaten wild animals, observe cleanliness and keep windows and doors closed when not at home.
