COVID-19 Self-Test Kits Will Be Sold At 3 Pharmacies From June 16

Key Highlights

  • The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has granted interim authorization for four Antigen Rapid Test (ART) self-test kits.
  • These self-test kits will be available from June 16 at Guardian, Watsons, and Unity pharmacies.
  • Sales will be initially limited to 10 self-test kits per person.

In line with Singapore’s strategy to increase the rate of testing and to quickly detect COVID-19 cases, self-administered test kits will go on sale from June 16. These self-test kits will be helpful for front-liners who want to test themselves frequently or for individuals who are concerned about being infected.

The four Antigen Rapid Test (ART) self-test kits include the Abbott PanBio COVID-19 Antigen Self-test, SD Biosensor SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self-Test Nasal, QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test, and SD Biosensor Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Home Test.

These self-test kits can be used by consumers to detect active SARS-CoV-2 infection in nasal swab samples. ARTs can generally achieve a sensitivity of about 80% for cases with higher viral loads and a specificity range of 97-100%. Since these self-test kits are meant to be used by consumers (i.e., even without training), they can be bought without a physician’s prescription.

WHERE TO BUY

The self-test kits will be available at selected Guardian, Unity, and Watsons outlets islandwide. More retail locations will soon carry the self-test kits. This will be done in a progressive fashion.

A recent interview of a Dairy Farm Group spokesperson stated that the Abbott PanBioTM COVID-19 Antigen Self-test and the QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test will be available at selected Guardian outlets. All 79 Guardian stores with an in-store pharmacy will carry the COVID-19 self-test kits including the Guardian store at the Giant outlet in Suntec City.

THE COST OF PURCHASE

A spokesperson for Watsons stressed that it would adhere to the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) recommended guidelines for the selling price of the self-test kits. Thus, the price range is from S$10 to S$13 per self-test kit. Prices will depend on the size of the pack purchased.

To ensure that there will be “adequate supplies for all”, the Health Ministry’s Director of Medical Services Kenneth Mak said that sales will initially be limited to 10 self-test kits per person.

HOW IT WORKS

Start by collecting your nasal sample using the swabs provided in the self-test kits. Then, prepare the nasal sample with the extraction buffer tube provided. Once your sample is ready, you should examine the test device and read the results. Do not worry about the waiting time! The Health Ministry said that these ART self-test kits produce results in less than 20 minutes.

Please carefully read the instructions that come with these kits to get valid results. Consumers who test negative on their self-test kits should continue to adhere to the prevailing safe management measures.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

While those who test positive on their self-test kits should immediately approach a Swab and Send Home Public Health Preparedness Clinic (SASH PHPC). SASH PHPC will conduct a confirmatory Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. You are required to self-isolate until you get a negative PCR test result.

Sources: 1 & 2

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BTS Meal To Launch In Singapore On June 21

In 2013, a South Korean boy group called BTS or 방탄소년단 debuted under Big Hit Entertainment (HYBE Corporation). The group smoothly made its way to the hearts of many and had since become a global icon.

With smash hits like Dynamite and Butter, BTS made its way to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Global 200. In fact, its newly released song Butter blasted with a record-breaking 289.2 million streams and 249,000 sold worldwide in the May 21-27 tracking week.

Another surprise came earlier this year as McDonald’s promoted the “BTS Meal”. BTS Meal went on sale in South Korea, United States, and 10 other countries last May 2021. This meal consists of a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, Medium Fries, Coke, and two new dipping sauces. These new flavors are Sweet Chili and Cajun. The packaging for the BTS Meal comes in purple and was printed with the group’s logo.

BTS MEAL CRAZE

As BTS’ popularity skyrocketed, there have been concerns that the launch of the meal could draw crowds in some Asian countries where COVID-19 cases have risen and where vaccination levels remain relatively low.

McDonald’s was instructed to temporarily shut some outlets in Indonesia last week when the introduction of the BTS Meal sparked frenzy. Several delivery riders were seen massing inside and outside of the food chain during the meal’s launching. Their local police said that the temporary closure of several outlets was “because they were found to have violated health protocols”, including limiting capacity to 50%.

Thus, Indonesian fans created a crowdfunding page to raise money for drivers and their families. They have acknowledged that the delivery drivers faced long lines and possible exposure to the COVID-19 to bring them their meals.

LAUNCH IN SINGAPORE

Due to the tightening of social distancing rules and the ban on dine-in options, the meal’s rollout in Singapore was delayed last month. The launch was re-scheduled to June 21 instead. Please adhere to the safety procedures when scoring your coveted meal.

Image Credits: facebook.com/mcdsg

Fans must know that the BTS Meal does not come with photo cards or other related merchandise. Instead, you can order the collaboration’s official BTS x McDonald’s merch at HYBE Merch.

Sources: 1, 2, 3 & 4

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How To Manage Your Money In Your 30s

As you enter your thirties, your focus is geared towards saving money and meeting your financial obligations. This is the time to figure out the future you want to have to lay its groundwork.

On that note, let this article give you an idea on some of the financial goals that you need to set when you are in your 30s.

#1: REVISIT YOUR BUDGET

Are you still following the same budget you set in your 20s? If so, it is time for an upgrade. Your responsibilities and financial capacities evolve as time passes. Food, housing, childcare, and medical expenses will require a different type of budgetary attention as you enter your 30s. Examine your current budget and make necessary changes.

#2: GROW YOUR EMERGENCY FUND

If you are still on the fence on whether you should start an emergency fund or not, just think about the uncertainties brought by the pandemic. It is a concrete example of why people need to have a cushion for unforeseen events.

Most financial experts recommend having a savings that will cover your expenses for a minimum of 6 months. However, this amount varies per person. Adults with dependents need to consider putting more money in their emergency fund. The more funds you put aside, the more money you can use for unexpected expenses.

#3: GET INSURANCE

Due to the many demands brought by your professional and personal life, prioritizing your health is vital in your thirties. Having health and life insurance plans will not only be beneficial for you, but also for your family. You see, insurance premiums increase as you age. It is cheaper to get an insurance plan now. Shop around for the best insurance plans that suit your needs and your budget.

#4: PAY OFF DEBTS

While you are building an emergency fund and revisiting your current budget, identify how much debt you still have. Debts can negatively impact your financial health and your ability to accomplish your long-term goals. Why not start paying off your debts? The sooner you can reduce or eliminate debts, the sooner you can focus on turning your dreams to reality.

#5: THINK ABOUT YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN

Although you are decades away from retirement, thinking about your retirement plan will help you to allocate your retirement funds. Whether your employer has a company retirement plan or not, it is a good idea to think about what you want to do once you stop working.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

How much you need to save for your retirement will rely on the kind of lifestyle you want to have when you retire. Fortunately for you, there are many financial resources online. Do your research!

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10-Year Singapore Passport Validity To Take Effect For Citizens Aged 16 & Above

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced that the Singapore Passport validity will be increased to 10 years, as compared to the current validity of 5 years. This will come into effect for applications submitted on or after October 2021.

The longer validity period applies to Singapore citizens aged 16 and above. If you qualify for this, please submit your application on or after October 1, 2021. Despite the increased validity period, the passport application fee in Singapore remains the same (i.e., S$70). Furthermore, applications submitted in person at Singapore’s Overseas Missions will be charged an equivalent of S$80 in foreign currency.

ICA highlighted that it “has assessed that it is now viable to increase the validity of the Singapore passport to 10 years without compromising security or global confidence in the Singapore passport.”

In a similar fashion, many countries have changed their passport validity period from 5 to 10 years. These countries include Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States.

SPECIFIC EXEMPTIONS

Notice the age bracket qualified to the passport validity period extension. It starts at the age of 16. Those who are under the age of 16 will continue to have the passport validity of 5 years. The primary reason behind this is that children’s facial features typically change during the early years.

“As children’s facial features change more rapidly, renewing their passport every five years will allow the photograph in their passport to be updated more frequently, which will minimise identification problems when going through immigration,” the Authority said.

Apart from this, the passport validity has a limit too. The validity is capped at 10 years in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) recommendation. Any remaining validity in an old passport cannot be added to the new passport, with a 10-year validity period.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Singapore citizens can apply for new passports by going to ICA’s e-service website. Those without an internet access may either visit the Citizen Connect Centres or go to the ICA Building in Kallang.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Ultimately, the changes in the passport validity aim to reduce the need for frequent passport renewals and to offer greater convenience to Singaporeans all over the world.

Sources: 1 & 2

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5 Steps To Protect Your Debit & Credit Cards When Shopping Online

Swindlers and scammers are always on the lookout for opportunities to gain access to your money. Since the pandemic, many types of scams have emerged. As cashless payments became vital to the new normal, adding layers of cybersecurity to your debit and credit card transactions will reduce your chances of becoming their victims.

This article highlights the 5 steps that you can take to protect your debit and credit cards. Fraud is prevalent, but you can act now!

#1: NEVER DISCLOSE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Fraudsters typically pretend to be bank representatives to steal personal information or to perform unauthorized transactions. Be smart when it comes to what you share online. Do not get too excited about sharing personal information, even via screenshots or through your 24-hour daily stories (e.g., sharing a snap of your QDL). Despite having restrictions with your target audience, you will never know how fraudsters can work their way around.

As much as possible, use different passwords for your online banking and social media accounts. Try using different email addresses for your online banking and social media accounts too.

#2: IDENTIFY WHETHER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND HANDPHONE NUMBER WERE COMPROMISED

The personal data of over 500 million Facebook users was leaked online. You are vulnerable if you are using the same email address and handphone number for your online banking and social media accounts.

To know whether your email address or personal number has been compromised, you can visit helpful websites such as Have I Been Pwned. Have I Been Pwned allows you to know whether you experienced data breaching in the past or not.

#3: USE YOUR CARDS ON WEBSITES YOU TRUST

When you are shopping with your debit or credit card online, it is important that you only go to websites that you trust. Ensure that you typed in the correct website and not phony one. You can also print a copy of your online purchases for future reference.

While shopping in your favorite website, avoid clicking on email links and suspicious images because these could take you to a phony website whose sole purpose is to steal your credit card information.

#4: ACTIVATE THE OTP OR TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

A one-time password (OTP) is a dynamic pin that is valid for a single login transaction on a digital device. It is an automatically generated alphanumeric or numeric string of characters that authenticates the user for a transaction. Activating this security feature will enable you to be notified whenever your accounts or cards are used. The OTP is usually sent via SMS or via email.

Similarly, the two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a layer of security by authenticating the credentials of the user. Most email providers such as Google and Yahoo! have this feature. Activate it to prevent other people from logging in to your email/s.

#5: BE VIGILANT AT ALL TIMES

Be vigilant when it comes to identifying phishing emails. Fraudsters may send you emails and newsletters that copy your bank’s promotional campaigns. Check the email sender to ensure that it is from the financial institution itself. Remember that most banks use corporate email addresses when sending newsletters and not personal Gmail or Yahoo Mail accounts.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

As mentioned above, avoid clicking links or buttons that can potentially lead you to unsecured websites. Keep your eye on the email address of the sender and the grammar of the message sent to you. If many words are misspelled, you can easily spot a red flag.

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