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Singapore’s Total Number of Monkeypox Cases Grew to Four

Infection with the monkeypox virus causes the rare disease called Monkeypox. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, which includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus, and cowpox virus. This disease, which can cause serious skin rash, appears to be spreading via direct contact with the skin or saliva of an infected person.

LOCAL SPREAD

On July 8, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported one more imported case of Monkeypox in the country. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to four since June. The country’s Monkeypox cases consist of one local infection and three imported ones. The fourth case is a 30-year-old patient who lives in Singapore and had recently returned from Germany.

The man experienced rashes in the groin area last June 30 and had a fever a week later. He sought medical treatment and was taken to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases on July 7. He tested positive for monkeypox on July 8 and is currently in a stable condition, according to MOH. Contact tracing is ongoing.

CURRENT SITUATION IN AFRICA

Health authorities in Africa are treating its expanding Monkeypox outbreak as an emergency. To avoid the immense problems seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are exhausting their resources and are asking for other leaders to share the world’s limited supply of vaccines.

Monkeypox has been spreading in parts of Central and West Africa for decades, however the weak surveillance and the lack of laboratory diagnosis contribute to many cases being left undetected. Currently, countries in Africa have reported more than 1,800 suspected cases including 70 deaths with only 109 of them being lab-confirmed.

Ahmed Ogwell, the acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, said:
“This particular outbreak for us means an emergency. We want to be able to address monkeypox as an emergency now so that it does not cause more pain and suffering.”

GLOBAL UPDATES

The World Health Organization said that the expanding monkeypox outbreak was worrying but did not yet warrant being declared as a global health emergency. The U.N. health agency said it would reconsider its decision if Monkeypox continued spreading across more borders, began infecting vulnerable groups, and showed signs of increased severity.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Worldwide, more than 5,000 cases of Monkeypox have been reported in 51 countries (in time of writing). The majority of these cases are in Europe and no deaths beyond Africa have been reported.

Sources: 1,2, 3, & 4

Ways to become more extroverted if you’re an introvert

If you’re an introvert, you may sometimes feel like you’re at a disadvantage when it comes to networking and socializing. You may find it tricky to make small talk or be the life of the party.

But fret not, introverts. There are plenty of ways to become more extroverted if that’s what you want to be. In this post, we will outline a few strategies that have worked for us and other introverts.

Be more assertive

Don’t be afraid to speak up and express your opinion. When you’re at a meeting or social event, make sure to participate and be engaged. You don’t have to be the star of the squad, but by being bold, you will find it easier to get comfortable in social situations.

Sign up for social events

One of the best ways to become more extroverted is by seeking out social events that interest you. If you’re a bookworm, find book clubs or reading meet-ups in your area. If you like to dance, look for local dance classes or group dance occasions. The more you immerse yourself in activities that make you merry, the more painless it will be to become outgoing and less introverted.

Stop being too apologetic

Image Credits: forbes.com

You might be saying sorry all the time because you’re afraid of speaking up. Afraid of being wrong, of standing out, or of making a silly mistake. But the more you say sorry, the more you find yourself disappearing.

You can start by raising your voice a little bit, taking up more space, and making more eye contact. You can also challenge yourself to speak up in meetings or ask questions in seminars. Just be mindful to start small and don’t be too hard on yourself.

Get comfortable with small talk

Learn how to be at ease with small talk. Small talk is just that—small talk. It can be pointless chatter about the weather or what you had for dinner last night, but it’s a fantastic way to practice speaking in public and getting used to socializing.

The more you practice, the more relaxed you will become. Start by engaging in small talk with the cashier at the supermarket, or striking up a conversation with the Starbucks barista during teatime. Soon, you will find that small talk comes naturally to you, and you will be ready to take on bigger and more daring social challenges.

Being an introvert is not a bad thing, but under some circumstances, you might prefer to switch to an outgoing personality. Consider social situations as practice, provided you have time to recover in between. Your social endurance will grow with time, and you could even develop a more extroverted, outspoken personality. Try it and see the difference for yourself!

Tips for handling a colleague who loves to gossip

You’ve probably encountered at least one colleague in your career who just can’t resist gossiping.

This person might be a constant thorn in your sight or simply an annoyance that you have to put up with from time to time. Whichever category this colleague falls into, it’s important to know how to deal with them effectively.

Here are some tips for handling a colleague who loves to gossip.

Set boundaries

Don’t be afraid to tell them that you don’t want to talk about personal matters of others, and walk away if the conversation gets too uncomfortable. It’s also worth noting that you don’t have to justify your behavior to them—just because they gossip doesn’t mean you have to.

Use “I” statements

When dealing with a colleague who loves to gossip, it can be tough to stay calm. But by using “I” statements, you can avoid getting drawn into their drama. For example, you could say, “I feel uneasy when you talk about our teammates behind their backs. It makes me feel like I can’t count on you.” By spotlighting your feelings, rather than slamming the other person, you’re less likely to initiate an argument.

Be honest but diplomatic

Image Credits: josiehastings.co.uk

You might be feeling frustrated with your coworker who loves to gossip. But before you react rashly, convince yourself to stay composed. Here are a few tips for handling the situation:

Let your colleague know that you’re uncomfortable gossiping and ask them to stop.
If they don’t listen, try to avoid them or limit the amount of time you spend around them.
Keep your emotions in check. Responding with rage or frustration will only make the situation worse.
If things get too heated, take a break and walk away for a few minutes. This will give you a chance to settle down and approach the situation more rationally.

Avoid getting sucked into the gossip

It can be challenging to work with a colleague who adores gossiping, but it’s vital to stay neutral and dodge getting sucked into the drama. Here’s how you can manage the case:

Stay courteous. It’s wise to remain professional, even if the person is being rude or disrespectful.
Keep your distance. It might be best to avoid them as much as possible, especially if they tend to be toxic or negative.
Avoid sharing any personal information. The last thing you want is for them to use your information against you later on.
Keep conversations short and polite. Try not to engage in long conversations with the gossiper, as it will only encourage them further.
Remember that you’re not alone. There are probably other people in your workplace who are also frustrated with the gossiper. Seek out their support and build a network of allies.

Work days can be difficult when you have to deal with a colleague who loves to gossip. They always seem to be stirring up trouble and making office life more complex than it needs to be. But don’t worry, there are ways to address them as we’ve listed in this article. If all else fails, schedule a meeting with your HR manager or your direct supervisor to discuss the issue.

Latest WFH internships posted from 4 to 8 July 2022

Internships can improve your professional competence, boost your character, and open up more opportunities. You will provide yourself with the widest range of opportunities while looking for jobs after graduation by investing in internships.

Here are the latest WFH internships posted from 4 to 8 July 2022.

#1: Elitely Collective Pte Ltd – Business Development / Marketing

Website: https://elitelysg.com/

Allowance / Remuneration: $400 – 800 monthly

Job Qualifications

A part-time hustler who wants to build and launch a product they can call theirs

Key Responsibilities

Lead Generation & Management:

Build client lists and identify key contracts
Actively respond to inbound emails and messaging
Follow up on leads promptly and maintain an active pipeline of customers
Use chat tools to qualify prospects on the various communication channels
Do market and industry research to figure out pain points and potential opportunities

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and write to Dickson via this link.

#2: Otaku Interactive – Chinese Copywriter

Website: https://scgl.sg/

Allowance / Remuneration: $400 – 1,200 monthly

Job Qualifications

Able to translate from English to Chinese for clients when required

Key Responsibilities

Manage WeChat account
Conceptualize and develop Chinese copy for the news portal
Keep abreast of the marketing activities of the company’s competitors
Be a brand guardian and ensure a consistent tone of voice for the Chinese copy used by the company
Understand the company’s brands, products, and target audiences and present initial ideas to the team

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and write to Myron via this link.

#3: NielsenIQ – Research Analyst (Internship)

Website: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/

Allowance / Remuneration: $800 monthly

Job Qualifications

Able to prioritize own workload
Good interpersonal skills. communication, team player
Interest and comfort in working with quantitative data sets
Willingness to learn, hands-on, technical & analytical mindset
Must be proficient in MS Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint
Organized and meticulous with strong project management capabilities
Proactive with a self-starter mentality – drive workflow automation and enhancement
Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate your thoughts and ideas well
Background in any related field of study such as Statistics, Business Analytics, Marketing, Psychology, Public Policy
Strong command and fluency in English – spoken and written (Mandarin or another second language is an advantage but not essential)

Key Responsibilities

Involvement in consumer insights analysis and reporting
Assist in day-to-day client service and client management
Communicate with, and update clients and internal stakeholders on project status
Understand the process and function involved in quantitative and qualitative analysis
Work with research executives and managers to implement and deliver customized research solutions
Contribute supplementary insights by conducting secondary research on existing market trends, projections, and forecasts
Fieldwork management of quantitative and qualitative studies across both online and offline work (e.g. fieldwork witnessing, quota monitoring)

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and write to Leonard via this link or send your email to leonard.yap@nielseniq.com.

#4: Omnicom Public Relations Group Singapore – Public Relations Intern

Website: https://omnicomprgroup.com/

Allowance / Remuneration: $900 – 1,200 monthly

Job Qualifications

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written
Team player who is committed and enthusiastic; open to feedback and coaching
Able to commit to at least three months of internship, although six is preferred to receive the full benefit of these programs
Entry-level candidates or final year students with a Degree in Communications or Journalism; Business; or other degrees considered which require solid business acumen and writing skills
Strong writing skills are fundamental to a communications role; applicants must be able to demonstrate solid writing skills

Key Responsibilities

Conduct secondary research
Participate in brainstorming sessions
Pitch media (develop pitch and contact media)
Develop traditional and online/digital media lists
Contribute to the new business development process
Contribute to the development of strategic communications plans
Assist with event planning and support (including logistics, on-site staffing, development of collateral, promotions, etc.)
Monitor and summarize (package and present) a variety of news and communication formats (traditional media, blogs, online outlets, etc.)
Draft written material intended to persuade and/or represent a client’s point of view (i.e. press releases, research analysis, white papers, newsletters, etc.)

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and write to Pei San via this link.

#5: Kinexcs Pte Ltd – Software Dev Intern

Website: https://www.kinexcs.com/

Allowance / Remuneration: $1,300 – 1,500 monthly

Job Qualifications

Driven developers

Key Responsibilities

Assist in developing CI/CD and testing techniques to enable smooth delivery of software products to customers
Proactively be a part of a cross-functional agile team to develop high-performing, robust web/mobile and desktop applications
Manage the underlying infrastructure and technical architecture for all product lines, maintaining scalable, fault-tolerant systems and APIs that hose their core business logic
Design and maintain databases and work on mission-critical systems that deal with the designing and development of a system that can serve thousands of users daily

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and write to Aaron via this link.

Here’s what you need to know about rising COE premiums

According to auto dealers and transportation specialists, Certificate of Entitlement (COE) rates may continue to increase due to a persistent shortage of COE supply and continuous demand from wealthy purchasers.

This comes after the Open Category COE premium reached S$110,524, shattering the previous record held since December 1994. Additionally, premiums increased everywhere. Premiums for Category A closed at S$78,001, an increase from S$74,989 in the previous exercise while premiums for Category B increased from S$106,001 to S$107,800.

What industry experts say

As a result of a low number of deregistrations from April to June, it is anticipated that the COE quota for August through October would be reduced by up to 20 percent. As we enter the actual quota cut phase, it is expected that prices would rise even more.

Due to the high expense of purchasing a new vehicle, this circumstance has unfortunately created a vicious loop where individuals will be less eager to scrap and deregister their automobiles. Having said that, given the limited availability of COE, buyers may swarm in as soon as premiums begin to decline slightly.

Increase in demand from the rich

Image Credits: unscrambled.sg

This demand is presumably in part being driven by the surge of foreigners. If you don’t believe it, you may rely on media claims that Singapore’s skyrocketing rental costs are being pushed by wealthy foreigners who migrated here to avoid more stringent COVID-19 regulations elsewhere.

Many affluent folks have arrived in Singapore in search of a home and a vehicle. These peeps are more concerned about getting a car, and most would even overlook the price of a COE. The majority of individuals would not want to wait for the subsequent, more severe phase of quota reduction. As a result, many jumped at the chance to place a bid, which led to the COE premium’s increasing trajectory.

Can we expect premiums to go down?

Experts pointed out that the only time premiums would decrease is when the COE supply is recovered, which is anticipated to happen in 2024 or 2025 when more vehicles are deregistered. However, it’s doubtful that the costs would drop considerably until a sizable supply resumes operations.

Even so, premiums won’t drop to the low levels of 2015. The income distribution would have shifted a little bit upward, presuming that the economy works well and Singapore continues to see prosperity among its wealthiest citizens and consumers.

Meanwhile, we could only wait and hope that the government would temporarily expand the supply of COE in the near run to bring costs down.