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Coronavirus

A comprehensive guide on how to navigate the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

Zyane Tan
Zyane Tan

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic of global concern. It’s the first pandemic sparked by a coronavirus, which means we are currently in uncharted territory. This article, and the linked guides, are intended to help consumers and small businesses understand the implications and make informed choices.

If we all work together by observing good hygiene, following advice from health officials and self-isolating as directed, we can minimize the impact of the virus. The most important thing is to remain calm and educated. And that is the chief purpose of this guide.

A full list of our coronavirus guides

We’re updating this guide daily to ensure you have the latest information about coronavirus and its impact. Always seek financial or medical advice from a professional before making any decisions.

If you’re concerned that you may be infected, please seek medical advice from a health professional immediately.

What's in this guide?

Below you will find information COVID-19 coronavirus, including how it spreads, how to avoid infection, the symptoms to watch out for and how to protect the vulnerable. You will also find expert advice on travel, insurance, health, shopping and employment.

We’ll continue to publish content to help you navigate the outbreak, so be sure to bookmark this page to stay informed.

If you’re concerned that you may be infected, please seek medical advice from a health professional immediately.

COVID-19: confirmed cases and deaths

This data was last updated on 2020-11-21 at 08:00 CEST and was sourced from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

57,705,979

Current confirmed cases

(+677,321 in last 24 hours)

1,373,695

Total deaths

(+11,832 in last 24 hours)

Key coronavirus resources and official guides

There is a lot of misinformation floating around about coronavirus and its impact on the world. The following links will keep you up to date using sources you can trust:

How to get financial help during the crisis

Serious mid adult Asian woman listening on phone, sitting in office chair in dark room, holding paperwork, checking accounts, financial planning, money concerns, difficulty, debt
A lot of people are currently out of work due to coronavirus. Hundreds of businesses are struggling to stay afloat. This is adding untold pressure to households and the wider economy. Fortunately, there is a range of services and payments available designed to assist Singaporeans who are struggling. The guides below explain where you can get help.

Financial support for people and households

Financial support for businesses

COVID-19 shopping guides

Picture not described
The coronavirus has sparked panic buying across the nation, with toilet paper, hand sanitizers and food staples like rice and pasta particularly hard to come by. If you’re frequently encountering empty supermarket shelves, Finder’s shopping guides are here to help.

COVID-19 advice for travellers

Young caucasian beautiful woman with medical mask taking a bus ride and using her phone while riding.
On 18 March 2020, MOH has advised Singaporeans to defer all travel abroad to prevent further importation of coronavirus. In addition, many countries have also imposed entry restrictions and border closures to take the COVID-19 situation.

The guides below will help to keep you informed about ongoing travel restrictions and their impact on your finances.

COVID-19 health advice

Woman Applying Hand Sanitizer

Working from home during coronavirus

Mid adult man using computer. Woman is working in foreground at desk. Business couple are in home office.
The Singapore government has announced that starting April 7, most workplaces except for essential services and key economic sectors will be closed. If possible, all non-essential workers are expected to work from home. All schools including Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will also shift to full home-based learning from April 9. While these work and school closures is only temporary and will be lifted on 4 May, we should also bear in mind that these measures may be extended should the COVID-19 situation remain critical.

COVID-19 FAQs

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic of global concern. It’s the first pandemic sparked by a coronavirus, which means we are currently in uncharted territory. If you’re unsure about any aspect of the coronavirus, please read our FAQs section below.

What is COVID-19 coronavirus?

COVID-19 coronavirus is the name given to the current outbreak of coronavirus first reported in Wuhan, China on 31 December 2019. A “coronavirus” is a type of virus that causes diseases in mammals and birds.

COVID-19 is genetically similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which had an outbreak in 2002-2003 that led to 774 deaths in 17 countries. While less deadly than SARS, the WHO has warned that COVID-19 is more infectious.

The disease is believed to have originated in bats, jumping the species barrier to at least one more mammal before it began to infect humans. In response to the virus, China has placed a permanent ban on the trade and consumption of live wild animals for food.

How dangerous is coronavirus (COVID-19)?

According to the WHO, most people infected with COVID-19 will only experience mild, flu-like symptoms. Some people may display no symptoms at all.

The estimated fatality rate, according the the WHO, is 3-4% (which does not take into account unreported cases). Statistically, this means that you have a better than 96% chance of survival after contracting coronavirus. As the WHO noted last month, COVID-19 is a new and concerning disease, but outbreaks can be managed with the right response and most infected people will recover.

With that said, the virus is highly transmissible, and there are certain groups of people who are significantly more vulnerable than others, which is why it’s so important to minimize the spread of the virus.

How many people have died or been infected?

You can keep tabs on the number of infections and fatalities globally via the below Finder graph, which we are updating daily.

Number of confirmed cases per day worldwide

Number of deaths per day worldwide

This chart data was last updated on 2020-11-21 at 08:00 CEST and was sourced from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

Who is most at risk?

Older people and anyone with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk of developing serious illness after contracting COVID-19. The latter includes people with high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer and diabetes.

If you fall into one of the above categories, you will need to be extra vigilant in the weeks to come. Head to the Ministry of Health (MOH) for additional information.

At what age do I become more vulnerable?

The WHO has warned that people who are over the age of 60 are at greater risk of developing severe or critical illness if infected with the virus.

How is COVID-19 spread?

Coronavirus is chiefly spread by person-to-person contact. This can occur when an infected person coughs or exhales, or via direct contact such as shaking hands. The virus is transferred in small droplets from the nose or mouth.

The MOH warns that high-touch objects and surfaces can also be infectious, including mobile phones. Other common objects to take note of are tables, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets and sinks. In these instances, transmission occurs when a person touches the infected object, then touches their eyes, nose or mouth. Worryingly, preliminary studies suggest that COVID-19 may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days.

In some good news, the latest data suggests COVID-19 is unlikely to be transmitted through the air over long distances. Airborne respiratory droplets typically land on objects and surfaces around the person, rather than remaining in the air.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

As mentioned above, symptoms of COVID-19 are non-specific. They can range from no symptoms to severe pneumonia and death. A WHO-China Joint Mission study released on 20 February 2020 found the following:

Based on 55,924 laboratory confirmed cases, typical signs and symptoms include: fever (87.9%), dry cough (67.7%), fatigue (38.1%), sputum production (33.4%), shortness of breath (18.6%), sore throat (13.9%), headache (13.6%), myalgia or arthralgia (14.8%), chills (11.4%), nausea or vomiting (5.0%), nasal congestion (4.8%), diarrhea (3.7%), hemoptysis (0.9%) and conjunctival congestion (0.8%).

Based on the above statistics, the main symptoms you should be watching out for are fever, dry cough, fatigue, sputum production (thick mucus) and shortness of breath. If you exhibit these symptoms, you may utilise the Singapore COVID-19 Symptom Checker for advice on your next steps or head directly to a clinic to get yourself tested.

You can find out more about the WHO-China Joint Mission study into coronavirus symptoms here.

How long does infection last?

The incubation period for COVID-19 is 1-14 days. This means that it can take up to two weeks for an infected person to exhibit symptoms after catching the virus. It then takes an additional two or three weeks for the infected person to recover.

What can I do to stay protected?

Good hygiene is the most important preventative measure against COVID-19. This means frequently washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing and avoiding unnecessary touching of your face.

According to the WHO, you should also maintain at least three feet of distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. This is next to impossible on crowded trains and buses, which is why it’s important that everyone follows the aforementioned coughing rule.

Naturally, you should also stay home if you feel unwell.

If you are fit and healthy, try to remember that this isn’t just about avoiding a mild illness — avoiding infection could help save lives in high-risk populations such as the elderly. Below is the World Health Organization’s guide on effective hand washing to protect against infection.

Hand washing steps (World Health Organisation)

Latest coronavirus news

Read more on this topic

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