Why lifting lockdowns and easing restrictions may be the biggest COVID-19 test facing countries

Heart of the Matter

Listen
Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail

Heart of the Matter

Why lifting lockdowns and easing restrictions may be the biggest COVID-19 test facing countries

As countries around the world begin to emerge from strict stay-home restrictions, there have been setbacks and successes. Lin Suling speaks to SMU ...

Subscribe in Apple Podcast Download

Bookmark

Heart of the Matter

Why lifting lockdowns and easing restrictions may be the biggest COVID-19 test facing countries

(Updated: )

As countries around the world begin to emerge from strict stay-home restrictions, there have been setbacks and successes. Lin Suling speaks to SMU Professor Paulin Tay Straughan, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health’s Associate Professor Alex Cook and correspondent in London Olly Barratt who break down the strategies, politics and practicalities of exiting lockdowns.

Tagged Topics

  • coronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • circuit breaker
  • lockdown

    • Related Episodes

    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    27:52minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    E-scooters – what’s happened with rules, riders and pedestrians and what comes next

    A month after the footpath ban, the Singapore government announced new rules for e-scooters, including an age restriction and a theory test.
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:02minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Talking about the Madrid climate talks, what happened and what’s next?

    Two weeks of UN climate talks in Madrid left many wanting. Was it all doom and gloom? What can youth passionate about climate change learn from ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    23:01minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Goodbye brick-and-mortar, hello online shopping?

    Big-name retailers have announced they'll be closing up shop in Singapore, all within weeks of each other. Do these exits reflect the slow death ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:17minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Women earning less than men: Who bears the burden of change?

    Women in Singapore earned 6 per cent less than men for similar work in 2018, down from 8.8 per cent in 2002. What are the obstacles to narrowing ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    21:00minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Will you give an e-hongbao this Chinese New Year?

    As celebrations for the Lunar New Year begin, many of us will be preparing red packets to give out to family and friends. But will the rise of ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    31:30minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Wuhan virus – The WHO, Singapore's infectious diseases authority and a global outbreak expert answer your burning questions

    The Wuhan coronavirus has infected close to 8,000 people, resulting in over 170 deaths. How is this outbreak different from SARS? Will it be an ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    23:58minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Novel coronavirus – the search for a cure (and a name experts can agree on) intensifies

    On Feb 4, Singapore confirmed its first locally transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus, which has so far sickened over 24,000 people and ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:29minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Getting to grips with DORSCON orange in Singapore's fight against COVID-19

    Last week, authorities raised the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) to orange, following several cases of novel coronavirus ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    32:55minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Singapore Budget 2020: A report card

    Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat unveiled the 2020 Singapore Budget on Tuesday (Feb 18). How are businesses responding to the Stabilisation and ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    29:50minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    How ready is Singapore for electric vehicles?

    During Budget 2020, the Singapore Government unveiled an ambitious target to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040. Can technology ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    24:23minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Responsible pet ownership in Singapore's flats – it's not just about size

    Larger local mixed-breed dogs can now be rehomed in HDB flats under revised rules. But why is there a size limit in the first place? Why not lift ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    24:53minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Beyond COVID-19, how do we take Singapore's public hygiene standards to the next level?

    The Government announced that it will be forming the SG Clean Taskforce to raise standards of public hygiene. Was COVID-19 the jolt we needed to ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    28:02minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    What's behind the different approaches countries are taking towards COVID-19?

    As healthcare systems around the world ramp up measures amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Jaime Ho speaks to Hsu Li Yang and Natasha Howard of the Saw ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    19:35minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    COVID-19 and safe distancing – why this can save lives

    Safe distancing: A buzzword that has entered Singapore’s vocabulary this COVID-19 outbreak, but are we getting it right? With tighter ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    33:00minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Singapore's changing drug scene: The rise of new psychoactive substances

    The Singapore Government recently highlighted a new drugs threat – the rise of rogue chemists producing new psychoactive substances, which mimic ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    27:28minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Home-based learning: Good, bad, terrible ... but mostly good?

    Singapore kicked off the biggest national learn-from-home exercise as schools shifted into home-based learning, one of the circuit breakers ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    28:02minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    COVID-19 and the outlook for Singapore’s residential property market in 2020 and beyond

    There’s no let-up on the bleak projections for the Singapore economy this year and one big sector Singaporeans will be watching closely is the ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    30:50minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    How many stars will you give Singapore's F&B industry this COVID-19 season?

    During this pandemic, Singapore’s food and beverage sector has had to grapple with immense challenges from embracing food delivery and take-away ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    30:16minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Disruption 101: How COVID-19 is revolutionising work

    As companies around the world make the leap to embrace digital transformation and remote working amidst a worsening COVID-19 outbreak, we break ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    28:15minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    COVID-19: Aviation and flying never ever the same again

    The coronavirus pandemic has made ghost towns of airports around the world. Airlines have slashed flights. Crew have been furloughed. Berkshire ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:54minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Repairing and recycling to reduce e-waste: A pipe dream in Singapore?

    Many of us may not think twice about throwing away old gadgets and buying new ones. It's one thing to talk about Zero Waste and reusing, reducing ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    32:16minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    How Singapore businesses and workers can thrive in a post-pandemic new normal

    The Fortitude Budget announced in Parliament this week brings the total bill of Singapore's COVID-19 packages to just under S$100 billion. Will ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:13minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Singapore's relationship with migrant workers: It's complicated?

    In the midst of Singapore's battle against COVID-19, the Government has announced plans to construct new migrant worker dormitories and repurpose ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    35:27minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    TraceTogether token and contact tracing apps: Privacy, data usage and other big questions

    The TraceTogether token, a wearable contact tracing device will soon be rolled out. The government has said that it will not collect personal ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    29:42minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Entering Phase 2: What's behind rules on gatherings, dining, weddings and more?

    Singapore's transition into Phase 2 of COVID-19 restrictions will see shops, restaurants and schools open once more. What’s the thinking behind ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    26:01minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    GE2020: What it means for the PAP, the opposition and Singapore politics

    Singaporeans awoke on Saturday (Jul 11) to find the People’s Action Party firmly in power with 83 seats but with a slide in their vote share and ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    28:16minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Retrenchment: What is fair compensation, clear communication and empathy in letting people go?

    As Singapore sinks into a technical recession, companies like RWS are among the latest to lay off staff, with some upset they were not told earlier.
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    27:49minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    The COVID-19 vaccine will be the biggest product launch in history. Can we pull it off?

    Moderna, Pfizer and over 100 pharmaceutical firms and research institutes are racing towards developing the first coronavirus vaccine. Lin Suling ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    24:31minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    What next for Malaysian workers stuck there and Singapore businesses who hire them here?

    Singapore and Malaysia are ready to lift some entry restrictions and reopen travel via the Periodic Commuting Arrangement and Reciprocal Green Lane.
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    34:32minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Unfair firing and hiring practices under scrutiny during Singapore’s worst recession

    As Singapore stares down its worst economic performance on record, Lin Suling speaks to NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay and Managing ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    30:59minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Recovery, restructuring and possibly rebound? The outlook for the Singapore economy

    After seeing one of the deepest recessions in the second quarter, has the Singapore economy bottomed out? What’s the outlook after Deputy Prime ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    31:13minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    The conversation on race and multiculturalism younger Singaporeans want

    In her speech at the opening of Parliament, President Halimah Yacob said younger Singaporeans want to discuss issues of race and ethnicity more ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    27:01minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Phishing scams and the sketchy tricks of the online crime trade

    Banking-related phishing scams have spiked more than 2,500 per cent in the first half of 2020 alone in Singapore, with police warning of ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    27:45minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Can foreign domestic workers do extra chores? The dos, don'ts and difficult areas

    The relationship between foreign domestic workers and their employers has been in the spotlight. How do they and their employers navigate blurred ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    24:09minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Rethinking the role of national carriers while saving Singapore Airlines

    Amid the latest round of layoffs by Singapore Airlines and other flag airlines around the world, aviation analyst Brendan Sobie and NUS Business ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    29:28minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Sexual offences, quotas and serving NS: K Shanmugam speaks frankly about women’s issues

    After launching a series of public engagements on women’s issues in a move towards greater gender equality on Sunday (Sep 20), Home Affairs and ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:48minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Returning to the office – can you say no?

    With coronavirus community cases tapering down and with Phase 3 of Singapore’s reopening around the corner, is it time to reverse this biggest ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    29:01minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Raising wages of Singapore's poorest earners: A hard look at the Progressive Wage Model

    OCBC's Selena Ling and NUS Business School's Professor Sumit Agarwal share with CNA's Lin Suling their thoughts on the Progressive Wage Model ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:06minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    iPhone 12 and Apple’s thinking behind advanced features

    Apple has just launched the new iPhone 12 and fans are excited. We take a hard look at not just the latest phone Apple has rolled out but whether ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    26:03minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Is it time to go after smokers who light up near the windows of their homes?

    With more people confined to their homes, complaints about second-hand smoke have increased by 20 per cent. The divide is deep on this argument.
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    23:07minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    The cautious opening of international borders: Will going on an overseas holiday be practical and safe?

    Nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic and some countries are working out how to extend foreign travel to more people, with Singapore negotiating ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    30:18minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    US election: A bitter fight for the soul of the world's most powerful nation

    A day after Nov 3, neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden has been declared the winner in what has been called the most polarised US presidential race ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    33:35minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    How Malaysians are coping amid a never-ending fight with COVID-19

    Despite an early Movement Control Order and other restrictions earlier this year, Malaysia's infection numbers have surged this month. This ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    31:29minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    The Singapore property market: Is it changing for good?

    In October, private home sales fell by 50 per cent. What does that say about the health of the Singapore property market? Have government curbs ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    29:54minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    PSLE results: Three working adults confront its impact and other surprising revelations years later

    Every year, thousands of 12-year olds and their parents fret for days over a slip of paper they believe will seal their fate for the rest of their ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    47:09minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    COVID-19 vaccines rolled out at warp speed – safety, side effects and the big logistical challenges

    Developed and manufactured at an unprecedented pace, how did authorities in Singapore ensure safety isn’t compromised amid Pfizer-BioNTech, ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    26:04minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Changes in WhatsApp terms and conditions: Cutting through the confusion

    Singapore has been abuzz this week over updates to WhatsApp’s data policy with scores of users turning to alternatives like Telegram and Signal.
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:02minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    What’s so special about Dover Forest? When love of nature meets urban planning

    In recent months, Singapore’s forests have been in the public eye after stunning drone shots of Clementi Forest went viral. Now, Dover’s lush ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    27:47minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    COVID-19 restrictions ahead of Chinese New Year: Rules, risks and responsibilities

    Two weeks before Chinese New Year, what’s behind Singapore’s new restrictions? What is the outlook for the country’s COVID-19 fight amid a raging ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    38:54minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    GameStop’s rollercoaster: What really went down and could it happen here?

    January 2021 will go down as one of the most bizarre months in Wall Street's 200-year history where a video-game company found itself in the ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    29:11minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Electric cars: When’s a good time to start thinking about buying one?

    Ambitious targets in Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 on the adoption of electric vehicles announced on Wednesday (Feb 10) have signalled a bigger ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    34:27minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Budget 2021: A clarifying moment for businesses and workers as Singapore shifts gears

    Budget 2021 afforded huge support to businesses and workers in riding out COVID-19. But what must give as Singapore switches priorities from ...
    Heart of the Matter podcast thumbnail
    Media playtime
    25:55minutes
    Heart of the Matter

    Food delivery apps: How riders, consumers and F&B outlets have found them a year since COVID-19

    COVID-19 was a shot in the arm for food delivery platforms. One year on, have apps and restaurants gotten their systems in order? Why do we still ...
    View all Episodes

    recommended podcasts

    Conversation With Thumbnail
    Media playtime

    Conversation With

    "Conversation With" is CNA's flagship one-on-one interview programme that has run for over 18 years. The primetime interview show focuses on one ...