Singapore - Advisory by National Parks Board (Date of notice: 8 May 12)
Singapore's National Parks Board has advised the public not to visit parks or nature reserves during or just after a heavy storm. For their own safety, the public should keep themselves updated of the latest weather reports by tuning in to radio broadcasts. The latest weather reports, including heavy rain warnings, are also available through the National Environment Agency (NEA)'s weather forecast hotline at 65427788, the NEA website at www.nea.gov.sg, the mobile weather service (Weather@SG - weather.nea.gov.sg) or Twitter via @NEAsg.
Situation in Japan (Date of notice: 27 Apr 12)
According to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singaporeans travelling to Japan should be prepared for occasional tremors. They should pay close attention to and heed any instructions from the Japanese Government in the event of an emergency.
Reports of local cases of radiation sickness that result from travel to Japan have not been substantiated. Medical practitioners have been informed to refer suspected cases of radiation sickness associated with travel to Japan to the public hospitals for assessment and management. Confirmed cases will be notified to the Ministry of Health. To date, there have been no reported cases of Singaporeans with radiation illness due to travels to Japan. Information on radiation from the Fukushima Nuclear Plant in Japan can be obtained from the web. The URLs are posted at www.mfa.gov.sg (click " Consular Information", "For Singapore citizens" and "Travel Notices").
We believe the above notice will also be helpful to international students.
Situation In Bahrain (Date of notice: 25 Apr 12)
There have been continued protests and demonstrations in Bahrain, including some violent clashes between the protesters and government security forces. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to advise Singaporeans travelling to or already in Bahrain, in the interest of their own safety, to take all necessary precautions such as monitoring the local news closely, observing instructions from local security authorities, avoiding areas of public gatherings and disturbances, and staying away from areas where they may occur. Local English news reports can be found on www.dt.bh or www.gulf-daily-news.com. Singaporeans should eRegister immediately at http://eregister.mfa.gov.sg if they have not already done so.
The above notice would also be helpful to international students.
Situation in Egypt (Date of notice: 9 Apr 12)
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) continues to advise all Singaporeans in Egypt and those planning to visit Egypt to be extremely vigilant and take all necessary safety precautions as there remains a high possibility of public disturbances and sporadic violence.
Elections for the Egyptian Presidency are scheduled to be held on 23 and 24 May 2012, and, if required, run-off elections for the Presidency will take place on 16 and 17 June 2012. Campaigning for the presidential elections will officially begin on 30 Apr 2012 and continue until the end of 20 May 2012. The new President is scheduled to take office no later than 30 June 2012. Political rallies and demonstrations are expected to occur in the period leading up to and following these elections, and during the drafting process of the new Constitution that is currently underway.
Singaporeans who are in Egypt or plan to visit Egypt during this period should therefore avoid all demonstrations and public gatherings (particularly in Tahrir Square in Cairo and its immediate vicinity) and strictly comply with instructions from the local authorities. As the situation can change quickly, the MFA urges them to monitor the local news, such as the English website of Al Ahram at http://english.ahram.org.eg, for information about new safety and security risks.
Singaporeans who are travelling to or are resident in Egypt and have yet to eRegister with the MFA are strongly urged to do so at http://eregister.mfa.gov.sg.
For further information, please log on to www.mfa.gov.sg (click "Consular Information","For Singapore Citizens" and "Travel Notices").
The above advisory would also be helpful to international students.
Situation in the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla in Thailand (Date of notice: 2 Apr 12)
In view of the recent bomb blasts in Yala and in Hat Yai, Thailand, which had led to the fire at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is advising Singaporeans to postpone non-essential travel to the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla in Thailand for the time being. Singaporeans with an urgent need to travel to these provinces are advised to monitor local news and developments, take all necessary precautions for their personal safety and purchase comprehensive travel insurance.
The above advisory would also be helpful to international students.
Avian Influenza - no cause for alarm in Singapore but remain vigilant (Date of notice: 8 May 12)
According to www.crisis.gov.sg (as at 8 May 12), there have been no cases of Avian Influenza (H5N1) detected in Singapore, either in humans or poultry. Nevertheless, Singapore's Ministry of Health advises all travellers to remain vigilant and adopt good hygiene practices.
While there is no cause for alarm in Singapore currently, everyone should play his or her own part in exercising individual social responsibility, so that we can jointly keep the influenza threat at bay.
We would like to advise all students to observe the following measures:
- Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene.
- Visit a doctor if you are unwell and stay away from school.
- Declare your travel details at http://intranet.ntu.edu.sg/flu/default.aspx if you are travelling abroad.
- When travelling abroad, avoid direct contact with poultry, birds or their droppings, and, if contact is made, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Seek prompt medical attention if you have returned from an avian-influenza-affected country and have developed fever and/or influenza-like illnesses. Subsequently, please report your situation to Student Affairs Office at sao-fa@ntu.edu.sg.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) eRegister system (Date of notice: 8 Dec 11)
The MFA eRegister system is a voluntary and free service provided by the MFA to all Singaporeans to allow them to record information about their travel itinerary abroad, whether they are travelling abroad for study, work or leisure. The information provided will allow the MFA and its Embassies or Consulates to contact and render assistance during an emergency or crisis. Please log on to http://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ for more information.
A general note to students on health insurance
With rising medical costs, sufficient health insurance is increasingly important in ensuring effective protection against financial loss as a result of an illness or accident. The magnitude of cover differs from person to person in accordance with one's needs and budget. For example, working in biological or chemical laboratories is inevitably accompanied by the attendant risk of illness or accidental injury.
Naturally, a good starting point in analysing individual needs for health insurance is to look at one's existing cover. Students may log on to http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Services/StudentServices/health/Pages/default.aspx to find information concerning coverage and eligibility of schemes currently administered by the University. If an individual student believes that he or she requires additional coverage for his or her own needs, he or she should seek professional advice independently.
