The outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (now designated by the World Health Organization as COVID-19), continues to dominate the news and capture our attention. In the first few days after the first reports of cases in Singapore, long queues formed outside retailers such as Guardian and Watsons as ordinary citizens tried to purchase surgical and/or N95 masks.

The current outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), or the Wuhan coronavirus, as it is more commonly known, has sparked alarm and concern cross the globe. The number of persons infected have surpassed that of SARs, with no signs of abating. Given how contagious the virus appears to be, health authorities around the world are pulling out all stops to minimise the risk of the virus spreading within their communities. One of the key strategies in fighting the contagion is to identify and isolate persons who may be carriers of the virus.

MAS has issued the Guidelines on Licensing for Payment Service Providers, Guideline No: PS-G01 (18 December 2019) and specimen forms for PSA.

In recent times, there has been a noticeable rise in reported “outrage of modesty” and “insult of modesty” cases[1]. This has been identified as a key concern for the authorities, who have been noted to state that they will be working closely with “stakeholders and the community to prevent and deter” such cases.

We responded to the invitation for feedback under the Public Consultation on Recommendations submitted by the Committee to Review and Enhance Reforms in the Family Justice System by the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Social and Family Development. In our work with various social service agencies ("SSAs”) in Singapore, Covenant Chambers LLC has received several enquiries where non-parents are seeking to apply to be guardians of a child.

In a welcome move for the medical profession, the Court of Three Judges set aside the Singapore Medical Council’s conviction of a psychiatrist for giving out a patient’s confidential medical information to a next-of-kin in a medical emergency. The SMC’s conviction of the National University Hospital (NUH) psychiatrist for disclosing the patient’s medical information without verifying the requester’s identity sparked an outcry amongst members of the medical profession, who expressed concern that the Tribunal’s decision would fuel the practice of defensive medicine.

All pet owners have one thing in common: the fear of leaving your beloved pet in the hands of another whom you have no visibility or control over whilst being away. The common consensus also suggests that traditional pet boarding facilities prioritise safety by being strict in segregating their boarders, and at times, confining these pets to restrictive spaces.

The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) exists as a statute to govern the collection, use and disclosure of personal data by organisations. However, with the trifecta of "failure points" which includes human negligence, poorly implemented processes, and disregard for the act, the inadvertent result happens.