Singapore Prime Minister tests positive for Covid again in rare rebound case
The Hindu
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that he tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time in less than two weeks, in a rare case of a rebound. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 for the first time on May 22, following work trips to Africa and Asia.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on June 1, that he tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time in less than two weeks, in a rare case of a rebound.
Mr. Lee, 71, was diagnosed with COVID-19 for the first time on May 22, following work trips to Africa and Asia. He tested negative six days later. But in a Facebook post June 1, Mr. Lee shared a photo of a positive antigen rapid test that he took.
"I feel fine but I am afraid I have turned COVID-19 positive again. My doctors say it is a Covid rebound, which happens in 5-10% of cases,” he said in his post.
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Mr. Lee said he has been advised to self-isolate as the virus is still infectious, although the risk is lower compared to the initial infection. He said he had looked forward to attending the consecration ceremony of an Indian temple early June 1, but has to "miss it to keep others around me safe”.
Mr. Lee will also have to skip a bilateral meeting June 2, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is due to give a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore. Mr. Albanese tweeted June 1 that he called Mr. Lee to wish him a speedy recovery. Mr. Albanese said he looks forward to meeting instead with Mr. Lee's Deputy Lawrence Wong.
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With a new government in place in Delhi, Singapore hopes to schedule the Ministerial Roundtable with India shortly, says Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. In an exclusive interview, he speaks about the impact of the elections on ties, the “missed opportunity” of RCEP and the new buzz around Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati.