What Went Down at NTU: A Quick Guide to the Latest Outbreak
The Wastewater Surprise
Imagine walking into a campus hallway and the only thing you see is a splash of “Covid‑19 in the pipes.” That’s exactly what happened at Hall of Residence 13, Block 61—water samples sent in the usual vending‑machine style turned up a few viral fragments. NTU, being the science whiz that it is, quickly flagged it for a deeper look.
Rapid Test Blitz & Instant Isolation
On Monday, Aug. 23, educators pulled out the big guns: an antigen rapid test station from 3 pm to 7 pm in the multi‑purpose hall next to the suspected block. Residents could just walk in—no appointments, no fuss. All 38 residents rushed for their test, plus everyone was told to lock away in their rooms and keep physical contact to the min.
- 1. No entry to Block 61.
- 2. Keep an eye on health, skip campus if you feel off.
- 3. Students will get support from their faculties.
- 4. Hall activities—sports, dance training—halted. Meals? Order take‑out, eat in your bed, or wherever.
Previous Cases & The Bigger Picture
Last week, NTU had already shaken hands with two Covid‑positive students. First, a student infected outside school, hasn’t come to the campus since. MOH said contact tracing wasn’t needed, so no extra fuss. Second, a fully vaccinated student got the flu‑enveloped warning on Saturday. All close contacts received a quarantine order or a leave of absence.
ST & Faculty’s Word of Wisdom
Both Professor Ling – NTU’s vice‑president and provost – and Ms. Tan – senior vice‑president of administration – are dropping a prefab: Vaccinate if you haven’t yet. Protect yourself and your classmate buffet.
Why Wastewater Matters
Since February, Singapore has been keeping an eye on over 200 wastewater sites—workers’ dorms, student hostels, nursing homes, you name it. If “rubbish” speaks, we listen—quick, calm, and scientifically sound.
In short: NTU is staying sharp, staying safe, and staying a bit humorous about the whole thing. Keep the test gloves ready, heed the guidelines, and remember: you’re part of the campus family, and we’re all in this together.
<img alt="" data-caption="A disinfecting crew was seen at the carpark outside Hall 13.
PHOTO: The Straits Times” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”e7073626-5d50-4d2f-b31a-56e35157f3b2″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20210824_student_st.jpg”/>
Health Minister Drops a Warning Here’s the Lowdown
In a breezy Facebook post last July, Ong Ye Kung spilled the beans on a nifty monitoring trick the authorities have been using. “We’re not detecting every single infected person,” he clarified, “but it works like a super‑ear, picking up suspicious clusters early and letting us swing into action – quick swabs, ring‑fencing, and keeping the spread at bay.”
Swab‑s, Smiles & Strategy
Take a look at three bustling hotspots: Hougang, Yishun and Bukit Merah View. Once the red flag flared, teams rushed in to lift swabs. The goal? To chase down any infection before it could expand into the wider community. The method may not catch every virus, but it’s the eye‑opener we need in the early stage.
Student Snapshots
- Lim Shing Yee (22) – “I was right next to Hall 13 getting a quick visit, and I knew there were cases floating around. Stop me lying: with all these vaccines in my circle, I felt pretty secure. But I’d bet on hidden cases – that’s asymptomatic folks hiding in plain sight.”
- Chung Chae Young (19) – Hall 14 – “Swipe left to the anxiety! I’m shooting the nerve that more cases might pop up. It’s a bit stormy in my head.”
At the Testing Venue
When our reporter set foot inside at 5 pm, the place was all transformed: the curtains were sticky to the colorful blinds, seats were angled, and the suspicion factor was off the charts. The hall was a miniature ecosystem of guards and cleaning crews buzzing around the parking lot of Hall 13, keeping both the ground and the air germ‑free.
Final Takeaway
While the spike in local transmissions is still a bit of a brain‑tremor, most folks are taking a longer breath because vaccines are the new best friend. Listeners on the platform are doing their best to keep everyone safe and spreading the good sent to us all!
Original story released in The Straits Times. All rights retained. No links required.
