Lianhe Zaobao launches Covid-19 book with a panel discussion with Health Minister Ong Ye Kung

Singapore, 28 January 2022 -   Lianhe Zaobao 《联合早报》has launched a Chinese-language book “Covid Warriors: The Singapore Way” (战疫勇士：新加坡之道) to document the first two years of Singapore’s fight against Covid-19 and how we are living with the ongoing pandemic. The book was launched with a panel discussion with Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health at SPH News Centre today.

Two of Singapore’s distinguished Infectious Disease specialists, Professor Leo Yee Sin（梁玉心教授), Executive Director at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, and Professor Wang Lin Fa（王林发教授）, Emerging Infectious Diseases at Duke-NUS Medical School, joined Mr Ong at the panel discussion. They discussed Singapore’s battle with Covid-19 over the past two years and shared their views on the road ahead.

In “Covid Warriors: The Singapore Way”, Lianhe Zaobao journalists interviewed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, along with cabinet Ministers who have been dealing with various issues brought about by the pandemic. They shared their decision-making process on the Circuit Breaker in April 2020, including the initial plan for a nationwide lockdown.

Frontliners, from civil servants, clinicians, scientists, researchers, educators, flight stewardesses to community volunteers and parents also shared their first-hand experiences in the crisis.

On publishing the book, Mr Goh Sin Teck（吴新迪）, Editor of Lianhe Zaobao said: “The pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives since it broke out two years ago. To many, the pandemic is not only about cold, hard statistics and figures, it is about the friends and people around them, as well as the tribulations they have gone through. I hope this book can serve as a record of the unprecedented challenges for our current and future generations.

Addressing the 50 guests attending the book launch at the SPH News Centre Auditorium, Ms Han Yong May（韩咏梅）, Executive Editor of Lianhe Zaobao, said: “Newspapers provide a public record of our history. Lianhe Zaobao journalists have been in the thick of covering COVID-19 for the past two years. The people whom we met, the events which we have gone through, and the changes that have taken place, are documented and kept alive in this book. These will be the collective memories of Singaporeans.”

Penning the Foreword and an autographed note in the 204-page book, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked all the frontline fighters for their contributions. He said that the book served as a reminder that the war is not over yet and urged Singaporeans to continue battling the pandemic with unyielding perseverance and fearlessness.

“Covid Warriors: the Singapore Way” is published by Focus Publishing, a subsidiary of SPH Media Trust. It retails for S$25 (inclusive of GST) at Popular Bookstore, Union Bookstore, Kinokuniya, Maha Yuyi, Seabreeze Books and Zall Bookstore@Wheelock Place from February 2022. Every copy of “Covid Warrior” purchased from Zshop (https://zshop.zaobao.sg/products/literary-picks-2020-2020) comes with a limited edition postcard.

Please see attached images for your use.

• PYLL7507
• Covid Warriors Book Cover
• 联合早报新书战疫勇士发布会

Photo Caption: “Covid Warriors: The Singapore Way” written by journalists from Lianhe Zaobao. © Focus Publishing

Issued by SPH Media Trust (UEN: 202125108M)

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