SINGAPORE – 23 MAR 2020
With greater awareness around safe distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Infocomm Media Development Authority, (“IMDA”), together with industry partners, has embarked on a national community effort with a call to Singaporeans to “Stay Healthy, Go Digital”, encouraging people to continue with their daily lives while staying healthy through digital means.
This collaboration aims to make digital services even more accessible, and reduce the impact of safe distancing among Singaporeans, especially seniors whose lives may be affected. These activities could include buying daily necessities, paying bills and learning new skills online.
For a start, IMDA and its partners have created a set of simple guides for people to learn how to use common digital applications.
“Because of COVID-19 and recent suspensions of social activities, technology is even more important to help us build and maintain our connections with one another. Together with industry, IMDA has improved our learning resources to encourage and enable everyone to live their life as normally as possible through digital technology. We also urge those of us who are digitally savvy to help your family members adjust to a new lifestyle amid COVID-19,” said Mr Tan Kiat How, Chief Executive, IMDA.
DBS/POSB, NTUC FairPrice, Qoo10 and Shopee are among the first few companies to pledge their support to help seniors with guides and promotional offers for new signups.
While IMDA encourages the tech savvy to help their friends and families go digital, should there be a need, Tech Connect and the Digital Clinics are available to provide assistance to participants on using digital devices and relevant services to cope with the COVID-19 situation.
Tech Connect is available in selected Community Centres/Clubs islandwide. IMDA will also be collaborating with the National Library Board (“NLB”) to host its Digital Clinics at eight selected libraries around Singapore. Special precautions have been taken to maintain safe distancing at each assistance point (Refer to Annex A for more details).
“In this current environment, it is important for our seniors who are especially vulnerable to practise safe distancing and stay healthy. However, it does not mean they have to give up their lifestyles. People can still continue doing many daily activities online, such as ordering their groceries or keeping active. We call on all Singaporeans to use this time to pick up some useful digital skills and reduce the impact of COVID-19 in their everyday lives,” said Mr Koh Juay Meng, PBM, Chairman, RSVP Singapore The Organisation of Senior Volunteers.
“Shopee is working closely with our sellers and retail partners to ensure there is ample product supply to cater to our Singaporean users' needs. With greater emphasis by the government on safe distancing measures, going digital with everyday activities such as ordering daily necessities online can help Singaporeans better exercise precaution during this time,” said Zhou Junjie, Chief Commercial Officer, Shopee
As part of ongoing efforts to promote digital adoption, IMDA is continuing to engage different industry partners to develop more promotions, user guides and educational videos to encourage Singaporeans to embrace and adopt a digital lifestyle.
For companies interested to do their part in engaging Singaporeans to go digital please visit: www.imda.gov.sg/WeGoDigital.
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