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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
Markus Buehler designs new proteins with the help
of arti icial intelligence.
PHOTO: THE WASHINGTON POST
Available seats in meeting rooms should also be
spaced at least one metre apart and clearly marked.
The same safe distancing measures should apply to
common spaces, such as entrances/exits, lifts and
pantries/canteens, where congregation or queuing
of employees or visitors/clients might occur. Em-
ployers should also remind employees to maintain
the one metre physical spacing during informal dis-
cussions amongst employees.
Employers should implement staggered work-
ing hours to reduce possible congregation of em-
ployees at common spaces such as entrances/exits.
The staggered working hours must be implemented
over at least three one-hourly blocks, with not more
than half of the employees reporting to work within
each one-hour block. For example, if the normal
working hours are from 8am to 5pm, employers
could stagger employees’ reporting times at one-
hour intervals between 7.30am and 10.30am (eg
7.30am to 8.30am, 8.30am to 9.30am and 9.30am
to 10.30am), with corresponding staggered timings
for end of work. Timings of lunch and other breaks
must also be staggered.
Where possible, reporting and ending times
should not coincide with peak-hour travel, especial-
ly if employees require the use of public transport.
Employers may consider staggering and reducing
number of employees entitled to work breaks at any
one time so as to reduce congregating at pantries/
canteens/break areas.
Employers must defer or cancel all group events
or activities which involve close and prolonged
contact amongst participants. These include con-
ferences, seminars, training and exhibitions. Social
gatherings at the workplace, such as the celebra-
tion of birthdays, should be kept to no more than 10
persons at any one time, with safe distancing mea-
sures in place.
Shift or split team arrangements should also be
implemented or enhanced for suitable workplace set-
tings, such as the manufacturing industry. Employers
can consider having employees work in shifts and
extending operational hours to maintain production
output. Alternatively, employers should look into split
team arrangements where employees are assigned to
work under alternate teams and be deployed accord-
ing to different work schedules or at different work
sites. Employers should consider clear separation of
employees on different shifts or split teams, such as
implementing human trafic management measures
and stepping up cleaning of common areas during
shift or split team changeovers.
In addition, discourage workers from us-
ing other workers’ phones, desks, ofices, or
other work tools and equipment, when possible.
Maintain regular housekeeping practices, includ-
ing routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces,
equipment, and other elements of the work envi-
ronment in line with MoH Guidance on Disinfection
of Workplaces. In the usage of personal protective
equipment (PPE), ensure vulnerable workers who
need to use PPE are properly trained on how to put
on, use/wear and take off correctly, including in the
context of their current and potential duties. Ensure
PPE is disposed of correctly.
In terms of preparing to institute lexible work-
place and leave policies, and reporting of illness,
employers should ensure that sick leave policies are
lexible and consistent with public health guidance,
and that employees are aware of and understand
these policies.
Employers should also implement lexible poli-
cies that allow employees to stay home if they are
sick, in self-isolation, or caring for family members.
Additionally, employers should develop policies
and procedures for employees to report and de-
clare when they are sick or experiencing symptoms
of COVID19 while at work which is a critical step in
protecting other workers, customers, and visitors.
Employers should inform and encourage em-
ployees to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of
COVID19 if they suspect possible exposure.
It is also the responsibility of employees to always
take the necessary preventive actions when they are
at work such as adhering to the recommended social
distancing measures, avoiding physical greetings
or handshakes, wearing a mask where applicable,
frequently washing hands or use of hand sanitiser,
adopting respiratory etiquette, etc.
In cases where measures to make the workplac-
es safer in reducing infection transmission such as
temporary redeployment or making other work ar-
rangements have been undertaken but has been
further assessed by the employer that they may
still pose an increased risk to the vulnerable worker,
then, wherever possible, the employer may consider
for vulnerable employees to work by telecommuni-
cating from home, provided that there are means of
monitoring work hours, work output, remote access
and connectivity to workplace and colleagues.
These must also be in line with the organisa-
tion’s human resource and work processes poli-
cies. Consider retaining employees with critical
functions only to remain in the workplace setting,
to reduce crowding and close contact. Additional
measures could include reviewing work processes
and providing the necessary IT equipment/facilities
for employees.
MIT professor translates coronavirus’ complex
sequences into sound
Erin Blakemore
THE WASHINGTON POST - Coronaviruses get their
name from the crown of spikelike proteins that sur-
round them. Now, the protein spikes of the novel
coronavirus have been turned into an intriguing
musical composition - one researchers hope could
inspire new ways to ight the virus.
Spike proteins serve a powerful function for the
novel coronavirus. They enable it to attach to human
cells and then hijack them so the virus can replicate.
Think of spike proteins as special keys in search
of a human lock. In the case of the novel coronavi-
rus, formally known as SARSCoV2, the spike pro-
tein binds to human cells’ receptor proteins called
angiotensin converting enzyme 2.
While all coronaviruses rely on spike proteins to
attach to human cells, SARSCoV2’s spike protein is
particularly good at it. Researchers at the University
of Minnesota recently discovered that SARSCoV-
2’s spike protein has attributes that make it attach at
least 10 times more irmly to human receptor pro-
teins than other coronaviruses.
SARSCoV2’s spike protein consists of three
delicately folded chains of amino acids. Markus
Buehler, a musician and an engineering professor
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
has turned that complex structure into a piece of
music.
Buehler and his colleagues recently invented
a way to translate amino acid sequences like the
ones that make up SARSCoV2 into sound using
the virus’ genetic sequence and an algorithm that
translates its amino acids and their structures and
molecular vibrations into sound.
Featuring the koto, bells, lutes and other instru-
ments, the nearly two-hour-long composition is de-
ceptively peaceful - kind of like the virus itself.
The music “doesn’t really convey the deadly im-
pacts this particular protein is having on the world,”
Buehler wrote. “The music is a metaphor for (the vi-
rus’ ability) to deceive the host and exploit it for its
own multiplication.”
Perhaps it could also inspire a way to keep the
protein from invading human cells - and not in the
way you might think. Buehler and his colleagues
think protein-generated music could be used as an
alternate way to visualise the complexity of proteins,
and eventually ind places to target with drugs.