Singapore Urges Residents to Wear Masks as Covid Cases Rise, Opens New Treatment Facility
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) is strongly encouraging the public to wear masks in crowded places, even if they are not sick, as Covid-19 cases in the city-state surpassed 56,000 last week. In response to the rising infections, the MOH will open a second Covid-19 treatment facility at Singapore Expo Hall 10 in Changi this weekend. This new facility, along with the existing one at Crawfurd Hospital, will provide care for over 80 stable Covid-19 patients who do not require intensive hospital care.
To address the surge in cases, the MOH will now provide daily updates on Covid-19 cases on its website, in addition to the weekly updates. However, the number of reported cases may underestimate the actual situation as Covid-19 testing is no longer routinely required in Singapore. The MOH calculates the estimated number of infections by considering factors such as the number of respiratory infection attendances at polyclinics and the proportion of positive Covid-19 samples from those attendances.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Singapore rose to 56,043 during the week of December 3 to 9, compared to 32,035 cases the week before. Hospitalizations and cases in intensive care units (ICUs) also increased. The majority of these cases were infected with the JN.1 sublineage of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.86. However, it is currently unclear whether this subvariant is more transmissible or causes more severe disease.
To ensure healthcare capacity is preserved, the MOH is working with public hospitals on contingency plans such as ensuring adequate manpower and deferring non-urgent medical treatments. The ministry also urges the public to seek medical treatment at emergency departments only for serious or life-threatening emergencies. It emphasizes the importance of vaccination in preventing severe illness and encourages all individuals aged six months and above to keep their vaccinations up to date.
In conclusion, Singapore is taking proactive measures to combat the increasing number of Covid-19 cases. By encouraging mask-wearing and maintaining vaccination rates, the country aims to protect its residents and preserve its healthcare capacity. The public is urged to exercise personal and social responsibility to prevent further spread of the virus.
