Singapore Faces New COVID-19 Surge

Singapore is currently experiencing a renewed wave of COVID-19 infections, with daily cases estimated to have increased from approximately 1,000 three weeks ago to 2,000 over the past two weeks (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Opening Address by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health at the Official Opening of Stepping Stones Rehabilitation Centre and Serenity Centre, on Friday 6 October 2023, at the Institute of Mental Health

Go to source). Together, they account for more than 75 percent of cases now. “This is the second COVID-19 infection wave we have encountered this year. Like for the last wave, which occurred from March to April, there are no plans to impose any social restrictions,” Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was quoted as saying by Strait Times.

COVID-19 as an Endemic: Reassurance on New Variants and Vaccine Efficacy

“We will treat this as an endemic disease and live with it. After all, there has been no evidence to suggest that the new variants are more likely to lead to severe illnesses compared to the previous variants, and all indications showed that current vaccines continue to work well in protecting us from severe illnesses if we’re infected by these new variants,” he added.

While vaccinations plus infection can offer maximum protection, however, that protection can wane around the 12-month interval, the minister said.Noting that “we should expect more people to fall sick” and thus cause an increase in hospitalization, he advised seniors aged 60 and above, or those who are medically vulnerable, to keep their vaccination up to date.

Meanwhile, the Health Sciences Authority has given full approval to Paxlovid, an oral antiviral drug for treating COVID-19, for use in Singapore from October, the report said. The tablet is for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adult patients who are at high risk of progressing to severe disease, to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.

Reference:

1. Opening Address by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health at the Official Opening of Stepping Stones Rehabilitation Centre and Serenity Centre, on Friday 6 October 2023, at the Institute of Mental Health - (https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/opening-address-by-mr-ong-ye-kung-minister-for-health-at-the-official-opening-of-stepping-stones-rehabilitation-centre-and-serenity-centre-on-friday-6-october-2023-at-the-institute-of-mental-health)

Source-IANS