Vaccination recommended especially for seniors: Ong Ye Kung
Globally, the predominant Covid-19 variants are still JN.1 and its sub-lineages, including KP.1 and KP.2 which currently account for over two-thirds of cases in Singapore
Singapore is seeing a new Covid-19 wave, with rising cases of infection in the last two weeks, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on May 18. “We are at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising,” said Mr Ong. “So I would say the wave should peak in the next two to four weeks, which means between mid- and end of June.”
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that to protect hospital bed capacity and as a precaution, public hospitals have been asked to reduce their non-urgent elective surgery cases and move suitable patients to facilities like transitional care facilities or back home through Mobile Inpatient Care@Home. Mr Ong urged those who are at greatest risk of severe disease, including individuals aged 60 years and above, medically vulnerable individuals and residents of aged care facilities, to receive an additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccine if they have not done so in the last 12 months.
MOH said the estimated number of Covid-19 cases in the week of May 5 to May 11 rose to 25,900 cases, compared with 13,700 cases in the previous week. The average daily Covid-19 hospitalisations rose to about 250 from 181 the week before. The average daily intensive care unit (ICU) cases remained low at three cases, compared with two cases in the previous week. Mr Ong said that if the number of Covid-19 cases doubles one time, Singapore will have 500 patients in its healthcare system, which is what Singapore can handle. However, if the number of cases doubles a second time, there will be 1,000 patients, and “that will be a considerable burden on the hospital system”, he noted.
Singapore’s COVID-19 cases nearly double; public hospitals to reduce non-urgent elective surgeries
More than two-thirds of the COVID-19 cases in Singapore currently are of the KP.1 and KP.2 strain of the virus
The average daily COVID-19 hospitalisations rose to about 250 from 181 the week before, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (May 18). It added that the average daily cases in intensive care remained low at three cases compared to two cases in the previous week. “MOH is closely tracking the trajectory of this wave,” the ministry said. “To protect hospital bed capacity and as a precaution, public hospitals have been asked to reduce their non-urgent elective surgery cases and move suitable patients to care facilities like Transitional Care Facilities or at home through Mobile Inpatient Care@Home.” It also urged people not to seek treatment at a hospital’s Emergency Department if their symptoms are mild or if they have no medical vulnerabilities.
The KP.1 and KP.2 strain of the COVID-19 virus currently account for more than two-thirds of cases in Singapore. The two strains belong to a group of COVID-19 variants scientists have dubbed “FLiRT”, after the technical names of their mutations. They are all descendants of the JN.1 variant, which spread rapidly around the world several months back. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization classified KP.2 as a Variant Under Monitoring. It is also the dominant strain in the United States and has been detected in countries like China, Thailand, India, Australia and the United Kingdom. “There are currently no indications, globally or locally, that KP.1 and KP.2 are more transmissible or cause more severe disease than other circulating variants,” MOH said on Saturday.
UPDATE ON COVID-19 SITUATION
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is closely tracking the recent rise in COVID-19 infections in Singapore. While there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to previous variants, immunity in the population has likely waned over time. We urge the public to stay updated with COVID-19 vaccination to protect themselves against current and emerging virus strains, and exercise personal and social responsibility to minimise transmission.
The estimated number of COVID-19 cases in the week of 5 to 11 May 2024 rose to 25,900 cases, compared to 13,700 cases in the previous week. The average daily COVID-19 hospitalisations rose to about 250 from 181 the week before, while the average daily Intensive Care Unit (ICU) cases remained low at three cases compared to two cases in the previous week. MOH is closely tracking the trajectory of this wave. To protect hospital bed capacity and as a precaution, public hospitals have been asked to reduce their non-urgent elective surgery cases and move suitable patients to care facilities like Transitional Care Facilities or at home through Mobile Inpatient Care@Home.
Globally, JN.1 and its sub-lineages, including KP.1 and KP.2, remain the predominant COVID-19 variants. Locally, the combined proportion of KP.1 and KP.2 currently accounts for over two-thirds of COVID-19 cases in Singapore. As of 3 May 2024, the World Health Organization has classified KP.2 as a Variant Under Monitoring. There are currently no indications, globally or locally, that KP.1 and KP.2 are more transmissible or cause more severe disease than other circulating variants.
Is Covid back? Singapore advises wearing masks amid sharp rise in cases, recommends jabs for vulnerable
The Singapore's health ministry has implemented a mask mandate again amid a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the past few days. The health authorities have recorded more than 25,900 cases of Covid from May 5 to 11. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Saturday said that the nation is at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising. "So, I would say the wave should peak in the next two to four weeks, which means between mid- and end of June," the Straits Times newspaper quoted the minister as saying.
The number of Covid cases in the week of May 5 to 11 rose to 25,900, as compared to 13,700 cases in the previous week, the health ministry said. Amid a rise in cases, the average daily hospitalisations owing to Covid rose to about 250 from 181 the week before. However, the average daily intensive care unit (ICU) cases remained low at three cases, marginally up from two in the previous week. The health minister also urged vulnerable individuals to receive an additional vaccine jab if they didn't take it last year.
Ong said, "If the number of COVID-19 cases doubles one time, Singapore will have 500 patients in its healthcare system, which is what Singapore can handle. However, if the number of cases doubles a second time, there will be 1,000 patients, and 'that will be a considerable burden on the hospital system'." The minister further added, "One thousand beds is equivalent to one regional hospital. So, I think the healthcare system has to brace ourselves for what is to come." Notably, the predominant Covid variants are still JN.1 and its sub-lineages, including KP.1 and KP.2 globally. Currently, KP.1 and KP.2 account for over two-thirds of cases in Singapore.
Singapore faces new COVID-19 wave, 25,900 cases reported in a week, masks advisory issued
Singapore COVID-19: The estimated number of COVID-19 infections in the week of May 5 to 11 rose to 25,900 – a 90% increase compared with the 13,700 cases in the previous week
Singapore is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19, as authorities recorded more than 25,900 cases from May 5 to 11. The cases are nearly doubling week-on-week. The government has issued a health advisory asking people to wear masks again, news agency PTI reported.
The estimated number of COVID-19 infections in the week of May 5 to 11 rose to 25,900 – a 90% increase compared with the 13,700 cases in the previous week, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said. The average daily COVID-19 hospitalisations rose to about 250 from 181 the week before, the MOH added. “We are at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising," said Ong. “So, I would say the wave should peak in the next two to four weeks, which means between mid- and end of June," Singapore daily The Straits Times quoted Health Minister Ong Ye Kung as saying.
The health ministry said that the average daily number of intensive care cases remained low at three compared to two the previous week. “MOH is closely tracking the trajectory of this wave," the ministry said. The health ministry further said that to protect hospital bed capacity; the public hospitals have been asked to reduce their non-urgent elective surgery cases and move suitable patients to transitional care facilities or back home through Mobile Inpatient Care@Home, an alternative inpatient care delivery model that offers clinically suitable patients the option of being hospitalised in their own homes instead of a hospital ward.
Singapore braces for COVID-19 surge with over 25,900 cases recorded in a week; govt urges citizens to wear masks
The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported that the number of COVID-19 cases increased significantly, from 13,700 the previous week to 25,900 in the week of May 5 to 11
Singapore is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19, with authorities recording over 25,900 cases from May 5 to 11. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung advised the public to wear masks again on Saturday. “We are at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising,” Kung stated. “So, I would say the wave should peak in the next two to four weeks, which means between mid- and end of June,” he told The Straits Times.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported that the number of COVID-19 cases increased significantly, from 13,700 the previous week to 25,900 in the week of May 5 to 11. Average daily hospitalisations rose to about 250 from 181 the previous week, while intensive care unit (ICU) cases remained low, increasing slightly from two to three daily. To manage hospital capacity, public hospitals have been directed to reduce non-urgent elective surgeries and transfer suitable patients to transitional care facilities or home care through the Mobile Inpatient Care@Home program, which allows clinically suitable patients to be treated at home.
Kung urged those at high risk of severe disease, including individuals aged 60 and above, medically vulnerable individuals, and residents of aged care facilities, to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose if they haven’t done so in the last 12 months. He warned that if COVID-19 cases double once more, Singapore will have 500 patients in the healthcare system, a manageable number. However, if cases double a second time, reaching 1,000 patients, it would place a significant burden on the hospital system. “One thousand beds is equivalent to one regional hospital,” Ong noted. He emphasised that while no social restrictions are currently planned, the healthcare system must be prepared for the potential increase in cases.
25,900 new Covid-19 cases in S'pore from May 5-11, MOH tracking closely
"While there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to previous variants, immunity in population has likely waned over time," said MOH. MOH urged the public to stay updated with the Covid-19 vaccines to protect themselves against current and emerging virus strains and exercise personal and social responsibility to minimise transmission. MOH shared that about 80 per cent of the local population had completed their initial or additional dose but had not received a dose within the last year.
"This indicates that immunity in the population is likely to have waned," said MOH. "The protection against Covid-19 outweighs the risk from Covid-19 vaccination, and we urge individuals to keep updated with their Covid-19 vaccination." MOH stated that the updated Covid-19 vaccines are free for all eligible residents. Healthier SG enrollees can now receive their Covid-19 vaccination at about 250 participating Healthier SG clinics islandwide.
Worldometers Updated: April 13, 2024, 01:00 GMT
Singapore Coronavirus Cases: 3,006,155
Deaths: 2,024
Recovered: 2,707,350
COVID-19: Tracking new variants
The World Health Organization has just classified the new COVID-19 strain JN.1 as a "variant of interest". (Photo: iStock)
A fairly new COVID-19 strain, JN.1, that accounts for the vast majority of Singapore's latest wave of infections, was classified as a "variant of interest" on Tuesday (Dec 19) by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said last Friday that Singapore recorded an estimated 56,043 COVID-19 cases in the week of Dec 3 to Dec 9, a surge of 75 per cent from the week before that. The ministry is advising members of the public to wear masks in crowded spaces even if they are not sick, and has opened a second COVID-19 treatment facility to care for COVID-19 patients who do not need intensive hospital care. Cases have since plateaued over the past week, as the seven-day moving average on Dec 17 was 7,730, down from the 7,870 cases on Dec 12.
In its statement last Friday, MOH said that the vast majority of cases it sees come from the JN.1 strain, though it did not provide an exact figure. It is the newest strain's transmissibility that has spurred WHO to treat it as a "variant of interest". In a statement on Tuesday, WHO said that the JN.1 strain was tracked as part of its parent strain BA.2.86 - also known as the "Pirola" strain and is a variant of interest to WHO.
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