According to Newsweek, authorities in Singapore have reported over 25,900 cases of COVID-19 this month, signaling the start of a new outbreak.
This is the case even though Health Minister Ong Ye Kung recommended mask wear on Saturday.
“We are at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising,” Ong stated. Therefore, I estimate that the wave will peak between the middle and end of June within the following two to four weeks.
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), there were 25,900 suspected COVID-19 cases during the week of May 5–11, up from 13,700 instances the week before.
The average number of COVID-19 hospital admissions per day increased to approximately 250 from 181 the previous week, while the number of intensive care unit (ICU) cases per day stayed low at three, as opposed to two the week before.
According to the MOH, public hospitals have been urged to lower the number of non-urgent elective surgical cases in order to preserve hospital bed availability.
Ong advised medically vulnerable people—those who are most at danger of serious illness, such as those 60 years of age and older.
Additionally, he recommended that elderly care facility residents who have not had a COVID-19 vaccination in the last 12 months have one more dose.
According to Ong, 500 patients would be enrolled in Singapore’s healthcare system if the number of COVID-19 cases doubles once, which is a level the nation can manage.
But he noted that “that will be a considerable burden on the hospital system” if the number of cases doubles a second time, totaling 1,000 people.
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