Singapore Issues Travel Advisory Amid Fresh Covid Surge, Fears Lockdown Coming Back
Amid the reports on the new COVID variant in different parts of the world, specifically China, India, USA, and Singapore, the new subvariant JN.1 is seeding new sows of fear among people about the mask coming back again. With Singapore recording 56,000 more COVID-19 cases this week according to the health ministry, the ministry has issued fresh advisory to its citizens and tourists including Indians.
The Singapore government said that the JN.1, a sub-lineage of BA.2.86, causes the vast majority of COVID-19 cases but can’t say that the BA.2.86 or JN.1 are “more transmissible or cause more severe disease than other circulating variants.”
The advisory urges people who experience the symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI) to remain home until it gets better. It has also asked people with symptoms to avoid contact with others and with a mask if the interaction is essential.
The ministry further advises those even without symptoms to weak face masks in crowded areas, especially in indoor events to reduce the vulnerability to the potential exposure to the disease. Those who are touring are also instructed to wear masks at the airport, get travel insurance and avoid poorly ventilated crowded areas.
Pointing out the importance of vaccination, the ministry said that those who consistently followed COVID-19 vaccinations have lower hospitalization rates, especially those who took extra doses within the last 12 months.
Bracing to face urgency
As part of the contingency plan, the Health Ministry of Singapore is collaborating with public hospitals to ensure enough manpower and resources for emergency requirements, aiming to accommodate much-needed cases when required. It also considers utilizing step-down facilities like Transitional Care Facilities and alternative care models like Mobile Inpatient Care
However, the average daily COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen to 350 from 225 the week before, and the average daily Intensive Care Unit (ICU) cases increased to nine cases compared to four cases in the previous week.
The average hospitalization due to the COVID-19 infection has increased from 225 last week to 35o this week. The number of Intensive Care Unit cases has also risen from four in the previous week to nine this week. The health ministry will be opening a new COVID-19 Treatment Facility (CTF) at the Singapore EXPO Hall to treat more than 80 active COVID patients who are not Intensive Care Unit patients.
