And you can guarantee he turns up on time, 12.00 on the button, with: “My fellow Singaporeans…” https://t.co/ng4wuXXXiN
“My fellow Singaporeans …” 😅
He says some want more lockdowns and some ask why we’re delaying opening up. These are valid questions he says.
2% of cases need hospital treatment. And 0.2% die.
Singapore cannot stay locked down forever. People lose jobs, families are separated, children lose their education and connections. It causes mental health strain. So, zero covid isn’t feasible.
But this is not a smooth journey, even with high vaccination rates. Numbers went up too fast even with everyone vaccinated. It’s already caused strain on medical system. And it will keep growing and overload the system. 2% of a very large number is still too much.
We must press on with our strategy of living with covid. What steps do we need to take? 1. We must update our mindset, stop fearing covid, and go about activities normally. Covid is a treatable, mild disease, except for 60+ age groups. For 98% of us it’s like flu.
If you get covid, you can recover at home. This frees up badly needed medical resources and beds for those who need them more. Many people are fearful of home recovery.
If at any point while you’re recovering at home you need to be admitted, we will get you there.
2. We need to update our rules and simplify them. People need to take own responsibility, test themselves frequently. Stop being scared.
The elderly are the most worrying group. Of the total 142 deaths so far, most were 60-90 age group. Many of those not vaccinated.
Sooner or later, EVERY ONE OF US WILL MEET THE VIRUS. That includes our senior citizens.
If we get 5000 cases a day, 2%, that is 100, will need hospital treatment. Not a small number. Just like flu and pneumonia which kills 4000 per year.
Get your booster shots.
Stay healthy. Less heavy drinking, and unhealthy habits will help the whole country.
Parents are anxious, about children getting the virus. We will start vaccinating children as soon as they are approved. Early next year.
We will expand our hospital and ICU care, purchase equipment, expand space but we cannot email it add doctors and nurses. So there’s limits to why we can do.
E need to open our borders. Businesses need it. Overseas students, families connecting. We have opened vaccinated traveler lanes.
We need to preserve Singapore’s “hub” status.
The next few months will be trying. As pressure eases off we will relax restrictions. We must protect our healthcare workers and medical systems AT ALL COSTS… thanks healthcare workers.
If we don’t protect you, you can’t protect us. Good sentiment. Hospitals and healthcare are last line of defense. The people are the first line of defense. Cut back on social activities. Test yourself regularly. Don’t rush to A&E with mild symptoms. Follow the rules.
In summary, lots of reassurance and no specific announcement. And now, here’s the ministers of the covid task force with some details…
Oh here we go. You need to be vaccinated to enter a shopping mall, something about groups of 2. If you understand how important malls are to Singaporean life that a big one.
Do not go to A&E unless you have been instructed to do so. Protect the health system for those with more severe infection. (we made you all scared of covid and now we want to undo that)
Of 280 patients in ICU, there were 2, just two who were under 50, and they were both unvaccinated.
We estimate your relative risk at being as high as 14x if you’re unvaccinated.
6 died yesterday. This is a sad statistic. And we should not be numb to it. In total 142 have passed away. Vaccination remains our key strategy. Extending booster program.
Please get your booster when you get the invite to do so.
We have 180 ICU beds just for covid. Can add 100 more if needed during this surge.
Next minister up. Update on healthcare protocols. All protocols were developed last 20 years, most when we were trying to eradicate the virus. It’s become confusing and frustrating for some. Quarantine, isolation, testing, disrupting… some are more afraid of the rules than covid
Delta calculations. Viral loads are higher. Benefit for ART tests, (rapid tests) as they pick up on viral loads. Thus home testing is more useful against delta. Shorter quarantine periods may be useful. Test at the beginning of infection is most useful.
This may be less watertight than current system but can manage the risk substantially.
3 protocols.
Protocol 1. You’re unwell and tested positive. Stay home and isolate. 10 days of vaccinated, 14 if not.
Protocol 2. You’re well. But tested positive. Isolate for 3 days, test negative for ART. Exit isolation. Unless your condition worsens (go to protocol 1)
Protocol 3. You’re a close contact of a case. Test yourself at home with ART and upload the results. Test negative after 7 days. If unwell, see doctor and go to protocol 1. If you test positive go to protocol 2.
More Art rapid kits will be sent to everyone, every house by post with 10, ten!!! Free kits. (This is where Singapore does well, if a problem can be solved by throwing a bit of money at it, they don’t hesitate.)
Lots of guff on home recovery. Better for oldies and kids as they prefer to be in familiar home setting. Standard for 12-49.
Booster program extended to 30+
Moving away from treating covid as a disease which is threatening to everyone, to a system where we protect the vulnerable groups
This is probably the toughest part of the transition. There is light at end of tunnel. No wave of covid cases will last for ever. Pls cut back on social activity, get your booster shot. Don’t go to hospital if you’re not seriously ill. (Switches to mandarin to summarise)
Here comes the transport minister. BORDER MEASURES. This is the big stuff, at the end after they’ve softened everyone up.
UK and USA into lower risk category from next week. The new Vaccinated travel lane. 3000 travelers used it. Only resulted in 2 imported cases.
Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, UK, US and Canada added to VTL. Just one pre-departure and post-arrival test upon return. Starts 19Oct 💥BOOM 💥
Quarantine free travel between all these locations, applications starting from 12 October.
This step, 3000 passengers per day. Total 11 countries, 11% of pre-covid travel arrivals.
We will rebuild our status as global aviation hub. We will make sure people are safe. Carefully assessing risk and operational implications.
We must allow businesses, students, and families to travel and connect. We must become a covid resilient nation.
Next minister… we will expand vaccine differentiated measures wider. Hawker centres. Shopping malls. Basically you can’t live normally in Singapore now if you’re not vaccinated. Why are we holding back on basis of those who deliberately chose not be vaccinated.
Embrace new mindset. Stay calm when confronted with the virus. Go about activities normally. We will make sure everyone who needs appropriate medical care can get it.