Although COVID-19 cases are up, Singapore will not stop activities
Concern is growing over the coronavirus as the number of cases has doubled every week since early August. The government taskforce calls for more testing and strict quarantine, while focusing above all on raising awareness and boosting self-discipline in the population.
Singapore (AsiaNews) – Singapore plans to take action to contain the exponential growth of COVID-19 cases, this according to Lawrence Wong, co-chair of Singapore's COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce.
Since the start of August, the city-state has faced more and more cases, doubling every week, with daily cases likely to reach 1,000 within two weeks and 2,000 within a month.
For Wong, it is “not just the absolute number of cases, but the (reproduction) rate at which the virus is spreading”, which is likely to quickly fill intensive care units unless the trend is not reversed.
So far Singapore has reported almost 69,000 cases with 55 deaths thanks to a containment policy based on lockdowns, contact tracing, prevention and, in recent months, vaccinations, with a limited impact on a population of 5.7 million.
On the whole, social control and the habit of responding positively to the requests by the authorities facilitated the government response.
As of tomorrow, people will be limited to a single indoor social event outside work. Testing, the cornerstone of the anti-pandemic strategy, will be extended and strengthened.
High-risk workers, like healthcare workers, security guards, sports and gym employees, will be subject to mandatory testing every week rather than every two weeks. Mandatory testing will be extended to retail, delivery and public transport staff.
In addition, antigen rapid test kits will be distributed to companies at subsidised prices not covered by the mandatory order to administer weekly for their staff over the next two months. Testing can also be administered by individuals who preferred to do it at home.
Health risk warnings will be boosted. In case of outbreaks, those who think that they might have been exposed to the virus will immediately self-isolate until they test negative.
Business, school and cultural activities will continue. Once again, the authorities are focusing above all on raising awareness and boosting self-discipline in the population.
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19/04/2022 13:04
17/02/2024 16:34
