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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.
Pedestrians cross at a traffic junction along Singapore's Orchard Road shopping district on Sep 23, 2022. (File photo: AFP/Roslan RAHMAN)
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SINGAPORE: There has been a near doubling of COVID-19 cases in Singapore week-on-week, prompting the Health Ministry to take steps to ensure sufficient capacity at public hospitals.
The estimated number of COVID-19 infections in the week of May 5 to 11 rose to 25,900 – a 90 per cent increase compared with the 13,700 cases in the week before that.
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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.
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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.
SMS REMINDERS, EXTENDED HOURS AT VACCINATION CENTRES
Urging people to keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, the Health Ministry said it will send SMSes to people who have not taken any COVID-19 jab in the past 12 months, to remind them to book an appointment.
To date, about 80 per cent of the local population have completed their initial or additional dose but have not received a shot within the last year.
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“This indicates that immunity in the population is likely to have waned,” said MOH. Even as we live with COVID-19 as an endemic disease, we cannot afford to lower our guard.”
The updated COVID-19 vaccines are free for all eligible residents.
From May 21 to Jun 29, the five Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres will extend their operating hours on Saturdays and the eve of public holidays – from 9am to 7pm instead of the usual 1pm closing time.
Those who enrolled in the Healthier SG initiative can also get their COVID-19 vaccination at about 250 participating Healthier SG clinics islandwide. More clinics will progressively be added to the list.
To further reach out to residents, especially the seniors, mobile vaccination teams will be deployed to selected heartland locations in the coming weeks.
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The ministry stressed that COVID-19 vaccines have consistently been proven to be safe and effective.
“During the peak month of the previous JN.1 wave in December 2023, the incidence rate of COVID-19 hospitalisations and ICU admissions among seniors aged 60 years and above was 25 per cent higher in those who had not kept their vaccination updated compared to those who had,” it added.
The public may book their COVID-19 vaccination appointments via the Health Appointment System.
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