A little anxiousness over the latest spike in Covid-19 cases is not a bad thing, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, pointing out how it would make people take extra precautions.
Noting that 60 per cent of the population is up-to-date with their vaccinations, he said he’s reasonably optimistic people have good immunity, but warned that the next Covid-19 wave could have more impact if people do not keep up with their jabs.
Singapore’s latest Covid-19 wave is due to a number of factors, including waning population immunity and increased travel and community interactions during the year-end festive season.
In the week ended Dec 2, 32,035 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 – the highest recorded this year. The previous high was 28,410 infections a week in March.
Mr Ong responded to questions on the spike in Covid-19 infections during a media doorstop at the launch of a framework to stem healthcare worker abuse.
He said the healthcare impact of the latest spike in numbers is low, with fewer than 10 cases in the intensive care unit. There were 560 hospitalised Covid-19 cases on Dec 13, fewer than a third of the 1,726 at the peak of the pandemic.
For now, it is still hard to tell if Singapore has hit the peak of the current wave. Currently, there are about 5,000 Covid-19 cases daily, and while those numbers could go up, it is not something the country has not experienced before.
“All in all, we can withstand this. We have gone through over three years of pandemic, with all kinds of safe management measures. Finally, earlier this year, we (transited) to Dorscon Green. Going back is the last thing on our mind,” said Mr Ong.
The Straits Times
