Gahmen needs to come clean on those cases classified as "work permit holders not residing in domintories"

[jw5]

from MOH report 1 August 2022:

UPDATE TO THE NUMBER OF LOCAL COVID-19 DEATHS IN 2021​

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has revised the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in 2021 from 803 to 821. The adjustment follows an annual reconciliation exercise after the Registry of Births and Deaths finalised its report for 2021.

2. Doctors are required to notify MOH of COVID-19 deaths as soon as possible. Based on the doctors’ submissions, MOH publishes the number of COVID-19 deaths on our website every day. Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2021, doctors are also required to report information on the cause of death to the Registry of Births and Deaths. The Report on Registration of Births and Deaths for the preceding year is finalised and publicised every June.

3. Overall, a total of 18 deaths will be added to MOH’s official COVID-19 death count for 2021 following the reconciliation exercise, representing a 2.2% increase from the previous count. There is no difference in the number of COVID-19 deaths for 2020.

4. The following are the adjustments to the recorded number of deaths following the reconciliation exercise between MOH records and the Registry’s Report:

a) Eight deaths had not been reported to MOH but were reported to the Registry. MOH will remind doctors to report all COVID-19 deaths to the Ministry.

b) 11 deaths had been reported to MOH, but COVID-19 infection was not indicated as the underlying cause of death in the notifications to MOH, as doctors report the cause of death based on available medical information at the point of reporting. These deaths were subsequently reported to the Registry with COVID-19 infection as the cause of death after further review by the doctors.

c) One death was in the MOH COVID-19 count for 2021, and in the Registry’s count for 2022. This was due to differences in the date of reporting to MOH and the Registry because the death occurred on 31 December 2021. MOH will include the case in the 2022 count instead of the 2021 count

5. Five deaths from the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths were persons diagnosed with COVID-19 while overseas, and who had died after returning to Singapore. These deaths will not be included as MOH’s count only includes deaths from COVID-19 diagnosed in Singapore.

6. We expect to make annual adjustments to the COVID-19 death count in July, following the publication of the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths.


MINISTRY OF HEALTH
1 AUGUST 2022

 

[jw5]

from MOH report 24 August 2022:

EMERGING SAFER AND STRONGER TOGETHER​

It has been two months since we last rationalised our Safe Management Measures (SMMs). Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we weathered the Omicron BA.5 subvariant wave without additional domestic or travel restrictions.
2. Infection numbers in the community have steadily declined across all age groups since late July, and the week-on-week infection ratio has fallen below 0.7. As of 23 August 2022, average daily infections over a 7-day period fell to 2,700, down from a peak of 10,200 in mid-July. More importantly, the number of daily hospitalised cases has halved from more than 800 at its recent peak in July to below 400 today, and the number of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) cases has fallen to below 10.

Changes to Safe Management Measures

3. As this wave passes, our population has become more COVID-resilient, due to high vaccination and boosting rates and safe recovery from infections. We are now able to take another step towards living with COVID-19.

4. We will remove the legal requirement for mask-wearing in indoor settings from 29 August 2022, except for settings where essential services are carried out in enclosed and crowded areas, and which are frequently used by vulnerable persons. Based on these considerations, we will still require the wearing of masks in the following two settings (further details in Annexes A and B):


a. Healthcare facilities, residential care homes (including welfare and sheltered homes for the aged, as well as adult disability homes) and ambulances: These include the indoor premises of hospitals and polyclinics (inclusive of retail, food and beverages (F&B) outlets, common areas and other facilities within the hospital/polyclinic building); private primary care and dental facilities, specialist clinics, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics, renal dialysis centres, clinical and radiological laboratories, day hospices; residential care homes; COVID-19 care facilities, testing centres and vaccination centres; as well as on emergency ambulances and medical transport vehicles

b. Public transport: This covers the MRT/LRT and public buses, and indoor public transport facilities (e.g. boarding areas within bus interchanges and MRT platforms). Mask-wearing on private transport modes, as well as school buses, private bus services and taxis, will be optional.
5. Mask-wearing required as part of sectoral regulations, such as the Singapore Food Agency’s (SFA) requirement for food handlers to maintain good hygiene standards, will continue to apply.
6. Mask-wearing remains an effective way for us to minimise the risk of disease transmission. Even though we are currently in a state of the pandemic where mask-wearing in many settings would no longer be mandatory, members of the public are encouraged to continue to exercise responsibility and caution, such as wearing masks when in crowded places, or when visiting or interacting with vulnerable persons. In particular, experts have advised that the elderly and immuno-compromised should continue to wear masks in crowded indoor settings to reduce their risk of catching any respiratory infections. With the easing of SMMs, it is even more important that all of us exercise personal and social responsibility. Individuals who are unwell should continue to stay home and avoid going out. If they feel unwell when out or in the workplace, they should go home immediately to rest or see a doctor. Those who are close contacts of an infected case should follow Protocol 3 – take an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) self-test and make sure they test negative before going out over the next 5 days.

Easing of Safe Management Measures for In-Person Visits to Hospitals and Homes

7. The Ministry of Health (MOH) had earlier announced the extension of visitor SMMs at all hospital wards and residential care homes until 31 August 2022 (inclusive). As the situation in our hospitals and residential care homes improves, we will ease measures for in-person visits to hospitals and residential care homes from 1 September 2022. Please see Annex C for more details. We seek the public’s continued cooperation to comply with the revised SMMs in hospitals and residential care homes, so that we continue to keep patients and residents safe.
Vaccination-differentiated Safe Management Measures
8. There will be no changes to Vaccination-Differentiated SMMs (VDS) at this juncture. We are reviewing our vaccination policy, to transition to a system where we keep our vaccinations up-to-date, and we will review and update the VDS requirements at the same time.

9. In summary, our SMMs have served us well and helped keep us safe. We have now retired most of them in community settings as we journey further towards a new normal of living with COVID-19. However, there may be new variants that emerge, and should there be the threat of a new wave or a dangerous new variant, we may need to reintroduce SMMs or step up measures quickly to keep our community safe.


Updates on Border Measures

10. We launched the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) in April this year to facilitate safe resumption of international travel. Currently, fully-vaccinated travellers can enter Singapore without having to apply for entry approval, take COVID-19 tests or undergo Stay-Home Notice (SHN).

11. In view of the improving local and global COVID-19 situation, we will make the following changes to the VTF for travellers:

a. All non-fully vaccinated travellers entering Singapore from 28 August 2022, 2359 hours will no longer be required to undergo a 7-day SHN upon arrival, nor be subject to an exit-SHN Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. However, they will continue to be required to test negative on a Pre-Departure Test within 2 days before departing for Singapore. Non-fully vaccinated Short-Term Visitors (STVs) will also continue to be required to purchase COVID-19 travel insurance to cover the duration of their stay in Singapore.

b. Currently, non-fully vaccinated Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPHs) and STVs aged 13 and above are required to apply for entry approval to enter Singapore. We will also lift this requirement from 28 August 2022, 2359 hours. As LTPHs are expected to stay in Singapore for a longer period of time, they will continue to be required to meet all VDS requirements after their arrival in Singapore.

12. Travellers who test positive for COVID-19 overseas are advised to follow the recovery protocols of the host country. For travel to Singapore, those who have tested positive for COVID-19 should defer their travel plans and not board commercial flights or ferries, as they may infect fellow passengers and crew while infectious. They should only resume their travel when they test negative, and at least 72 hours from the time they first test positive.1

13. Please refer to Annex D for details on border measures for travellers entering Singapore from 28 August 2022, 2359 hours. Travellers are strongly advised to visit the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) website to check the latest border measures before entering Singapore, and be prepared to adhere to the prevailing measures upon entry. All travellers entering Singapore via air or sea must also submit their electronic health declaration before they enter Singapore, using the SG Arrival Card e-service. Travellers are strongly encouraged to do so before departing for Singapore to facilitate a smooth arrival process in Singapore; a submission can be made up to 3 days before arrival in Singapore.


Vaccination Requirements for Work Pass Holders
14. To sustain the high vaccination rates in our population, support safe reopening of our society and economy, and minimise business disruptions, COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be a condition for the approval of all new applications for long-term passes and work passes. For renewal applications, vaccination will also continue to be required for the renewal of existing work passes for Work Permit Holders and S Pass Holders (a) from the Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process sectors or (b) residing in dormitories, given that their worksites and dormitories are settings at higher risk of disease spread.2 The revised vaccination requirements for work pass renewals will take effect from 1 October 2022. Please refer to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) website for more details.


Updates on Vaccination in Preparation for the Next Wave
Second Booster Now Recommended for Persons Aged 60 Years and Above
15. Previously, persons aged 80 years and older were recommended to receive a second booster vaccine, and it was also offered to persons aged 50 to 79 years.


16. The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) now recommends that all persons aged 60 years and older receive a second mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine from five months after their first booster. The first booster confers good protection against hospitalisation and severe COVID-19 in persons aged 60 to 79 years, and has helped us weather through the current wave. However, as it has been over a year since we administered the first booster to this age group, we expect the protection to gradually wane. We need to keep our vaccinations up-to-date, to prepare for possible future infection waves.

17. Further, latest evidence indicates that a second booster can further strengthen vaccine effectiveness against severe diseases, which increased from 94% to 97% for those aged 70 to 79, and from 97% to 98% for those aged 60 to 69. Therefore MOH agrees with the EC19V’s recommendation for all persons aged 60 and above to receive a second booster. Persons who are medically vulnerable are also encouraged to receive their second booster. We will continue to offer the second booster to all persons aged 50 to 59 years.

18. All persons eligible for their primary series vaccination, first booster or second booster may receive their doses by walking into any of the 10 Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres (JTVCs) located across the island. The full list of JTVCs, their locations and opening hours can be found at https://www.gowhere.gov.sg/vaccine. Residents may also book an appointment at the JTVCs, participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs), or polyclinics via their SMS invitation.


Booster Now Recommended for Children Aged 5 to 11 Years

19. EC19V now also recommends that children aged 5 to 11 years receive one booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine, from five months after the second dose of their primary vaccination series, to sustain protection against severe illness. This will also strengthen our preparation for the next infection wave.

20. MOH accepts EC19V’s recommendations in full and is preparing to start boosting children aged 5 to 11 years in the fourth quarter of the year, likely when examinations in primary schools are towards the tail end or over. We will be setting up five dedicated Vaccination Centres (VCs) across the island to administer booster doses for these children. We will announce more details closer to the date.


21. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has just extended the authorisation of Moderna’s Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine via the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR) to children, including very young children aged 6 months up to 5 years old. A decision on the recommendation for vaccination of this age group is expected soon. If approved, we will time it together with the booster exercise for children aged 5 to 11, and administer them at the same centres for the convenience of parents.


Vaccination as Primary Line of Defence

22. MOH and EC19V will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and the level of protection against severe COVID-19 in various segments of the population and will update our vaccination recommendations as appropriate.

23. We have been able to take this decisive step today to lift mask-wearing requirements in most settings because of the collective effort of everyone to vaccinate and boost when recommended. Vaccination is the best form of protection against severe disease as we head towards normalcy. We urge everyone to ensure that your vaccination status is up-to-date, and to receive your primary series and booster doses as recommended, if you have not yet done so.


Exercising Personal and Social Responsibility
24. This further easing of SMMs and border measures is a significant milestone towards living with COVID-19. While many SMMs are no longer mandated, we urge everyone to continue to exercise personal and social responsibility. As we continue our journey towards achieving COVID-19 resiliency, we must also remain vigilant as the situation can quickly change with the emergence of new variants.


[1] Or on Day 7 for vaccinated persons (and children below 12 years old) if they continue to test positive. Non-fully vaccinated persons aged 12 years and above should only resume travel on Day 14 if they continue to test positive.
[2] Other work pass renewals will no longer be subject to a vaccination requirement from 1 October 2022.

 

[jw5]

from MOH report 24 August 2022:

EXPERT COMMITTEE ON COVID-19 VACCINATION RECOMMENDS A SECOND BOOSTER DOSE FOR AGES 60 YEARS AND ABOVE, AND ONE BOOSTER DOSE FOR AGES 5 TO 11 YEARS​

EXPERT COMMITTEE ON COVID-19 VACCINATION RECOMMENDS A SECOND BOOSTER DOSE FOR AGES 60 YEARS AND ABOVE, AND ONE BOOSTER DOSE FOR AGES 5 TO 11 YEARS

The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) is updating its recommendations to:
a. Recommend a second booster dose in all persons aged 60 to 79 years. With this recommendation, all persons aged 60 years and above are recommended to receive a second booster dose; and
b. Recommend one booster dose in children aged 5 to 11 years. With this recommendation, all persons aged 5 years and above are recommended to receive the first booster dose.
The booster doses should be received around five months after the last vaccine dose.

Updated second booster recommendation in adults aged 60 to 79 years
2. The EC19V recommends that all persons aged 60 years and older who have completed their primary vaccination series and first booster dose, should receive a second mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine from around five months after their first booster. This is in addition to the following groups of persons who were previously recommended to do so.
a. All persons aged 80 years and older;
b. Medically vulnerable persons at higher risk of severe COVID-19; and
c. Persons living in aged care facilities.
3. The latest local evidence has shown that compared to persons who received two doses of mRNA vaccine, the first booster reduced the risk of severe disease by 94% for those aged 70-79 years and by 97% for those aged 60-69 years, while the second booster reduced it further to 97% and 98% respectively. In other words, a second mRNA booster could reduce the actual number of persons aged 60 years and above who get severe disease by up to 50%. Many health conditions, including diabetes or hypertension, which seem to contribute to the severity of COVID-19, are also more common at around this age; the second booster thus provides added protection against severe disease in persons who have such medical conditions, especially since adverse events associated with a second booster at these age groups have also been mild. It is therefore recommended that all persons aged 60 and above receive a second booster to lower their risk against severe COVID-19.
4. The second booster continues to be offered to those aged 50-59 years who want to take it, under the National Vaccination Programme (NVP).
5. For all persons diagnosed with chronic medical conditions that make them vulnerable to severe disease, the second COVID-19 vaccine booster continues to be recommended1.

Booster vaccination in children aged 5 years to 11 years
6. The EC19V also recommends that children aged 5-11 years, who completed their primary vaccination (consisting of two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine), should receive one booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine, starting from five months after the second dose.
7. Children aged 5-11 years were recommended to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine for stronger protection against hospitalisation and severe disease from COVID-19. There is now local and international data indicating that antibody levels and vaccine protection against COVID-19 hospitalisation decline with time in this age group, just as it does with adolescents and adults.
8. In this age group, the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty booster vaccine has been shown to increase antibody levels to more than twice the levels achieved after two primary doses, which helps sustain the level of protection against severe disease.
9. Common side effects in children who received the booster dose were generally mild, similar to those from the first two doses. As of August 2022, more than 1,000,000 booster doses have been safely administered to children aged 5-11 years in the United States of America under the recommendation of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
10. The EC19V has assessed that booster vaccination is beneficial for protection against severe COVID-19 in children aged 5-11 years. While children of this age group are at low risk of severe COVID-19 disease, some children have required hospitalisation, and developed life-threatening disease requiring intensive care treatment or severe complications such as MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children). All children aged 5-11 years who have already had their primary vaccination are therefore recommended to receive a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine (10 micrograms) under the National Vaccination Programme.

Ensuring continued vaccination protection against severe disease and hospitalization
11. The EC19V recommends that persons in all age groups who are eligible for primary or booster COVID-19 vaccines, should receive their vaccinations without delay, based on the recommended vaccination intervals. The EC19V does not recommend waiting for newer or variant-specific vaccines. This will ensure that they continue to be protected against severe disease and hospitalisation.
12. The EC19V continues to keep track of further developments on COVID-19 vaccines, including those for children under 5 years of age, and will update its recommendations based on the latest scientific, clinical, and public health evidence.

EXPERT COMMITTEE ON COVID-19 VACCINATION
24 AUGUST 2022
[1] For avoidance of doubt, the second COVID-19 vaccine booster continues to be recommended to medically vulnerable persons, even to those under the age of 60 years. This includes those who have been diagnosed with chronic medical conditions that place them at higher risk of severe COVID-19.