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Don't know why - we like to tell the world how to run themselves.
Should learn to look at the mirrors first.
Should learn to look at the mirrors first.
-
IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Serious Many Pappys don't like OngYK..not Team player.
- Thread starter SalahParking
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OYK encourages more people to donate blood.
This is Marie and Boyi, both in their 20s. They have been regular blood donors (and champions) for more than a year now.
It started when they chanced upon a news article appealing for blood donors. But beyond donating blood, they started organising blood donation drives.
Today, Marie and Boyi are founders of #ProjectBloodSG, a platform for youth to volunteer and advocate for blood donations. They have recruited close to 300 donors, with 40% first timers.
We need a constant stream of young blood like Marie and Boyi, to keep our national blood bank healthy. Only 1.8% of Singapore residents are blood donors, and less than a quarter are youths. The percentage of youth donors has also dipped from 33.2% in 2010 to 21.5% in 2020.
At Ministry of Health, Singapore, we are worried by these trends. For youths who want to contribute to society in a meaningful way that can change lives, blood donation is a good way.
Singapore Red Cross has recently launched an interactive ‘Journey of Blood’ microsite https://giveblood.sg/discover. Find a bloodbank near you: https://giveblood.sg/.
#GiveBloodSaveLivesSG #FriendsofBloodBuddy
Ong Ye Kung
23 hrs ·This is Marie and Boyi, both in their 20s. They have been regular blood donors (and champions) for more than a year now.
It started when they chanced upon a news article appealing for blood donors. But beyond donating blood, they started organising blood donation drives.
Today, Marie and Boyi are founders of #ProjectBloodSG, a platform for youth to volunteer and advocate for blood donations. They have recruited close to 300 donors, with 40% first timers.
We need a constant stream of young blood like Marie and Boyi, to keep our national blood bank healthy. Only 1.8% of Singapore residents are blood donors, and less than a quarter are youths. The percentage of youth donors has also dipped from 33.2% in 2010 to 21.5% in 2020.
At Ministry of Health, Singapore, we are worried by these trends. For youths who want to contribute to society in a meaningful way that can change lives, blood donation is a good way.
Singapore Red Cross has recently launched an interactive ‘Journey of Blood’ microsite https://giveblood.sg/discover. Find a bloodbank near you: https://giveblood.sg/.
#GiveBloodSaveLivesSG #FriendsofBloodBuddy
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
- Messages
- 89,158
- Points
- 113
from msn.com
SINGAPORE — It is not possible to set a target for the number of COVID cases or those who end up in intensive care, before deciding to implement stricter safe management measures, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (10 September).
"We are in a very delicate balance of lives and livelihoods. What can society and ourselves accept at what level of ICU and morbidity? I think that is a...social discussion that is ongoing," said Ong, who was speaking to reporters at a briefing by the multi-ministry task force (MTF) on COVID-19.
"I don't think it is possible for us to now set a target on morbidity."
The MTF co-chair was responding to a reporter's question on the number of serious cases or deaths per day that is acceptable before much tighter measures have to kick in. As of Thursday, there are 26 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and seven in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).
According to the MTF, Singapore can handle up to 1,000 ICU cases but aims to keep the figure below 300.
"We are now focusing on being in the midst of an exponential wave of cases, which will rise very rapidly in terms of the infection numbers in the community. But we don't know yet, what will be the impact on our hospital system."
The Ministry of Health's director of medical services Kenneth Mak also stressed that the current ICU cases reflect infections that occurred one to two weeks earlier, due to the "lag phase" between people getting infected, and then deteriorating to the extent of requiring ICU care or even subsequently dying.
It is therefore necessary to monitor ICU cases over the next two weeks, to see whether with each succeeding week, the numbers in ICU begin to rise.
"And if they rise...it may be that we then need to think about additional measures that need to be taken to tamper down on transmission that takes place in the community."
'Not possible' to set COVID case goal for any tighter measures: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE — It is not possible to set a target for the number of COVID cases or those who end up in intensive care, before deciding to implement stricter safe management measures, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (10 September).
"We are in a very delicate balance of lives and livelihoods. What can society and ourselves accept at what level of ICU and morbidity? I think that is a...social discussion that is ongoing," said Ong, who was speaking to reporters at a briefing by the multi-ministry task force (MTF) on COVID-19.
"I don't think it is possible for us to now set a target on morbidity."
The MTF co-chair was responding to a reporter's question on the number of serious cases or deaths per day that is acceptable before much tighter measures have to kick in. As of Thursday, there are 26 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and seven in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).
According to the MTF, Singapore can handle up to 1,000 ICU cases but aims to keep the figure below 300.
Wary of exponential growth
Earlier, Finance Minister and MTF co-chair Lawrence Wong warned that, at the current trajectory, Singapore will soon reach more than 1,000 daily cases. And he cautioned that while ICU cases currently remain low, "exponential growth" can change the situation in a matter of weeks."We are now focusing on being in the midst of an exponential wave of cases, which will rise very rapidly in terms of the infection numbers in the community. But we don't know yet, what will be the impact on our hospital system."
The Ministry of Health's director of medical services Kenneth Mak also stressed that the current ICU cases reflect infections that occurred one to two weeks earlier, due to the "lag phase" between people getting infected, and then deteriorating to the extent of requiring ICU care or even subsequently dying.
It is therefore necessary to monitor ICU cases over the next two weeks, to see whether with each succeeding week, the numbers in ICU begin to rise.
"And if they rise...it may be that we then need to think about additional measures that need to be taken to tamper down on transmission that takes place in the community."
- Joined
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- 113
from msn.com:
SINGAPORE — The period for individuals under COVID-19 quarantine will be reduced from 14 days to 10 days as the Delta variant has a shorter incubation period, the multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) on the coronavirus said at a virtual conference on Friday (10 September).
The measure will be implemented next week, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement.
The Delta’s incubation period is an average of under four days compared to an average of six days for the original strain, MOH said. This means that it takes an average of four days after exposure to the virus, for it to be detectable in the individual.
"This will be less disruptive to people, and yet capture a significant majority of infected cases," Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and MTF co-chair said at the conference.
The new measure is conditional on the person under quarantine testing negative for COVID-19 at the end of his quarantine. The person will need to continue conducting a daily Antigen Rapid Test (ART) after the quarantine period to Day 14 to mitigate any remaining risk of infection.
As the number of infection cases builds up, the authorities will prioritise contact tracing resources on preventing large clusters at high-risk and vulnerable settings.
“We will rely more on TraceTogether data to identify close contacts of COVID-19 cases,” MOH said.
Close contacts of a COVID-19 case will be issued Health Risk Warnings (HRW) or Health Risk Alerts (HRA) and should get tested to minimise the risk of spread of disease. Household members of confirmed COVID-19 cases will have to quarantine themselves to further prevent risk of spread of disease. More information on the self-quarantine arrangement and the support for these persons will be released later.
The authorities will also begin distributing ART kits from next week to companies that do not have to undertake the mandatory 14-day Fast and Easy Test (FET) Rostered Routine Testing (RRT).
The MTF previously announced that workplaces not on mandatory RRT should carry out regular testing for their onsite staff over a two-month period.
On 6 September, MTF announced that sectors currently on mandatory 14-day FET RRT will need to increase their frequency of testing to every seven days starting from next Monday. New sectors with frequent interactions with the community would also be progressively onboarded onto the seven-day FET RRT.
Beyond workplace testing, MOH encourages Singaporeans to use the ART kits that are currently being distributed to all households by 27 September, to self-test themselves before visiting crowded places, attending events or visiting vulnerable seniors in order to help keep the community safe.
COVID quarantine period to be cut from 14 days to 10 days: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE — The period for individuals under COVID-19 quarantine will be reduced from 14 days to 10 days as the Delta variant has a shorter incubation period, the multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) on the coronavirus said at a virtual conference on Friday (10 September).
The measure will be implemented next week, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement.
The Delta’s incubation period is an average of under four days compared to an average of six days for the original strain, MOH said. This means that it takes an average of four days after exposure to the virus, for it to be detectable in the individual.
"This will be less disruptive to people, and yet capture a significant majority of infected cases," Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and MTF co-chair said at the conference.
The new measure is conditional on the person under quarantine testing negative for COVID-19 at the end of his quarantine. The person will need to continue conducting a daily Antigen Rapid Test (ART) after the quarantine period to Day 14 to mitigate any remaining risk of infection.
As the number of infection cases builds up, the authorities will prioritise contact tracing resources on preventing large clusters at high-risk and vulnerable settings.
“We will rely more on TraceTogether data to identify close contacts of COVID-19 cases,” MOH said.
Close contacts of a COVID-19 case will be issued Health Risk Warnings (HRW) or Health Risk Alerts (HRA) and should get tested to minimise the risk of spread of disease. Household members of confirmed COVID-19 cases will have to quarantine themselves to further prevent risk of spread of disease. More information on the self-quarantine arrangement and the support for these persons will be released later.
The authorities will also begin distributing ART kits from next week to companies that do not have to undertake the mandatory 14-day Fast and Easy Test (FET) Rostered Routine Testing (RRT).
The MTF previously announced that workplaces not on mandatory RRT should carry out regular testing for their onsite staff over a two-month period.
On 6 September, MTF announced that sectors currently on mandatory 14-day FET RRT will need to increase their frequency of testing to every seven days starting from next Monday. New sectors with frequent interactions with the community would also be progressively onboarded onto the seven-day FET RRT.
Beyond workplace testing, MOH encourages Singaporeans to use the ART kits that are currently being distributed to all households by 27 September, to self-test themselves before visiting crowded places, attending events or visiting vulnerable seniors in order to help keep the community safe.
- Joined
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OYK celebrates World Health Qigong Day.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Qigong Shi Ba Shi Association Singapore had to improvise — with a hybrid format.
Today is World Health Qigong Day. More than 300 seniors zoomed in from their homes, doing Qigong. They were training with 40 Qigong masters doing a physical demonstration, with masks on, and observing safe distancing, at Our Tampines Hub.
With a little ingenuity and willingness to try something new, seniors can continue to stay active and healthy while cutting down social interactions outside their homes.
With infection numbers high, it is important that seniors stay vigilant during the next few weeks. Minimise social interactions, but go out to do important things like buying food, see the doctor, or exercise in a safe environment like Qigong class with masks and safe management measures.
今早参与了新加坡气功十八式协会的线上活动。
很多气功爱好者都是年长者。在疫情下，大家必须通过线上的方式进行健身气功。减少社交活动的同时，在家里还是可以继续保持健康和活跃生活。祝大家世界健身气功日快乐！
Ong Ye Kung
6 hrs ·With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Qigong Shi Ba Shi Association Singapore had to improvise — with a hybrid format.
Today is World Health Qigong Day. More than 300 seniors zoomed in from their homes, doing Qigong. They were training with 40 Qigong masters doing a physical demonstration, with masks on, and observing safe distancing, at Our Tampines Hub.
With a little ingenuity and willingness to try something new, seniors can continue to stay active and healthy while cutting down social interactions outside their homes.
With infection numbers high, it is important that seniors stay vigilant during the next few weeks. Minimise social interactions, but go out to do important things like buying food, see the doctor, or exercise in a safe environment like Qigong class with masks and safe management measures.
今早参与了新加坡气功十八式协会的线上活动。
很多气功爱好者都是年长者。在疫情下，大家必须通过线上的方式进行健身气功。减少社交活动的同时，在家里还是可以继续保持健康和活跃生活。祝大家世界健身气功日快乐！
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
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- 89,158
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- 113
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - The number of Covid-19 cases here has doubled twice since Aug 23 and could double three more times before falling and stabilising, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Friday (Sept 10).
He noted that around 100 cases were reported on Aug 23.
"From then, it's been rising along a very steep curve," Mr Ong said at a virtual press conference of the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19.
Mr Ong, who co-chairs the task force, said that based on the experiences of other highly vaccinated countries, Covid-19 transmission waves do not last forever and will usually take about 30 to 40 days to peak before numbers fall and stabilise.
However, during that period, daily cases can double every 10 days - which means Singapore should be prepared for four to five doubling cycles, added Mr Ong.
He said the nation is now in the process of seeing cases double from 400 to 800 a day.
"Beyond that, if we think in terms of five doubling cycles, there's two more to go - meaning daily cases may double from 800 to 1,600 and 1,600 to 3,200, hitting a peak before starting to come down and stabilise," he said, adding that whether or not this happens depends on the collective actions of everyone here.
"Together, we will test extensively with the help of employers, reduce our interactions where possible, wear our masks properly and diligently, get ourselves tested when required, isolate ourselves when we are ill or when we test positive... and if we can do that, maybe we can avoid five doubling cycles, maybe we can get away with three or four before we settle down," said Mr Ong.
He added that the "rapid and exponential" rise in daily cases is what every country that wants to live with Covid-19 must go through at some point.
However, the task force wants to do so with two main objectives in mind.
First, to have as few deaths here as possible.
"Practically every country that has gone through this kind of transmission wave has suffered hospital collapses and high death tolls. We want to avoid that," said Mr Ong.
If Singapore can do this, it can then achieve its second objective - avoid entering a long, hard lockdown, which places such as Vietnam and New South Wales are experiencing.
"The key to going through this experience differently from other countries... is vaccination," said Mr Ong, adding that vaccines are very effective in protecting against severe illnesses.
But despite Singapore's high vaccination rate, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, who is also on the task force, said that Singapore is in a different position from other highly vaccinated countries like Britain and Israel.
This is because it did not have high community infection rates before vaccines were rolled out.
"Because there are very few countries before us who have taken the steps that we have taken, there are very few precedents that we can look at to give us the confidence of knowing where our trajectory is going," said Prof Mak, who is Singapore's director of medical services.
And even in the case of countries with high vaccination rates, there have been different experiences as well.
Prof Mak pointed out that, in the case of Britain, the increase in the number of community infections following its easing of restrictions has not led to a commensurate increase in the number of people hospitalised, admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), or dying.
But Israel has seen an increase in ICU cases and deaths after its latest wave of infections, said Prof Mak.
Turning back to Singapore's situation, he said there is a need to look at ICU numbers here in the next two weeks.
If ICU numbers rise along a trajectory that is similar to that of the total number of cases here, then there may be a need for additional measures to slow transmission, said Prof Mak.
On the other hand, if the number of cases in the ICU is relatively stable or with a very slow increase, it gives the authorities confidence that the resources in the hospitals and healthcare system are able to cope with the situation despite rising cases.
At this point, he said, it may then be an appropriate time for Singapore to press on in its transition to a Covid-19 resilient nation.
Mr Ong said that some countries around the world have already settled down and are living life "quite normally" despite the virus.
He cited a few examples - South Korea, with a daily infection rate of three to four cases per 100,000 people; Denmark and Sweden, with a rate of nine to 10 per 100,000; Germany with around 11 per 100,000; and Netherlands with about 15 per 100,000.
The rate in France is about 18 per 100,000; in Switzerland, 30 per 100,000; in the United States, 45 per 100,000; and in Britain, about 55 per 100,000.
Mr Ong noted that Singapore's rate is currently seven per 100,000, but he warned that this number is rising and "may surpass many peaks before it comes down".
"That is how other countries have dealt with it, going through a wave in order to live with Covid-19," he said.
"The key is, as we go through this wave, a key imperative is to get our healthcare protocols readjusted (and) reconfigured, and we need to shift decisively to cope with the much larger number of infections."
People need to act to avoid Covid-19 cases rising to 3,200 cases daily: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - The number of Covid-19 cases here has doubled twice since Aug 23 and could double three more times before falling and stabilising, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Friday (Sept 10).
He noted that around 100 cases were reported on Aug 23.
"From then, it's been rising along a very steep curve," Mr Ong said at a virtual press conference of the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19.
Mr Ong, who co-chairs the task force, said that based on the experiences of other highly vaccinated countries, Covid-19 transmission waves do not last forever and will usually take about 30 to 40 days to peak before numbers fall and stabilise.
However, during that period, daily cases can double every 10 days - which means Singapore should be prepared for four to five doubling cycles, added Mr Ong.
He said the nation is now in the process of seeing cases double from 400 to 800 a day.
"Beyond that, if we think in terms of five doubling cycles, there's two more to go - meaning daily cases may double from 800 to 1,600 and 1,600 to 3,200, hitting a peak before starting to come down and stabilise," he said, adding that whether or not this happens depends on the collective actions of everyone here.
"Together, we will test extensively with the help of employers, reduce our interactions where possible, wear our masks properly and diligently, get ourselves tested when required, isolate ourselves when we are ill or when we test positive... and if we can do that, maybe we can avoid five doubling cycles, maybe we can get away with three or four before we settle down," said Mr Ong.
He added that the "rapid and exponential" rise in daily cases is what every country that wants to live with Covid-19 must go through at some point.
However, the task force wants to do so with two main objectives in mind.
First, to have as few deaths here as possible.
"Practically every country that has gone through this kind of transmission wave has suffered hospital collapses and high death tolls. We want to avoid that," said Mr Ong.
If Singapore can do this, it can then achieve its second objective - avoid entering a long, hard lockdown, which places such as Vietnam and New South Wales are experiencing.
"The key to going through this experience differently from other countries... is vaccination," said Mr Ong, adding that vaccines are very effective in protecting against severe illnesses.
But despite Singapore's high vaccination rate, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, who is also on the task force, said that Singapore is in a different position from other highly vaccinated countries like Britain and Israel.
This is because it did not have high community infection rates before vaccines were rolled out.
"Because there are very few countries before us who have taken the steps that we have taken, there are very few precedents that we can look at to give us the confidence of knowing where our trajectory is going," said Prof Mak, who is Singapore's director of medical services.
And even in the case of countries with high vaccination rates, there have been different experiences as well.
Prof Mak pointed out that, in the case of Britain, the increase in the number of community infections following its easing of restrictions has not led to a commensurate increase in the number of people hospitalised, admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), or dying.
But Israel has seen an increase in ICU cases and deaths after its latest wave of infections, said Prof Mak.
Turning back to Singapore's situation, he said there is a need to look at ICU numbers here in the next two weeks.
If ICU numbers rise along a trajectory that is similar to that of the total number of cases here, then there may be a need for additional measures to slow transmission, said Prof Mak.
On the other hand, if the number of cases in the ICU is relatively stable or with a very slow increase, it gives the authorities confidence that the resources in the hospitals and healthcare system are able to cope with the situation despite rising cases.
At this point, he said, it may then be an appropriate time for Singapore to press on in its transition to a Covid-19 resilient nation.
Mr Ong said that some countries around the world have already settled down and are living life "quite normally" despite the virus.
He cited a few examples - South Korea, with a daily infection rate of three to four cases per 100,000 people; Denmark and Sweden, with a rate of nine to 10 per 100,000; Germany with around 11 per 100,000; and Netherlands with about 15 per 100,000.
The rate in France is about 18 per 100,000; in Switzerland, 30 per 100,000; in the United States, 45 per 100,000; and in Britain, about 55 per 100,000.
Mr Ong noted that Singapore's rate is currently seven per 100,000, but he warned that this number is rising and "may surpass many peaks before it comes down".
"That is how other countries have dealt with it, going through a wave in order to live with Covid-19," he said.
"The key is, as we go through this wave, a key imperative is to get our healthcare protocols readjusted (and) reconfigured, and we need to shift decisively to cope with the much larger number of infections."
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
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OYK asks Singaporeans overseas to fly back for vaccination.
When I was still Minister for Transport, many overseas #Singaporeans — from students, executives to business owners — wrote to me, asking if we can find a way to vaccinate them.
But we have no authority to administer vaccines overseas. Today we announced the next best way to do this. Ministry of Health, Singapore, Ministry of Transport, Singapore and Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs had worked out two dedicated vaccination channels for overseas Singaporeans to be vaccinated — via transit or SHN.
First, you can fly into Changi Airport, while in transit, take your first dose and return on the next available flight/ferry, then come back to #Singapore again for the second dose.
Second, come into Singapore, take your first dose, serve your SHN and take your second dose before returning.
If you are eligible, register your interest here: go.gov.sg/vaccinationchannels.
Ong Ye Kung
23 hrs ·When I was still Minister for Transport, many overseas #Singaporeans — from students, executives to business owners — wrote to me, asking if we can find a way to vaccinate them.
But we have no authority to administer vaccines overseas. Today we announced the next best way to do this. Ministry of Health, Singapore, Ministry of Transport, Singapore and Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs had worked out two dedicated vaccination channels for overseas Singaporeans to be vaccinated — via transit or SHN.
First, you can fly into Changi Airport, while in transit, take your first dose and return on the next available flight/ferry, then come back to #Singapore again for the second dose.
Second, come into Singapore, take your first dose, serve your SHN and take your second dose before returning.
If you are eligible, register your interest here: go.gov.sg/vaccinationchannels.
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
- Messages
- 89,158
- Points
- 113
from yahoo.com:
SINGAPORE — It is not possible to set a target for the number of COVID cases or those who end up in intensive care, before deciding to implement stricter safe management measures, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (10 September).
"We are in a very delicate balance of lives and livelihoods. What can society and ourselves accept at what level of ICU and morbidity? I think that is a...social discussion that is ongoing," said Ong, who was speaking to reporters at a briefing by the multi-ministry task force (MTF) on COVID-19.
"I don't think it is possible for us to now set a target on morbidity."
The MTF co-chair was responding to a reporter's question on the number of serious cases or deaths per day that is acceptable before much tighter measures have to kick in. As of Thursday, there are 26 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and seven in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).
According to the MTF, Singapore can handle up to 1,000 ICU cases but aims to keep the figure below 300.
"We are now focusing on being in the midst of an exponential wave of cases, which will rise very rapidly in terms of the infection numbers in the community. But we don't know yet, what will be the impact on our hospital system."
The Ministry of Health's director of medical services Kenneth Mak also stressed that the current ICU cases reflect infections that occurred one to two weeks earlier, due to the "lag phase" between people getting infected, and then deteriorating to the extent of requiring ICU care or even subsequently dying.
It is therefore necessary to monitor ICU cases over the next two weeks, to see whether with each succeeding week, the numbers in ICU begin to rise.
"And if they rise...it may be that we then need to think about additional measures that need to be taken to tamper down on transmission that takes place in the community."
Not possible to set COVID case goal for any tighter measures: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE — It is not possible to set a target for the number of COVID cases or those who end up in intensive care, before deciding to implement stricter safe management measures, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (10 September).
"We are in a very delicate balance of lives and livelihoods. What can society and ourselves accept at what level of ICU and morbidity? I think that is a...social discussion that is ongoing," said Ong, who was speaking to reporters at a briefing by the multi-ministry task force (MTF) on COVID-19.
"I don't think it is possible for us to now set a target on morbidity."
The MTF co-chair was responding to a reporter's question on the number of serious cases or deaths per day that is acceptable before much tighter measures have to kick in. As of Thursday, there are 26 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and seven in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).
According to the MTF, Singapore can handle up to 1,000 ICU cases but aims to keep the figure below 300.
Wary of exponential growth
Earlier, Finance Minister and MTF co-chair Lawrence Wong warned that, at the current trajectory, Singapore will soon reach more than 1,000 daily cases. And he cautioned that while ICU cases currently remain low, "exponential growth" can change the situation in a matter of weeks."We are now focusing on being in the midst of an exponential wave of cases, which will rise very rapidly in terms of the infection numbers in the community. But we don't know yet, what will be the impact on our hospital system."
The Ministry of Health's director of medical services Kenneth Mak also stressed that the current ICU cases reflect infections that occurred one to two weeks earlier, due to the "lag phase" between people getting infected, and then deteriorating to the extent of requiring ICU care or even subsequently dying.
It is therefore necessary to monitor ICU cases over the next two weeks, to see whether with each succeeding week, the numbers in ICU begin to rise.
"And if they rise...it may be that we then need to think about additional measures that need to be taken to tamper down on transmission that takes place in the community."
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
- Messages
- 89,158
- Points
- 113
OYK summarizes latest initiatives by MTF.
The MTF announced several initiatives related to COVID-19 last week. These signficiant changes are or will be effected today and tomorrow. It will concern all of us, so this is a summary, and the links to read up more on them:
First, from today, we are inviting around 140,000 seniors to make an appointment for their booster dose at a vaccination centre, polyclinic or participating PHPC. SMS invites will be sent over the next few days. Please come forward to get your booster shots.
Second, our mobile and home vaccination teams are fully mobilised, and visiting homes to vaccinate those who are immobile. Tomorrow, we will also start to administer booster shots at nursing homes.
Third, we are switching to #HomeRecovery as a default, for infected individuals who are fully vaccinated, below 50, healthy, and do not live with vulnerable persons. Over 98% of infected cases have no or mild symptoms, this makes them suitable for Home Recovery. Home Recovery is a crucial change in practice, to ensure that hospital beds go to those who need them most. Please read this on the 10 important steps when under Home Recovery.
Fourth, we are also updating our #HomeQuarantine protocols. With high number of cases, our contact tracing teams will focusing on mapping out sensitive and important clusters like hospitals or markets frequented by seniors. For other sporadic cases, the quarantine process for household contacts will change. Confirmed COVID-19 cases are now required to inform their household members living at the same residential address to register themselves as close contacts so that a eQO can be issued to them promptly. Please refer to the 8 important steps attached.
For many, quarantining or recovering from home gives them a sense of familiarity while their health continues to be monitored carefully. If you live near someone who is quarantining or recovering from COVID-19 from home, please give your full understanding and moral support.
Finally, we are also standing up two new Community Care Facilities, with a total capacity of 1,000 beds, by end of this month. From today, we are stepping up another 300 beds to 1,300 isolation beds for COVID-19 cases in NCID and hospitals. Remember GPs and polyclinics should always be your “first port of call” for less urgent medical problems, and this will go a long way to help emergency departments prioritise treatments for serious cases.
A last piece of guidance from our doctors — for the seniors, regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not, at this time, it is best to go out less often and cut back on your social activities and meeting friends.
Ong Ye Kung
6 mins ·The MTF announced several initiatives related to COVID-19 last week. These signficiant changes are or will be effected today and tomorrow. It will concern all of us, so this is a summary, and the links to read up more on them:
For many, quarantining or recovering from home gives them a sense of familiarity while their health continues to be monitored carefully. If you live near someone who is quarantining or recovering from COVID-19 from home, please give your full understanding and moral support.
Finally, we are also standing up two new Community Care Facilities, with a total capacity of 1,000 beds, by end of this month. From today, we are stepping up another 300 beds to 1,300 isolation beds for COVID-19 cases in NCID and hospitals. Remember GPs and polyclinics should always be your “first port of call” for less urgent medical problems, and this will go a long way to help emergency departments prioritise treatments for serious cases.
A last piece of guidance from our doctors — for the seniors, regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not, at this time, it is best to go out less often and cut back on your social activities and meeting friends.
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from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - About 140,000 seniors are being invited to fix an appointment to get Covid-19 vaccine booster shots from Tuesday (Sept 14) while those in nursing homes will start getting their shots from Wednesday.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said SMS invites will be sent over the next few days to the seniors to make appointments at vaccination centres, polyclinics or participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics.
For elderly folk, mobile and home vaccination teams have been activated, he said, and will be visiting homes to give jabs to those who are immobile, as well as those in nursing homes.
Mr Ong also said two new community care facilities with a total capacity of 1,000 beds will be set up by the end of September.
"From today, we are stepping up another 300 beds to 1,300 isolation beds for Covid-19 cases in the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and hospitals," he added.
He said general practitioners and polyclinics should be the first port of call for less urgent medical problems, which will go a long way to help emergency departments prioritise treatment for serious cases.
He also said seniors, regardless of vaccination status, should go out less often and cut back on social activities and meeting friends.
Mr Ong added that home recovery is now the default for infected individuals who are fully vaccinated, below 50, healthy, and do not live with vulnerable people.
Details of the new care model were announced by the Ministry of Health earlier on Tuesday.
"Home recovery is a crucial change in practice, to ensure that hospital beds go to those who need them most," he said.
140,000 seniors being invited to get Covid-19 booster shots, says Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - About 140,000 seniors are being invited to fix an appointment to get Covid-19 vaccine booster shots from Tuesday (Sept 14) while those in nursing homes will start getting their shots from Wednesday.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said SMS invites will be sent over the next few days to the seniors to make appointments at vaccination centres, polyclinics or participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics.
For elderly folk, mobile and home vaccination teams have been activated, he said, and will be visiting homes to give jabs to those who are immobile, as well as those in nursing homes.
Mr Ong also said two new community care facilities with a total capacity of 1,000 beds will be set up by the end of September.
"From today, we are stepping up another 300 beds to 1,300 isolation beds for Covid-19 cases in the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and hospitals," he added.
He said general practitioners and polyclinics should be the first port of call for less urgent medical problems, which will go a long way to help emergency departments prioritise treatment for serious cases.
He also said seniors, regardless of vaccination status, should go out less often and cut back on social activities and meeting friends.
Mr Ong added that home recovery is now the default for infected individuals who are fully vaccinated, below 50, healthy, and do not live with vulnerable people.
Details of the new care model were announced by the Ministry of Health earlier on Tuesday.
"Home recovery is a crucial change in practice, to ensure that hospital beds go to those who need them most," he said.
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OYK talks about booster shots.
Today, about 3,200 seniors came forward to take their COVID-19 booster jabs. When our staff spoke to them, many said they want to be safe from the Delta variant, and to get their booster as soon as they are eligible.
Within a day, more than 12,000 seniors have also made their appointments for their booster shot.
This is an encouraging start, and we hope more seniors can take their booster shot. The booster shot will better protect you for many more months, or even longer.
Our mobile vaccination team was deployed at NTUC Health Nursing Home at Geylang East, where 30 residents received their booster shots today. They will continue to reach out to our seniors at home.
To extend our reach, we are working with key agencies and stakeholders such as The People's Association and the Silver Generation Office to engage, educate and encourage seniors to come forward for their booster doses.
Ong Ye Kung
58 mins ·Today, about 3,200 seniors came forward to take their COVID-19 booster jabs. When our staff spoke to them, many said they want to be safe from the Delta variant, and to get their booster as soon as they are eligible.
Within a day, more than 12,000 seniors have also made their appointments for their booster shot.
This is an encouraging start, and we hope more seniors can take their booster shot. The booster shot will better protect you for many more months, or even longer.
Our mobile vaccination team was deployed at NTUC Health Nursing Home at Geylang East, where 30 residents received their booster shots today. They will continue to reach out to our seniors at home.
To extend our reach, we are working with key agencies and stakeholders such as The People's Association and the Silver Generation Office to engage, educate and encourage seniors to come forward for their booster doses.
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