CNA – More people are seeking treatment in clinics and online amid the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in Singapore.
The number of patients consulting doctors on WhiteCoat, a telehealth service provider, has “risen significantly”, said the firm’s senior medical director Dr Tan Ming Wei.
The numbers started increasing in October this year, and it has since been all hands on deck for the team comprising about 100 doctors, he noted.
Across Raffles Medical’s 48 GP clinics, patient loads are up 30 to 50 per cent this festive season, its medical director Dr Chng Shih Kiat said.
Healthcare providers said COVID-19 patients are contributing to the surge in numbers.
The current COVID-19 wave may have peaked, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on December 22. The estimated seven-day moving average of COVID-19 infections stood at 3,650 on Tuesday, less than half the 7,870 on December 12.
While a significant number of patients consulting with WhiteCoat have COVID-19, a large proportion have other ailments such as non-COVID respiratory infections, gastroenteritis and minor injuries, said Dr Tan.
Dr Marcus Lee, assistant medical director at Fullerton Health, said the current situation is “slightly more challenging”.
Providers said COVID-19 patients have mild symptoms and recover fast but warned that infection numbers may continue to rise.
