ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – The current wave of COVID-19 infections in Singapore is being driven by the XBB sub-variant, and is expected to peak at an average of 15,000 daily cases by about mid-November.
Projections based on previous waves of infection show that Singapore has adequate healthcare capacity to cope with the rise in coronavirus cases, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said yesterday.
But the authorities do not rule out bringing back stricter mask rules or vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) if needed, such as requiring those dining at restaurants to be fully vaccinated.
Such measures were fully lifted on October 10.
MOH said public hospitals have already used various measures, such as deferring non-urgent admissions, to provide 200 more beds to care for COVID-19 patients.
In the coming two weeks, public hospitals will operate a total of more than 800 beds for COVID-19 patients, the ministry said. Capacity at COVID-19 treatment facilities will also be ramped up in stages to provide more than 800 beds by November.
“This is likely to be a short and sharp wave driven by XBB, but contributed to no small extent by reinfections,” said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at a press conference.
Singapore is striving to never go back to the restrictions of the circuit breaker period during the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, said Ong, who urged Singaporeans to take personal responsibility and keep up with vaccinations amid the new wave of infections.
But bringing back stricter mask mandates or other safe management measures cannot be ruled out, he added.
“Maybe we put back our masks, say indoors, or indoors and outdoors, if the situation requires it… We may have to step up VDS to an appropriate level in order to protect those who are not up to date with their vaccinations,” said Ong.
“We are monitoring the XBB wave closely and the impact on the healthcare system to see if some of these measures are necessary.”
Meanwhile, seniors and immuno-compromised people are advised to continue to wear masks in crowded indoor settings.
MOH also urged members of the public to go to the hospital emergency departments only for emergency conditions.
To relieve the load on general practitioner clinics and polyclinics here, employers are urged not to require medical certificates from employees who have self-tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of acute respiratory infection.
“This is to avoid patients with mild or no symptoms making unnecessary visits to general practitioner (GP) clinics, which would compromise the standard of care for other patients who require medical attention,” MOH said.
Those who are well are encouraged to work from home if they can do so, while those with mild flu-like symptoms are also encouraged to consider teleconsultations with their doctors.
The overall adult bed occupancy rate at hospitals at the middle of the week was about 93 per cent, said Singapore’s Director of Medical Services Kenneth Mak at yesterday’s press conference.
