No numbers or quarantine: Singapore’s aggressive plan to deal with the new coronavirus

The city-state of Singapore stated that it will treat the new crown virus like influenza and other endemic diseases.

There will be no goal of zero transmission. The quarantine area will be dumped for travelers, and close contacts will not have to be quarantined. It also plans to no longer announce the number of daily cases.

But you may need to take a test to go to the store or work.

The senior minister of Singapore stated that this is the “new normal” of “coexistence with the new crown virus.”

“The bad news is that Covid-19 may never disappear. The good news is that we can live normally,” Singapore’s Minister of Trade Yan Jinyong, Finance Minister Huang Xuncai and Health Minister Wang Yikang wrote in the editorial. Straits Times this week.

“This means that the virus will continue to mutate to survive in our community.”

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Singapore has never reached zero and now I don’t want to

Like most countries, Singapore also experienced a peak of cases last year, reaching 600 cases per day in mid-April. After a smaller wave in August, Covid-19 has not broken out since then.

However, this country with a population of 5.7 million and slightly larger than Sydney has a steady undercurrent of about 20-30 cases every day. A total of 35 people died in the country.

Singapore has implemented strict border controls with most countries/regions, including arrival tests, hotel quarantine, and stay-at-home orders.

It is no different from Australia, but Singapore changes its requirements for travelers based on the risk of the place they visited last time.

However, according to the plan proposed by the ministers Kung, Yong and Wong who formed the Singapore Covid-19 multi-ministerial working group, all of these will eventually be cancelled.

“Many people get the flu every year. The vast majority of people can recover without being hospitalized, with little or no medication. But a small number of people, especially the elderly and people with comorbidities, may become very sick. Some will even die.

“We can’t eradicate it, but we can turn the pandemic into something much less threatening, such as flu or chickenpox, and then continue our lives,” the trio said.

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Vaccinate first, then reduce restrictions

Vaccination is the key. Until more people have been stabbed, the road map for current measures can be started.

Singapore will vaccinate two-thirds of its residents at least once in a few weeks, and vaccinate two-thirds of its residents by early August.

Singapore recorded some local people who were vaccinated against Covid-19, but none of them showed severe symptoms.

Ministers said that this situation may continue, and intensified injections may be needed.

Testing must also be easier and faster. Self-administered tests, such as breath analyzers, should replace earplugs that are uncomfortable at the back of the throat.

Singapore’s “New Coronavirus Normality”

Ministers stated that if Covid-19 is not eliminated, it can be “tamed”.

They instituted what they called the “new normal.”

“Over time, airports, seaports, office buildings, shopping malls, hospitals and educational institutions can use these kits to screen staff and visitors.”

People infected with the new coronavirus will recover at home because the symptoms are mostly mild and close contacts will be vaccinated.

Since the problem is not significant in most cases, the need for contact tracing and isolation will be low.

One major change is that the number of daily cases is no longer reported.

“We are not monitoring the number of Covid-19 infections on a daily basis, but focusing on the results: how many people are very sick, how many are in the intensive care unit, how many need intubation and oxygen, etc.

“It’s like the way we monitor the flu now.”

Ministers wrote in Straits Times This will be a way for Singapore to get rid of Covid-19, resume major events and international travel.

The road map is in stark contrast to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who did not elaborate on how international travel will resume.

On channel 7′ sunrise He said that opening the borders brings huge risks.

“Once you put it in, you can’t get out. If we take other steps suggested by others, we must be satisfied with 5,000 cases per day. I don’t think Australians will be happy.”

Although he did add that Australia is paying close attention to countries with high vaccination rates.

“The key figure in the future will be how many people have serious illnesses, and this is what we are watching closely in the UK.”

Singapore’s ministers stated that the country is by no means a stage where the post-epidemic plan can begin. For now, the current restrictions must remain unchanged.

In fact, due to the current Sydney epidemic, the country has just strengthened the entry of people from New South Wales.

However, a “road map for the transition to a new normal” is taking shape.

“History shows that every epidemic will happen.”