Singapore Sets Daily Record For New COVID Cases

 
#16,256

Just over 3 weeks ago, in Singapore Reinstates Some Societal Restrictions As COVID Hospitalizations Surge, we looked at the sudden reversal of Singapore's plans to treat COVID much as they treat influenza (see Singapore preparing road map for living with Covid-19) as daily cases surged from the low double digits in August to over 1700 a day in less than a month.

As a result,  Singapore's MOH announced a 1 month `Stabilization Phase' - planned to run through October 24th - with increased restrictions on social gatherings put back in place, in order to keep their current outbreak from getting completely out of hand. 

As part of this plan, and in order to reduce the growing burden on local healthcare delivery services, the MOH advised that most people can safely recover at home, and that only those with serious illness would be hospitalized. 

Despite these measures, yesterday's daily case count was just shy of 4,000 - more than double what it was when this `stabilization phase' was introduced  - the number of COVID deaths has more than tripled (n=246), while the number of active ICU patients has more than doubled.

While this peak may be the result of delayed reporting over the weekend, their general upward trend over the past month remains concerning, particularly considering their very high vaccination rate (84% fully vaccinated). 

In mid-September Singapore began offering COVID booster shots to seniors, which they hope will help stem the tide of rising infections.  Over the past month more than 70% of eligible seniors have received a booster.

From the Singapore MOH, this summary dated Oct 19th.

UPDATE ON LOCAL COVID-19 SITUATION (19 OCT 2021)

19TH OCT 2021

Summary of local situation 

• 1,738 cases are currently warded in hospital. 338 cases require oxygen supplementation and 71 are in the intensive care unit (ICU).
• Over the last 28 days, of the 74,641 infected individuals, 98.6% had no or mild symptoms, 1.0% required oxygen supplementation, 0.1% required ICU care, and 0.2% has died.
• As of 18 October 2021, 84% of our population has completed their full regimen/ received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and 85% has received at least one dose.
• As of 19 October 2021, 12pm, the Ministry of Health has detected a total of 3,994 new cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore, with 3,480 in the community, 501 in the migrant worker dormitories and 13 imported cases.
• There is a usual post-weekend surge in cases today. We will have to closely monitor cases for the next few days, to determine if this is a temporary spike or a further surge in infections.
• Nevertheless, over the past week, we have observed a rise in activity levels, including a higher number of visitors across all malls, larger crowds in the Orchard Road area, as well as a slight increase in public transport ridership.
• Unfortunately, the number of unvaccinated seniors above 60 years old and who have been infected has risen over the past few days, to well over 100 a day. They are at risk of falling very sick.
• The number of persons requiring ICU care continues to rise, and this has put our hospitals under significant pressure and strain.
• We strongly encourage everyone, especially the elderly and persons with comorbidities who are more vulnerable to severe illnesses, to limit your social activities and go out only for essential activities.

            (Continue . . . )

Although originally scheduled to last only until October 24th, Singapore's Stabilisation Phase of Transition to COVID-19 Resilience now appears to be open-ended, subject to regular review. 

Singapore's remarkable COVID track record - which they maintained for nearly a year by enacting strong public health measures - has given way to a 100-fold increase in cases over the past 60 days. Notably, this upward trajectory began in mid-August, when restrictions on indoor dining, and group sizes, were substantially eased.

Wveryone wants life to return to `normal' - and an end to this pandemic - but arbitrarily declaring COVID to be a seasonal respiratory virus doesn't make it so. 

While COVID will eventually relinquish its pandemic grip on the world, the recent surges we've seen in Singapore, the UK, Russia, and the United States all suggest that time has not yet come.