TBM Staff - Mumbai
Singapore is experiencing a new wave of Covid-19, with more than 25,900 cases reported between May 5 and 11. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has urged the public to resume wearing masks as a precautionary measure. This surge is attributed to new variants collectively termed FLiRT, with KP.1 and KP.2 variants comprising over two-thirds of the cases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classified KP.2 as a variant under monitoring on May 3. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH), there is no evidence that these variants are more transmissible or cause more severe illness compared to other strains.
“We are at the early stages of this wave, which is steadily rising,” said Ong. “The wave is expected to peak in the next two to four weeks, likely between mid- and end of June,” he told The Straits Times.
The MOH reported a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, increasing from 13,700 in the previous week to 25,900 between May 5 and 11. Average daily hospitalisations have risen to about 250 from 181 the previous week, while intensive care unit (ICU) cases have slightly increased from two to three daily.
To manage hospital capacity, public hospitals have been instructed to reduce non-urgent elective surgeries and transfer suitable patients to transitional care facilities or home care through the Mobile Inpatient Care@Home program, allowing clinically suitable patients to receive treatment at home.
Ong has urged those at high risk of severe disease, including individuals aged 60 and above, medically vulnerable persons, and residents of aged care facilities, to receive an additional Covid-19 vaccine if they haven’t been vaccinated in the last 12 months.
He warned that if Covid-19 cases double again, Singapore could have 500 patients in the healthcare system, a manageable number. However, if cases double a second time, reaching 1,000 patients, it would significantly strain the hospital system. “One thousand beds is equivalent to one regional hospital,” Ong noted. While no social restrictions are currently planned, the healthcare system must be prepared for a potential increase in cases.
As a transport and communications hub, Singapore is likely to experience Covid-19 waves earlier than other cities. “Covid-19 is something we have to live with. Every year, we should expect one or two waves,” Ong said. The predominant Covid-19 variants globally are JN.1 and its sub-lineages, including KP.1 and KP.2, which account for over two-thirds of the cases in Singapore.
The MOH encourages people to stay updated with their vaccinations to protect against current and emerging strains. While over 80% of the local population have completed their initial doses, many have not received a dose within the last year.
