Health

Covid-19 Wave Arrived Earlier Than Expected Likely Due To Holiday Travels, MOH Monitoring Situation

Covid-19 Wave Could Have Arrived Earlier As More Singaporeans Travelled During June Holidays

After taking long hiatuses from travelling, many Singaporeans have been eager to indulge their travel bug over the recent June holidays.

This could be why the current Covid-19 wave arrived at our shores earlier than expected, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Tuesday (28 Jun).

Previously, Mr Ong had said that Singapore should expect the next Covid-19 wave in July or August. However, Singapore is now already seeing a surge.

Mr Ong shared that this wave is not expected to be as bad as the one in February but MOH will closely monitor the situation, reported Lianhe Zaobao.

Covid-19 wave could be caused by increased holiday travels

Speaking to Lianhe Zaobao after the Chinese Development Assistance Council’s (CDAC) 30th annual general meeting, Mr Ong said the current Covid-19 wave arrived in Singapore earlier than expected.

The Health Minister had earlier shared that the wave could happen in July or August.

Its early arrival may be attributed to the fact that many Singaporeans travelled during the June holidays, including to Europe.

In the past week, 45% of Singapore’s community cases have been due to the new Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

Nonetheless, Mr Ong shared that the Ministry of Health (MOH) does not think this wave will be more serious than the one in February.

 

The ministry will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Seniors urged to get booster shots ASAP

As we face another wave, Mr Ong said it is of utmost importance that hospitals are given enough support.

He went on to add that the three new nursing homes that opened in April are also very important.

Hospitals could transfer senior patients with little or no symptoms to these homes, relieving some of their pressure.

Additionally, Mr Ong urged seniors to get their booster shots as soon as possible, reported Lianhe Zaobao.

He explained that while two doses might have been sufficient to combat the previous Omicron variant, these new subvariants require three doses to ensure protection.

Observe prevailing restrictions

Yesterday, Singapore’s Covid-19 numbers reached a 3-month high of 11,504 cases.

While there’s no need to panic, the numbers are a poignant reminder not to take our current freedoms for granted.

So as authorities keep a close eye on the situation, do remember to do your part as well and observe the prevailing rules and restrictions.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from Changi Airport.

Sabrina Seng

Sabrina is always facing some form of existential crisis but other than that, she's pretty chill.

Recent Posts

2 community cats die after being hit by cars in Marine Terrace, caregivers seeking footage

The driver who hit one of the cats purportedly denied doing so behaved angrily.

23 Nov 2024, 1:33 am

‘Tiger Candy’ contains erectile dysfunction medicine, may cause painful & exceedingly long erections: SFA

It has been marketed online as a candy that helps with male sexual enhancement.

23 Nov 2024, 12:11 am

Pop Mart pursuing legal action over unauthorised use of Labubu images by certain brands

"POP MART does not have any official licensed partners in Singapore," it said.

22 Nov 2024, 11:25 pm

Heavy rain on 22 Nov causes flash floods in Yishun & Potong Pasir, 127.7mm recorded in northern S’pore

51% of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in November fell in northern Singapore over less than…

22 Nov 2024, 10:27 pm

Pilot treats passengers to pizzas after emergency landing causes hours-long delay in the US

He made sure all the passengers were served before taking a slice for himself.

22 Nov 2024, 6:32 pm

Woman in China grows ‘trident’ flesh on fingernail, apparently due to improper & frequent manicures

The doctor recommended a 2-week gap between manicures to allow nails to recover.

22 Nov 2024, 6:08 pm