Singapore Experiences COVID-19 Resurgence with Doubling of Cases
Singapore has recorded a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, with over 25,900 infections reported from May 5 to 11, marking a 90% increase compared to the previous week. The surge has prompted the government to issue a health advisory, urging people to wear masks to curb the spread of the virus. The estimated number of COVID-19 infections has nearly doubled week-on-week, raising concerns among health officials. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung anticipates that the wave will likely peak between mid-June and the end of the month.
Surge in Hospitalizations and Protective Measures
The average daily COVID-19 hospitalisations have increased from 181 to 250, indicating a rise in severe cases. To protect hospital bed capacity, public hospitals have been asked to reduce non-urgent elective surgeries and explore alternative care options. The health ministry encourages the elderly, medically vulnerable individuals, and residents of aged care facilities to get an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to enhance their protection.
Variant KP.2 and No Plans for Social Restrictions
Globally, the predominant COVID-19 variants remain as JN.1 and its sub-lineages, including KP.1 and KP.2. Currently, KP.1 and KP.2 account for over two-thirds of cases in Singapore. While the World Health Organization has classified KP.2 as a variant under monitoring, there are no indications that it is more transmissible or causes more severe disease than other circulating variants.
A notable point is that Singapore currently has no plans for social restrictions or other mandatory measures, as COVID-19 is being treated as an endemic disease. Imposing additional measures would be a last resort, according to health officials.
