In a information launch Thursday, Singapore’s Ministry of Well being mentioned present measures can be prolonged to November 21, to assist comprise case numbers, which rose by greater than 3,800 on Wednesday.
“Sadly, given the persevering with pressures on our healthcare system, extra time is required for the state of affairs to stabilise,” the ministry mentioned in its assertion, including hospitals have been braced for “a sustained, heavy affected person load.”
“(The ministry) is doing no matter we are able to to help and bolster the hospitals,” the assertion mentioned.
Lawrence Wong, co-chair of Singapore’s Covid-19 taskforce, mentioned Wednesday medical employees have been “stretched and fatigued.”
“On the present state of affairs, we face appreciable danger of the healthcare system being overwhelmed,” he added.
As of October 19, 84% of Singapore’s inhabitants had been totally vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19, and 85% had acquired not less than one dose, in accordance with the Ministry of Well being.
The brand new curbs, often known as the “Stabilisation Section”, got here into impact on September 27 and have been initially scheduled to finish October 24. Beneath these measures, social gatherings are capped to a most of two, and staff are inspired to remain at residence.
The prolonged restrictions will likely be reviewed on the two-week mark, the Ministry of Well being mentioned, and will likely be adjusted based mostly on the Covid-19 group state of affairs.
Over the previous 28 days, 98.7% of native contaminated instances have been asymptomatic or had delicate signs, and simply 0.1% had to enter intensive care (ICU), the information launch mentioned.
Of the three,862 new coronavirus infections recognized Wednesday, 630 have been linked to migrant employee dormitories, the ministry mentioned. The remaining instances have been virtually solely among the many area people.
Singapore’s general dying toll from the pandemic now stands at 264, the ministry mentioned.
The ministry additionally warned there have been nonetheless a excessive variety of infections amongst unvaccinated residents over age 60.
“Over the previous 5 days, the variety of infections amongst this group averaged 127 per day”, the ministry mentioned, including senior residents over 60 accounted for two-thirds of the overall sufferers in ICU.
