ministry of health Archives

Singapore’s Total Number of Monkeypox Cases Grew to Four

Infection with the monkeypox virus causes the rare disease called Monkeypox. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, which includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus, and cowpox virus. This disease, which can cause serious skin rash, appears to be spreading via direct contact with the skin or saliva of an infected person.

LOCAL SPREAD

On July 8, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported one more imported case of Monkeypox in the country. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to four since June. The country’s Monkeypox cases consist of one local infection and three imported ones. The fourth case is a 30-year-old patient who lives in Singapore and had recently returned from Germany.

The man experienced rashes in the groin area last June 30 and had a fever a week later. He sought medical treatment and was taken to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases on July 7. He tested positive for monkeypox on July 8 and is currently in a stable condition, according to MOH. Contact tracing is ongoing.

CURRENT SITUATION IN AFRICA

Health authorities in Africa are treating its expanding Monkeypox outbreak as an emergency. To avoid the immense problems seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are exhausting their resources and are asking for other leaders to share the world’s limited supply of vaccines.

Monkeypox has been spreading in parts of Central and West Africa for decades, however the weak surveillance and the lack of laboratory diagnosis contribute to many cases being left undetected. Currently, countries in Africa have reported more than 1,800 suspected cases including 70 deaths with only 109 of them being lab-confirmed.

Ahmed Ogwell, the acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, said:
“This particular outbreak for us means an emergency. We want to be able to address monkeypox as an emergency now so that it does not cause more pain and suffering.”

GLOBAL UPDATES

The World Health Organization said that the expanding monkeypox outbreak was worrying but did not yet warrant being declared as a global health emergency. The U.N. health agency said it would reconsider its decision if Monkeypox continued spreading across more borders, began infecting vulnerable groups, and showed signs of increased severity.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Worldwide, more than 5,000 cases of Monkeypox have been reported in 51 countries (in time of writing). The majority of these cases are in Europe and no deaths beyond Africa have been reported.

Sources: 1,2, 3, & 4

From Feb 1, More Restrictions for the Unvaccinated will be Implemented

Singapore’s Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) will extend to more events and venues from 1 Feb 2022. The VDS includes all indoor sports facilities and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs).

Unvaccinated guests will no longer be allowed to visit serviced apartments, hotels, and hostels for leisure purposes. Thus, only fully vaccinated individuals or people who have a 180-day exemption due to being previously infected with COVID-19 will be permitted to enter these spaces.

Last 14 Dec 2021, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce said that the VDS expansion will be placed to “better protect the vulnerable and at-risk groups in our population, while allowing specific concessions for fully vaccinated individuals to return safely to the workplace”.

VDS MUST PERTAIN TO ALL EVENTS

From February 1, all events must implement the VDS measures – regardless of the event size. This shall include media conferences, work-related events, and funerary memorial events.

The Multi-Ministry Taskforce decided that this change is necessary because “even smaller-sized events can spark transmission that can then spread to wider groups of people, especially in view of the Omicron variant.”

FURTHER DETAILS

The VDS measures will be required at work-related events, media conferences, and funerary memorial events starting 1 Feb 2022. Funerals, wakes, or funeral processions that were held prior to cremation or burial do not fall under the VDS requirements. However, no more than thirty individuals at any time may participate in these activities.

There are other exemptions. Students in IHLs who are completing their full-time NITEC/Higher NITEC, degree, or diploma programs will be exempted from the VDS requirements when entering their respective academic institutions.

WORK ADJUSTMENTS FROM JAN 15

Last 26 Dec 2021, the Ministry of Health announced that unvaccinated workers will no longer be permitted to return to the workplace despite having negative pre-event testing (PET) result. This statement was released to the press:

“Following the review and discussion with tripartite partners, we have decided to remove the PET concession for unvaccinated persons to return to the workplace from 15 Jan, 2022.”

Partially vaccinated workers who received one dose of vaccine will be granted a grace period until January 31 to complete their vaccination and to enter their workplaces.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

These measures apply to foreign workers too. Foreigners who wish to work here on a long-term basis or want to renew their existing employment visas will have to be inoculated against COVID-19. According to the MOH, exemptions will be granted for children below 12 and for the people who are medically ineligible for the shots.

PRECAUTIONS FOR THE OMICRON

“WE HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH OMICRON AS WE HAVE WITH DELTA,” said Co-chair Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.

These precautionary measures were considered in view of a boost in COVID-19 infections by the Omicron variant. MOH stated that “international evidence indicates that the Omicron variant is likely to be more transmissible but less severe than the Delta variant.”

“We have done whatever we can to prepare ourselves for it; especially in administering boosters to our population and starting vaccinations for our children. We seek the cooperation and understanding of everyone, as we weather through an Omicron wave in the next one to two months,” added by the MOH.

Sources: 1, 2 , 3, & 4

Haze 101: Here’s How to Survive and Thrive during Haze

The haze is back, and you know what it means: harmful effects to your health. Haze pollutants, which are usually fine particulates, are small enough to be inhaled and penetrate the lungs, causing different respiratory problems and even premature death.

While the government works to reduce the impact of haze, you can keep safe with these tips:

Know your risks

The haze pollutants are bad for the health, but they’re more dangerous for certain people. These include:

Children
Pregnant
Elderly people
People diagnosed with heart or lung disease
People who are prone to respiratory problems like asthma

Use the chart below to help you plan your 24-hour activities:

Source: http://www.e101.gov.sg/

If you have been feeling unwell especially since the beginning of the haze, seek medical help as soon as possible.

Monitor the haze

The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) measures the level of pollution in the atmosphere based on 6 factors. In normal conditions, PSI is moderate or between 51 and 100. However, when there’s haze, it can go up to more than 200.

To know whether it’s a good time to put on the mask, go outdoors, or do certain activities, keep track of the PSI readings. The readings may vary from day to day, depending on other weather-related factors such as wind direction and speed as well as presence of rain. It can also be different in terms of location.

Invest in an air purifier

One of the safety precautions you can take if there’s a serious haze is to stay indoors, but sometimes particulates can still get inside your home, not to mention your own house can have plenty of pollutants from dust, mould, and pet dander. To control the ill effects of indoor pollution, buy a good-quality air purifier, which filters and cleans air more effectively than carbon or UV filters.

Air purifiers, depending on factors such as brand and features, are more expensive than filters. To save on costs or to get rewards points, charge this purchase to your credit card. If you don’t have one yet, you can apply for a credit card now and start saving money.

Wear a mask

A mask is your best option if you need to be outdoors and the haze level is unhealthy or critical. The Ministry of Health (MOH) recommends an N95 mask, which is available in major supermarkets and pharmacies such as FairPrice, Cold Storage, and NTUC. They are considered to be at least 95% efficient against particulates from 0.1 to 0.3 microns and 99% against 0.75 microns and above.

There are different types of N95 masks based on comfort, design, and size. Regardless of your choice, these masks must fit your face properly. Below is a guide on how to wear your mask:

Prolonged mask use may cause discomfort and sometimes difficulty in breathing. If this happens, remove the mask and rest. You can also choose not to wear them if you’re indoors or travelling only short distances. These masks can be reused, but they need to be changed if they are already soiled or the shape has been distorted.

Although many sell masks to children, N95 masks are not generally designed for them, so you may want to adjust the length of the cord and carefully pick the right size. Lastly, N95 masks are not surgical masks as the latter cannot offer the same protection against particulates that N95 masks do.

Consider working from home

Ask your boss if you can do your work at home while the haze is still actively present to limit your outdoor movements.

When it comes to fighting the haze, it’s always best to put your safety and health first above everything else.

(This article is brought to you by SingSaver.com.sg)

Resources

http://haze.asean.org/?page_id=249

http://www.e101.gov.sg/haze/psi.htm

http://www.haze.gov.sg/haze-updates/psi-readings-over-the-last-24-hours

http://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/the-haze-is-back-bring-out-the-air-purifier-singapore/

http://www.singsaver.com.sg/blog/7-ways-the-haze-in-singapore-is-costing-you-money

http://www.singsaver.com.sg/credit-card/cashback

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