SINGAPORE — Singaporeans are responding to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung‘s recent address regarding imported Covid-19 cases and how the nation is not experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases brought in by travelers from China. In the recent address that touched upon Singapore’s lockdown, Mr Ong Ye Kung reported that imported Covid-19 infections account for five to 10 per cent of the total Covid cases in Singapore.
Mr.Ong Ye Kung broke down the figures for imported COVID-19 cases. “For the whole four weeks running up to the first of January, 200 travelers from China were detected to be Covid-19 positive,” he said. “So they accounted for less than five percent of our total imported infections. ASEAN countries accounted for over 50 percent. The rest of Asia, about 15 percent. Europe, 11 percent. Middle East, nine percent.”
He also reported figures from Jan 1 to Jan 9. “I did a further check–there (have) also been no severe infection cases coming from China,” he said. “Our current measures controlling the number of travelers and requiring PDT for unvaccinated, at-risk travelers have led to low imported infections and even fewer severe cases from China at a time when the virus is spreading widely in the country.”
He also zeroed in on the surge China is facing, saying, “It’s part of the new norm. Today, it is China. Tomorrow, another region may experience a major wave.” Mr. Ong Ye Kung then referenced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s New Year’s Day message, saying, “If the situation continues to be stable after the year-end travel season and the infection wave in China, we can look forward to making final adjustments to our remaining social restrictions to establish a post-pandemic normalcy.”
Some Singaporeans shared their two cents on the issue of imported cases in the comments section of the video. “It’s funny how no one challenged him…why the double standard?” one wrote. Another said, “His speech will change when Covid cases go up.”
Still, one netizen commented, “He has no medical background,” while another said, “I didn’t hear any clear logical explanation from him.”
Ong Ye Kung to deliver ministerial statement on SG response to global COVID-19 situation on Jan 9
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