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Singapore ― In response to recent news that Singapore will no longer isolate Covid-19 patients from others when the country has reached an endemic, members from the online community said to address “immediate issues first.”

Minister of State for Health Dr. Janil Puthucheary said in Parliament on Monday (Oct 4) that authorities will treat the Covid-19 virus like any other infectious disease upon reaching a state of endemic.

Hospital beds will no longer be set aside for Covid-19 patients as they will no longer be isolated from other patients.

Dr Janil highlighted that setting hospital beds aside for Covid purposes, currently at about 15 per cent in public hospitals, would not be feasible in the future.

Furthermore, the needs of Covid-19 patients would evolve to other issues like heart, kidney or neurological conditions.

“In the last three months, intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy has increased from 26 per cent to 53 per cent,” he noted.

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Isolation bed occupancy rate has also increased from 58 per cent to 86 per cent, while community care facility beds increased occupancy from 10 per cent to 35 per cent.

On Monday, the Ministry of Health reported 1,355 Covid-19 cases warded in hospital, with 226 cases requiring oxygen supplementation and 35 in the ICU.

There were eight reported deaths due to Covid-19 complications, of which three were unvaccinated and the remaining vaccinated against the virus.

MOH detected a total of 2,475 new cases comprising 1,859 community cases, 601 among dormitory residents and 15 imported cases.

In response to the news, members from the online community asked about the current or near-future plans of the government.

One Numo Wang commented, “Wahlau! After more than 18 months, they tell you this.”

“Please settle the immediate issues first lah, the future can think about it later. You guys have not even properly planned and ready with the resources to deal with the current high surges,” said Facebook user Eric Tay.

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“Everyone knows when it really is an endemic, no isolation is needed,” he added.

“Imagine putting an infectious covid patient next to a patient undergoing cancer treatment. Is MOH out of their mind? No, vax is not an elixir for covid for the elderly and vulnerable, and you are talking about hospitalised patients here,” noted Facebook user Jen Jenny.

Meanwhile, others noted that Covid-19 is different from other infectious diseases.

“Dr Puthucheary, this Covid virus is different from influenza or dengue or chickenpox. Data has shown vaccinated people can also die from Covid infection. Please seriously consider the health of our local people,” said Facebook user Amy Lui. /TISG

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ByHana O