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7 COVID-19 Updates Announced By The MTF During The 17 Sep Press Conference

2021-09-17 , 7:39 pm

It’s only been a week since the previous press conference and today, the Ministry Task Force (MTF) held another press conference.

Which is understandable, given how yesterday’s new cases neared the 1,000th mark.

All in all, the MTF brought 7 new updates to the situation we know as COVID-19.

Here they are.

1. Health Risk Alert / Warning (HRA / HRW)

From 18 Sep 2021, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will start sending out either Health Risk Alerts (HRA) or Health Risks Warning (HRW) to people.

For those who’ve forgotten, the HRA is for those whose SafeEntry records overlap with a COVID-19 case in the past 14 days, while HRWs are for those who are either close contacts or have been in extended contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

They will also send out SMSes with instructions on a testing regime to follow.

Which brings us to the next point…

2. 100 Vending Machines Set Up Across S’pore

When it comes to free stuff, Singaporeans are never happier to receive them; however, not this time.

100 vending machines dispensing antigen rapid test (ART) will be scattered at 56 locations across Singapore.

And to redeem them? You must have received an SMS alert from the Ministry of Health (MOH) asking you to do a self-test regime.

Each person who receives the SMS can redeem a pack of three ART self-test kits.

You must bring your Singapore-issued ID along (NRIC/FIN) to scan at the vending machine.

The locations of the vending machines can be found here in full.

3. Instructions For Health Risk Warnings

Just to refresh your memory, people who’ve received an HRW are required by law to go for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test.

You can head to the nearest Swab and Send Home (Sash) or a private practitioner to do your swab test.

Following which, you’ll have to return home and self-isolate until you receive a negative test result.

You can check the list of Sash clinics here in full.

You will also need to do ART self-tests on the third, fifth, and seventh day from the day you were last exposed to the COVID-19 case.

On the eighth day, you are required to do another PCR test at a Sash clinic or private practitioner.

Don’t worry about the money because the government will bear all the swab costs.

If nothing goes wrong, your HRW period will end on the tenth day.

4. What About HRA?

For those with HRA, you should self-administer an ART test on the first, third and fifth day from the last day of exposure.

You should also monitor your health until the tenth day.

According to Minister Ong Ye Kung, while ART tests are not as accurate as PCR tests, everyone should make it a habit to do them in the new normal to curb transmission of the virus.

5. S’pore Likely To See Over 1,000 New Cases A Day

If you’re watching the number of new COVID-19 cases daily like you’re watching the stock markets, don’t panic if you see the number go over 1,000 cases a day.

According to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, this is a “rite of passage” that Singapore must go through before the situation “stabilises”.

“We are not the first country to have gone through this baptism of fire, and we will not be the last.”

Singapore’s director of medical services Kenneth Mak has some good news for us too (tentatively).

While the number of new cases discovered daily has risen drastically, the same can’t be said for the number of serious cases observed here.

Should the trend continue for the next two weeks, it’ll be a “good sign” for Singapore.

6. The Three Key Uncertainties

While COVID-19 has made the situation here and globally change at a rapid pace, there’s one thing that’ll never change: whether Singapore will run out of life-saving resources.

Three key issues that Singapore is facing now are:

How long more will daily cases rise?
Are there enough beds in the ICU?
Are there enough overall beds?

Which is why they’re making the next move.

7. Extension of Age For Home-Recovery

Previously, if you fall ill with COVID-19, you go into the hospital.

However, that has changed with the introduction of home-recovery where an asymptomatic patient (exhibiting mild or no symptoms) can recover from the illness at home.

It was initially announced that the home-recovery programme is eligible for patients up to 50 years old.

However, to put aside even more beds just in case, the age has been increased to 69 years old.

From 18 Sep 2021, COVID-19 patients aged 12 to 69 can rest and recover from the illness at home.

The plan is to get seven in ten COVID-19 patients to recover at home “from next week”.

Other requirements include:

Fully-vaccinated
Are asymptomatic (no symptoms or mild symptoms)
Have no severe comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, etc) or illness
No elderly household members or individuals belonging to vulnerable groups

So far, 597 fully vaccinated COVID-19 patients, including 13 children aged between five and 11 years old, has fully recovered at home.