1 in 6 Migrant Workers Has Contracted COVID-19 But It’s Still not Herd Immunity for Them

Remember back when the UK decided that herd immunity was the way to go for Covid-19?

Well, it didn’t work out so well.

Now, if that’s not enough to convince you that Covid-19 and herd immunity doesn’t seem to coexist, here’s some new data on Covid-19 in Singapore.

1 in 6 Migrant Workers Has Contracted COVID-19 But It’s Still not Herd Immunity for Them

On 14 Aug 2020, Singapore’s official tally of Covid-19 infections among foreign workers was revealed.

As of Wednesday, 12 Aug 2020, 52,425 out of 323,000 workers were infected. Yes, about 1 in 6 migrant workers living in dormitories.

However, it’s likely that the number is actually higher since Covid-19 is such a sneaky bugger (read: asymptomatic cases) although Associate Professor Alex Cook said it’ll be lower in the dormitories “here or in the general populace” since Singapore keeps a very close eye on the outbreak.

Nonetheless, nothing is known for sure unless large-scale serological testing takes place.

For those who forgot, a serological test examines a person’s blood for antibodies which indicate that the individual was infected with the coronavirus in the past.

If that is confusing, then watch this video on the two different types of COVID-19 tests simplified for you (and also subscribe to our YouTube channel for more informative videos, please):

Professor Teo Yik Ying pointed out that the number of Covid-19 cases in the dormitories is likely to be under-reported since most of them are asymptomatic cases, and even the infected workers might not know they have the case.

But one thing for sure though, the foreign workers hasn’t gained herd immunity, and according to some experts, they likely won’t develop them in the “next three months”.

Covid-19 Herd Immunity “Too Expensive”

Here’s a short refresher:

Herd immunity basically means a huge majority of the population has been infected and recovered from the virus.

Typically, when a person recovers from a certain virus, their body will produce antibodies to make them immune to the virus.

However, for Covid-19, there are a few factors which make it hard.

Professor Cook says that “70 to 80%” of foreign workers living in dormitories must be infected before herd immunity can be developed.

In the process, many people could die or be severely infected.

Also, it’s not confirmed that once a person is infected and recovered, he or she will get a lifetime “get-out-of-Covid-19” card.

Currently, he pointed out, there is some evidence that people can develop protection against the coronavirus for up to three months.

What Does This Mean?

Basically, this means that safety measures have to continue.

For the general populace in Singapore, this means Covid-19 rules, a slowdown in BTO projects, mask-wearing and only socialising in groups of fives, will continue.

For foreign workers, it means that at any time, they might have to go back into quarantine for fourteen days, just like the 800 workers reported yesterday.

The only hope of returning to normal operations (or at least as close to pre-Covid-19 as possible) seems to be vaccinations.