8 COVID-19 Cases Today (9 Nov) & They’re All Imported Cases

So far, November has been relatively goody, with low number of COVID-19 cases reported daily. And today’s no exception.

Today (9 November 2020), as of 12pm, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has preliminarily confirmed 8 new cases of COVID-19 infection.

All of them are imported cases.

This brings the total number of cases in Singapore to 58,064.

Based on yesterday’s numbers, the number of new cases in the community has remained low, with a total of 1 case in the past week, who is currently unlinked.

While everything looks goody, it’s not the time to get complacent, for a new study shows that over here in Singapore, droplets can travel up to 6.6m.

Researchers Simulate How Droplets Fly in S’pore Climate & They Can Travel Up to 6.6m With Wind

A*Star researchers have managed to successfully create a model for cough droplets in Singapore.

While studies on the spread of cough droplets aren’t anything new, especially in today’s Covid-19 world, one that takes Singapore’s tropical climate into account is.

The researchers took into account several factors that are unique to Singapore, including the humidity level as well as wind speed.

Unlike temperate climates, which are drier and assumes a cough droplet evaporates completely, a cough droplet in Singapore only evaporates partially, becoming a smaller object, and is carried further through the air via the wind.

Findings

The researchers worked closely with the National Supercomputing Centre to produce a simulation of the spread of cough droplets in Singapore.

The findings are then put to the test by A*Star’s Institute of Material Science with an aerosol generator to verify the accuracy.

It was found that a 100 micro-metre cough droplet can travel up to 6.6m away with a wind speed of 2 metres per second.

The researchers clarified that while cough droplets are not created equal, 100 micro-metre is the average size of a cough droplet and the average wind speed in Singapore is 2m/s.

In other words, if you’re not wearing a mask, a 1-metre safe-distancing won’t be enough to save you from infection.

It’s Not All Bad News, Though

The researchers added that currently, Singapore’s Covid-19 Safe Management Measures are sufficient to guard against Covid-19 transmission.

As long as everyone does their part and wears their masks, as well as see a doctor when they experience even the slightest symptoms, chances are, we can be protected against Covid-19.

The simulations aren’t just there to find out the spread of cough droplets.

Planning For The Future

According to the researchers, variables can also be input to discover “what if” situations.

For example, if the government decides to have a 200-pax limit on IT fair, the researchers can input the factors and check if it’s something feasible or unsafe.

This will help limit the risk of trying out new safe management measures, something which is needed considering how Phase 3 is coming soon.

Other good practices highlighted include:

• Well-ventilated environment
• Social-distancing
• Practise good personal hygiene

And of course, you’ve not done so, download the TraceTogether app. Watch this video to the end to know how it works (please also subscribe to our YouTube channel for more informative videos!):

Featured Image: kandl stock / Shutterstock.com