Experts Say Current COVID-19 Rules in S’pore Are Good Enough to Control New Coronavirus Strains

Have you been catching up with all the news about the UK new Covid-19 variant?

Or maybe, you’re now worried because of the first confirmed Covid-19 case with the UK variant, with another 11 suspected cases.

Well, you can chill out for now because here’s what experts in Singapore have to say about the possibility of the new variant taking root here:

Experts Say Current COVID-19 Rules in S’pore Are Good Enough to Control New Coronavirus Strains

Even if the UK variant of Covid-19 is present here in Singapore, it won’t change a thing, at least in terms of safe management measures, experts say.

That’s because the current measures that we’re taking, including wearing of masks and practising social distancing, are enough to protect us from the rampant spread of coronavirus.

According to Professor Ooi Eng Eong from the Duke-NUS Medical School, while transmissibility has increased, the mode of transmissions remain the same.

Control measures, he pointed out, are made for transmission modes, not how much more it’ll spread.

He’s not the only one as infectious diseases specialist Leong Hoe Nam agrees with his sentiments.

“The virus has a weakness. It must infect via contact or droplet. Block those two effectively and the virus is rendered harmless.”

However, he added that airport staff should be more vigilant and strict, following the presence of the new strain.

Vaccine Will Still Work

When the UK discovered their new, more infectious, strain of Covid-19, the world was alarmed.

Other than bringing about a new wave of infections, people are worried that the coronavirus might mutate so much the newly-developed vaccines won’t work anymore.

According to Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, the risk of mutation for coronaviruses are lesser than flu, and it wouldn’t mutate so much that vaccines will no longer work on them.

More People Should Be Vaccinated

Previously, an expert in Singapore also gave his analysis on how the presence of the new strain changes Singapore’s Covid-19 vaccination plan.

With the introduction of a more contagious variant of Covid-19 into Singapore, it’s now important that more people in Singapore get vaccinated.

According to Professor Teo Yik Ying, the dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the NUS, this is the “only way” the Singapore community can be “protected as a whole”.

So instead of the original 80% target, Singapore might be looking at getting 90% of our people on the island vaccinated, or higher.

Previously, the chief health scientist Professor Tan Chorh Chuan from the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that Singapore needed a vaccination rate of 80% in order to achieve herd immunity.

However, Professor Ooi disagreed that vaccination should be made compulsory.

Instead, people should be educated on the facts of vaccines and given information on how they work.

The Singapore authorities must also have dialogue sessions with Singapore’s population to address any concerns and myths.

Previously, a survey conducted found that despite myth-busting websites and articles, 1 in 4 people surveyed in Singapore still believed in false claims about Covid-19 vaccines.

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