Today, a certain message has been circulating on WhatsApp, warning Singapore residents that the COVID-19 outbreak this year may be “more dangerous” than it was last year just before the circuit breaker.
But since it was sent by that family friend who claimed the coronavirus could be cured by napping at a particular time in the day, you ignored it.
Now, it turns out that the message was from an infectious disease expert, and that the warning was real.
NCID Director Said 2021’s COVID-19 Situation Might be More Dangerous Than 2020 Situation
According to ST, the message was confirmed to be penned by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases’ (NCID) Associate Professor David Lye.
As for why this year’s COVID-19 situation is “likely more dangerous”, Prof Lye explained that last year’s outbreak was due to the explosion of cases in dormitories, which could be more easily contained with lockdowns.
Now, however, most of the infections are in the community, with many of them unlinked.
We have effective vaccines and treatment, as well as increased testing capacity this year, but we also have several new mutated COVID-19 strains to deal with, some of which are more infectious.
“This is serious,” Prof Lye said.
What’s more, many of us could be carrying the disease without even knowing it.
“40% to 50% of (those) infected have no symptoms and can be equally infectious. 10% can get sick enough to need oxygen,” he said.
He urged residents to “do much more beyond what government dictates”, calling upon them to:
- Stay at home
- Avoid crowded places
- Avoid large groups
- Form your own small social bubble consisting of those who will not socialise outside that bubble – for many, this could be your immediate family
- Wear a mask over your mouth and nose, even when walking in parks
- Get vaccinated
Prof Lye noted that the outbreak at Tan Tock Seng Hospital showed that not enough vulnerable old people have gotten vaccinated.
“If you want to keep your family safe, you need to listen and do the above,” he wrote.
“If a country is overwhelmed like India, many will die including children and young people, and sick people cannot get a bed and dead bodies can’t get cremated or buried.”
“My colleagues and I don’t want to see you in NCID or any of the hospitals,” he said at the end of his post.
You can read Prof Lye’s entire message here:
To know more about vaccines in Singapore, watch this video to the end:
Featured Image: kandl stock/ Shutterstock.com
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