SINGAPORE – The rapid pace of new Covid-19 infections and a doubling of seriously ill patients in Singapore have raised unexpected hurdles to reopening plans for the vaccination front runner, where 81% of the population is fully inoculated.
Singapore, one of the fastest in the world to reach that level, has seen its jab rates plateau, and this month paused its gradual reopening plans, spooked by daily infections that returned to one-year peaks this month.
Infections over the weekend totalled more than 1,000 cases, a tenfold increase from a month ago.
Many experts are not overly concerned about the rise, however, given the low number of serious cases and Singapore’s high vaccination percentage.
But, the number of patients requiring oxygen doubled to a record 54 yesterday from two days before, an important gauge to judge whether the medical system could get overwhelmed.
The number of patients in intensive care units has held at a low seven. Around 300 ICU beds are available, and that could be increased to 1,000.
Many nations that have kept infections low and are considering taking steps to return to some level of normalcy once they achieve high vaccination rates are closely watching how the situation develops in Singapore.
With most of those aged 12 and older already vaccinated, the republic is now considering a third shot for younger adults, and may start inoculating children early next year. This week, it will start administering booster shots to the elderly and immunocompromised groups.
While the United States government has introduced vaccine mandates for federal employees to fight a new wave of sickness and deaths caused by the fast-spreading Delta variant, Singapore is not yet considering such measures, and has so far approved vaccines for emergency use only.
But, some are voicing support for a vaccine mandate.
Yesterday, a commentary in The Straits Times, the country’s main newspaper, said an estimated 500,000 people who are eligible but have chosen not to get vaccinated are threatening the healthcare system.
“It is the unvaccinated people who hold the key to how fast Singapore can open up,” said the piece.
“Perhaps, it is time the government mandates vaccination for all who are medically eligible for it.”
Singapore is trying to push inoculations higher, with teams going to the homes of unvaccinated elderly people to give them shots. Employers have also been asked to consider vaccination-differentiated workplace measures.
The country’s approach contrasts with other vaccination front runners such as Israel, the US and Britain, which eased restrictions as they inoculated a large portion of their populations, and subsequently suffered a surge in cases and hospitalisations.
The government has said it will pause further opening for now, and that it does not see the need for tighter curbs, although it has not ruled them out either.
In Singapore, the percentage of unvaccinated people who became severely ill or died stood at 5.2% as of yesterday. For the fully vaccinated, the percentage was 1%.
The country of 5.7 million has reported 58 Covid-19 deaths and 71,687 cases in total. – Reuters, September 13, 2021
