Prof Fisher: Its time let vaccine do its job. SG has seen outstanding effort vaccinating >90% eligible population... so we would be safe to open up...

jonesftw

Great Supremacy Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
56,740
Reaction score
13,384
Professor Dale Fisher, also a senior infectious diseases consultant at the NUH, said: "Singapore's health system is very robust.

"While it is always a concern, one cannot forget the price being paid for the ongoing restrictions in terms of those with businesses being affected and loved ones they can't see."

According to the latest MOH release, there are 653 people with Covid-19 infections who are hospitalised, though "most are well and under observation".

It added: "There are currently 24 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and five in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU)."

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung had previously indicated that Singapore has set aside 1,000 ICU beds for Covid-19. Currently, only five are in use.

Time to Open Up

The government has done its best to protect citizens by providing free vaccination to all. It can add to this with booster shots if these prove beneficial and necessary. The MTF has announced plans to provide booster shots for everyone 60 years and older.

While experts are not convinced about the benefits of a third shot for those who are not immuno-compromised, it remains a valid option for people who may be at higher risk.

Beyond this, there is not really very much more that can be done. Covid-19 is here to stay and we need to learn to live with it.

Prof Fisher said: "It's time to let the vaccine do its job. Singapore has seen an outstanding effort vaccinating above 90 per cent of the eligible population. We did this so that we would be safe to open up.

"Caution is good but we can open up faster and allow people to socialise and travel again. This is also critical to the economy."

Locking up the country has never been a long-term solution. It has cost thousands of people their livelihood, and low social interaction has taken its toll on the mental health of many people.

Further delays in reverting to life as normal serve little purpose.

More important is to decide what the new normal needs to be.

It should at least include protecting the vulnerable, such as patients in hospitals and the elderly in care facilities; the wearing of masks in crowded public places such as the MRT; and buses and checking the Covid-19 status of people entering the country.

Preparations should also be in place to deal with any sudden surge in people hospitalised for the disease.

With the more transmissible and deadly Delta variant in play, none of the the options now available to Singapore are ideal, and none are without cost.

It is a matter of choosing to navigate the shoals for a path which gives the least pain and the most benefits.

We have to accept that there will be deaths - already 15 in the month of August - and severe illness. But there is a glimmer of hope, as the world is still looking for ways to beat the disease, through better vaccine protection and treatment.

For now, let's choose the least bad option, and start opening up.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...-it-is-a-matter-of-choosing-the-least-bad-one
 

TUV2008

Great Supremacy Member
Joined
May 31, 2008
Messages
67,578
Reaction score
18,408
well done Prof, is time to open up, let's cease all the WFH and recall all to back to opi now!
 

gerrychua

Master Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
4,652
Reaction score
1,108
let's quickly go towards 1000 to 2000 cases again. at least enjoy 2 weeks break.
 

Semakdd

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2017
Messages
30,134
Reaction score
2,010
A vaccine that is only 40% effective in preventing one catching covid
 

Demurrer

Senior Member
Joined
May 24, 2021
Messages
1,247
Reaction score
363
However vaccinated were taking up the ICU meant for unvaccinated


Or was that what the vaccine supposed to do?
 

xeonboy

Banned
Joined
Apr 8, 2002
Messages
16,952
Reaction score
7,352
Professor Dale Fisher, also a senior infectious diseases consultant at the NUH, said: "Singapore's health system is very robust.

Robust enough to handle +950 cases admitted into our hospitals daily due to Covid?

If yes, good.
 

TurboBumbleBee

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2017
Messages
13,593
Reaction score
7,247
Actually how come in other countries vaccine 6 months no power liao but ours earliest vaccinated almost 1 year liao still going strong ar?
 

LoaGong12

Supremacy Member
Joined
May 11, 2021
Messages
8,977
Reaction score
2,817
let's quickly go towards 1000 to 2000 cases again. at least enjoy 2 weeks break.
Either way we will get there. Wats your alternative strategy? And why didn’t you ask for restrictions when 800 ppl died of flu in a Particular year?
 
Important Forum Advisory Note
This forum is moderated by volunteer moderators who will react only to members' feedback on posts. Moderators are not employees or representatives of HWZ. Forum members and moderators are responsible for their own posts.

Please refer to our Community Guidelines and Standards, Terms of Service and Member T&Cs for more information.
Top