Singapore seeing new COVID-19 wave, minister advises wearing of masks
Singapore is seeing a new COVID-19 wave as the authorities recorded more than 25,900 cases from May 5 to 11 even as Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Saturday advised the wearing of masks again. «We are at the beginning part of the wave where it is steadily rising,» said Ong. «So, I would say the wave should peak in the next two to four weeks, which means between mid- and end of June,» The Straits Times newspaper quoted the minister as saying.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said the estimated number of COVID-19 cases in the week of May 5 to 11 rose to 25,900 cases, compared with 13,700 cases in the previous week.
The average daily COVID-19 hospitalisations rose to about 250 from 181 the week before.
The average daily intensive care unit (ICU) cases remained low at three cases, compared with two cases in the previous week.
The MOH said that to protect hospital bed capacity, public hospitals have been asked to reduce their non-urgent elective surgery cases and move suitable patients to transitional care facilities or back home through Mobile Inpatient Care@Home, an alternative inpatient care delivery model that offers clinically suitable patients the option of being hospitalised in their own homes instead of a hospital ward.
Ong urged those who are at greatest risk of severe disease, including individuals aged 60 years and above, medically vulnerable individuals and residents of aged care facilities, to receive an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if
