On 21/5, Singapore’s Communicable Disease Agency (CDA) announced that the healthcare system recorded 12,700 Covid-19 cases during the week from 10/5 to 16/5. This marks a significant increase from the 8,000 cases reported the previous week. The surge led to an average daily hospitalization count rising from 56 to 73 patients. Despite this, public hospitals maintain sufficient capacity to admit patients, controlling and sustaining the intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate at one case per day.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Singapore rose to 12,700 during the week of 10/5 to 16/5. Photo: *Jason Quah*.

Waning community immunity is the primary cause of this outbreak. Medical data analysis indicates the NB.1.8.1 virus strain is dominant, identified in over half of the patients whose genes scientists have sequenced. However, the CDA confirms no evidence suggests this new variant spreads faster or causes more severe symptoms than previous ones. The agency assesses this outbreak as cyclical, evolving similarly to other endemic respiratory diseases.

To respond to this new wave, the CDA urges individuals aged 60 and older, and patients with underlying medical conditions aged six months and older, to get the latest vaccine doses immediately. The health agency also recommends that healthcare workers and those living with vulnerable groups proactively get vaccinated, as current vaccines remain highly effective against the new variant. Individuals aged six months and older can register for vaccination based on personal need.

Health officials urge residents to voluntarily enhance their awareness of personal and community health protection. Accordingly, each individual should maintain good hygiene, postpone unnecessary travel when feeling unwell, limit contact with large crowds, and always wear a mask immediately upon developing symptoms.

*Binh Minh (According to The Straits Times)*.