Singapore’s current COVID-19 situation is “likely more dangerous” than it was before the circuit breaker last year, as many of the community cases are unlinked and the spread of COVID-19 from the Changi Airport may be “wide and far”, said a director of infectious disease research at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) Dr David Lye.
In a message circulating on Whatsapp and social media platforms, Dr Lye has called on the public to “do much more beyond what Government dictates” as the city-state could be facing a “more dangerous” COVID-19 situation.
NCID has reportedly confirmed that the text was written by Dr Lye, as stated by TODAY on Monday (17 May).
He explained that the situation in Singapore last year was “bad” because of the “huge outbreak” in dormitories among migrant workers, which “could be contained by locking down albeit with a lot of resources”.
But the current situation is “likely more dangerous” because “many cases with no linkage now suggest the spread to community from the Changi Airport outbreak may be wide and far”, said Dr Lye.
“40-50% of infected have no symptoms and can be equally infectious. 10% can get sick enough to need oxygen.
“Yes we have effective vaccines and treatment, and expanded testing capacity but against us is the new mutant strains that infected TTSH and Changi Airport staff despite masks and vaccination,” he wrote.
As such, Dr Lye called on the public to stay home and avoid crowded places as well as big groups.
He advised forming a “small social bubble” of people who are committed not to socialise beyond the bubble, urging people to wear a mask over their mouth and nose even when walking in parks.
Dr Lye also urged people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, given that the outbreak at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) showed that “not enough vulnerable old people get vaccinated”.
“If you want to keep your family safe, you need to listen and do the above,” he warned.
“If a country is overwhelmed like India, many will die including children and young people. Sick people cannot get a bed and dead bodies cannot get cremated or buried.”
Dr Lye continued: “My colleagues and I do not want to see you in NCID or any of the public hospitals.”
Dr David Lye’s message in full
From Prof David Lye, Director Infectious Disease Research and Training Office, Singapore:
Our current status is likely more dangerous than just before circuit breaker last year.
2020 was bad because of the huge outbreak in dormitories among migrant workers which could be contained by locking down albeit with a lot of resources.
The many cases with no linkage now suggest the spread to community from the Changi Airport outbreak may be wide and far.
40-50% of infected have no symptoms and can be equally infectious.
10% of unvaccinated can get sick enough to need oxygen.
Yes we have effective vaccines and treatment, and expanded testing capacity but against us is the new mutant strains that infected TTSH and Changi Airport staff despite masks and vaccination.
This is serious.
We should all do much more beyond what government dictates.
(1) Stay home
(2) Avoid crowded places
(3) Avoid big groups
(4) Form your small social bubble who must be committed to the bubble not to socialise beyond the bubble; for many this is your immediate family
(5) Wear mask over mouth and nose including walking in parks
(6) Get vaccinated, the TTSH outbreak shows not enough vulnerable old people get vaccinatedIf you want to keep your family safe, you need to listen and do the above.
If a country is overwhelmed like India, many will die including children and young people.
Sick people cannot get a bed and dead bodies cannot get cremated or buried.
My colleagues and I do not want to see you in NCID or any of the public hospitals.
Please feel free to share by copying into your own social media wall or WhatsApp groups.