Mask Back On ASEAN – SG hits 56 000 COVID-19 cases
Once again, more than 56,000 cases were recorded in Singapore since the beginning of December, marking a 75% increase from the 32,035 cases from the week before.
The accumulation of cases points to the increase in average daily admissions of COVID-19 patients from 225 to 350, as compared to the previous week. In addition, the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admissions rose from four patients per day to nine, which can result in a much higher risk of morbidity and mortality.
The etiology of the new cases points to the JN.1 sublineage, which was found to spread in the US as well. A sublineage of BA.2.86, the virus evolved from the Pirola variant, which was initially detected in September 2023 where it made up 5-15% of the circulating variants and continued to increase ever since, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Treatment and Prevention: Public Health measures
A newly inaugurated COVID-19 Treatment Facility (CTF), as well as alternative healthcare models such as Mobile Inpatient Care and Transitional Care Facilities, is set up to tend to up to 80 much stabler patients, in an effort to lighten the load of hospital facilities by reducing their in-patient admissions.
As predicted, the disease is expected to be contracted in cities and semi-urban areas with higher population density. Singapore’s Health Ministry takes familiar countermeasures to control the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the country. These include usual health precautions, such as wearing masks, regularly sanitizing with alcohol, and following coughing etiquette, as advised by Singapore health officials.
Beyond Singapore – other ASEAN countries affected too
Besides Singapore, its neighboring country Malaysia doubled its COVID-19 cases from November’s last week of 6796 cases and nearly reaching 13000 by 2nd week of December. Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad emphasizes the value of wearing masks and COVID-19 booster shots and focuses on the TRIIS (test, report, isolate, inform, and seek) system of community tracing.
Indonesian COVID-19 cases rose by 29% by December 8 as compared to the previous month, with observed average cases of 200 cases every day.
Lastly, the Philippines observed a spike of 1821 new cases of COVID-19 amidst the rise in flu and flu-like symptoms in the country. There was an observed average of 260 cases per day, which marks a 36% increase in detected cases.
The US, India, and China also show an increase in COVID-19 cases approaching the end of the year.
About the Author
Ron Culvera is the Director of the ASEAN Youth Organization Post (AYOPost). His passion for writing is rooted in his role in their campus journal from the early age of 9 until he graduated high school. Ever since then, he hasn’t stopped writing – he worked as an out-of-school freelance writer, continued on part-time to help him get through his college and post-graduate degree, and worked as an editor and reviewer in several international publications. From here on, he founded his start-up in science communications and digital journalism. When not writing, he plays chess, reads non-fiction, or watches documentaries.