Assessment of Need for Health Controls Given Recent Increase in COVID-19 Infections

Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Health (a) what assessment has been made regarding the current risks associated with increased COVID-19 infections; (b) whether the Ministry considers it necessary to implement new health protocols to control the increase in cases; and (c) what measures are being planned to protect vulnerable populations and ensure healthcare system resilience amidst the rising infection rates.

My response will also cover the matter raised in Parliamentary Question No 46 for Written Answer by Mr Liang Eng Hwa for today’s Sitting.

The current COVID-19 wave, which started in mid-April 2024, has been on a steady decline. It peaked in early May 2024 at around 26,000 cases per week, while the hospitalised COVID-19 cases peaked two weeks later with 370 beds occupied. The weekly estimated number of COVID-19 cases has since declined to 8,700 cases, as COVID-19 hospital bed occupancy has dropped to around 130. The average number of cases in the Intensive Care Unit remains low at four cases.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has taken some measures to protect our healthcare capacity, but we have ridden through another wave without having to impose any additional restrictions. This is consistent with our intention to live with COVID-19 as an endemic disease, just like influenza or chickenpox.

Vaccination remains important to reduce the risk of severe infections. As of 23 June 2024, about 60.5% of our total population did not receive any COVID-19 vaccination in the last two years. On the other hand, countries like Denmark are able to get the broad majority of their population to take the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

This is a cause for concern because we know that vaccine protection will wane with time, and as the virus mutates further, at some point, there can be escalated risks of many infected patients falling severely sick, just like at the beginning of the pandemic.

MOH is thus encouraging individuals, especially vulnerable ones like seniors, to take their COVID-19 vaccination. We are bringing on board Healthier SG clinics to provide COVID-19 vaccination. There are 320 Healthier SG general practitioner clinics providing COVID-19 vaccinations as of 24 June 2024, in addition to the five Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres around the island.