Tag: Covid-19

PM Lee Tests Positive for Covid-19 Once More, Doctors Point to ‘Rebound’ Phenomenon Occurring in 5-10% of Cases

Singapore’s Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, has again tested positive for Covid-19, a few days following his initial recovery from the virus. In a Facebook post on Thursday morning, he stated that he feels well and has been advised by his doctors to self-isolate until he tests negative on an antigen rapid test.

PM Lee explained that his doctors attribute his situation to a post-Covid rebound, a phenomenon that occurs in 5 to 10 percent of cases. He added that while he remains infectious, the risk is not as high compared to the initial infection.

PM Lee expressed his disappointment in having to miss the consecration ceremony of Sri Thendayuthapani Temple on Thursday morning, a decision made to ensure the safety of those around him. He expressed his regrets to the event organizers and attendees, wishing them a successful consecration and celebration.

Mr. Lee, 71, first tested positive for Covid-19 on May 22. His doctors advised him to self-isolate until he was symptom-free and prescribed the antiviral medication Paxlovid due to his age.

During PM Lee’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will serve as Acting Prime Minister, as announced in a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday. Mr. Wong will host the 8th Singapore-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting on Friday.

A 2022 Reuters report cited a study by US government researchers suggesting that a rebound of Covid-19 symptoms in some patients who took Paxlovid might be related to a robust immune system rather than a weak one. The patients in the study who experienced a rebound in symptoms had higher levels of antibodies, and none of them required additional treatment or hospitalization.

MOH debunks claims: Omicron XBB variant not more ‘toxic’ than Delta

Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued a statement debunking claims that the Omicron XBB subvariant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus is more “toxic” than the Delta variant, is difficult to detect, and has a higher mortality rate.

No clear dominant strain On Apr. 19, the ministry posted on Facebook to explain that both international and local data show that the Omicron XBB subvariant is milder than the Delta variant, and does not have a higher mortality rate.

Current Covid-19 tests are also able to detect infections, including those caused by the XBB strains.

The ministry also stressed that out of all the various strains detected in the local community now, there is no clear dominant strain.

Neither is there evidence that any one of them causes more severe illness.

Currently experiencing Covid-19 infection wave Singapore is currently experiencing a Covid-19 infection wave, with the number of new infections reaching 26,072 last week, according to official statistics.

The number of new Covid-19 cases that require hospitalisation has also been steadily increasing over the past four weeks, reaching 522 last week.

However, MOH said in its Facebook post that ICU admissions remain stable and low, with less than 10 Covid-19 patients in ICU at any one time over the past month.

“We strongly advise the public to refer to credible sources of information. Please visit www.moh.gov.sg for the latest information on Covid-19,” said the ministry.

卫生部辟谣：新冠Omicron XBB变种毒性并未比Delta更严重

新加坡卫生部（MOH）发表声明，澄清Omicron XBB亚型病毒毒性并未比Delta变种更严重，也没有更高的死亡率，且目前的Covid-19检测方法可以检测到该亚型病毒。

无明显的主导病毒株 卫生部在4月19日的Facebook帖子中解释称，国际和本地数据都显示Omicron XBB亚型病毒的严重程度低于Delta变种，死亡率也没有上升。

目前的Covid-19检测方法也能检测到包括XBB株在内的感染。

卫生部还强调，在目前本地社区检测到的各种病毒株中，没有明显的主导病毒株。也没有证据表明其中任何一种会导致更严重的疾病。

新加坡正面临Covid-19感染潮 根据官方统计数据，新加坡目前正在经历Covid-19感染潮，上周新增感染病例达到26,072例。

需要住院治疗的新冠病例数量在过去四周内也持续上升，上周达到522例。

然而，卫生部在Facebook帖子中表示，ICU病房的入住人数仍保持稳定且较低，在过去一个月内，ICU病房中的Covid-19患者数量始终低于10人。

“我们强烈建议公众参考可靠的信息来源。请访问www.moh.gov.sg获取有关Covid-19的最新信息。”卫生部表示。

Netizen Stressed Over BTO – Needs to Wait 7 Years

Housing and family planning are complex issues that can cause stress and anxiety. This is especially true for a young woman who graduated during Covid-19 and is now facing skyrocketing housing prices and long waiting times for Built-to-Order (BTO) flats in Singapore. After bidding eight times, she finally received her BTO queue number, but the wait time until 2030 to collect her flat is causing her great concern.

To put this in perspective, she is turning 28 and will be 35 by the time she gets her flat. This has presented her with three options, but each comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Her first option is to wait a few years until the housing market cools down and they have greater savings to get a resale flat. However, this would mean sacrificing the BTO selection, which may bring a whole new set of uncertainties.

The second option is to stay with her parents and sister and invite her partner to stay over, only moving out after 35. This has its pros for financial capability, but it breaks down the norm of having a flat before settling down.

The third option is to rent a flat after marriage and wait until 35, though the rental prices currently are high. This option may be more feasible if she considers paying her parents the rental fee rather than other landlords.

However, her main concern comes from the long waiting time of seven years, which is around 1/10th of her lifespan. This wait time would significantly affect all her family planning, and she wonders if she should change her mentality and accept not having a flat to start a family.

Her partner is one year younger than her, and they both work for the government, so their income is average. After finally getting her BTO queue number, she felt more concerned than happy, realising that all she could do was wait if she chose the traditional housing route.

Thankfully, netizens have suggested other alternatives to her options. They suggest that she consider buying a resale 3-room flat instead of a 5-room flat, as well as exploring other options like staying with parents or renting. They remind her that adulting is tough, but it’s important to manage expectations and live within one’s means.

Overall, the young woman’s situation highlights the challenges faced by many Singaporeans in securing affordable housing. It’s a reminder that these issues are complex and require careful consideration and planning, but with the right mindset and resources, it is possible to find a solution that works for you.