Commentary: Maskless coughs and sneezes show we haven’t learnt anything from the COVID-19 pandemic

FRESH WAVE OF INFECTION IN SINGAPORE

In Singapore, the current COVID-19 wave is being driven by multiple variants XBB, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9, XBB.1.16, XBB.2.3, BN.1, CH.1.1, but without a clear dominant strain, said Mr Ong on Friday. There has been no evidence showing that any of the current XBB strains cause more severe illnesses.

Official data shows that the number of COVID-19 infections spiked to 28,410 cases in the final week of March, almost double the previous week’s 14,467 cases.

The actual number of cases, however, is likely to be higher as MOH no longer imposes mandatory testing, and official case numbers are estimated based on the National ARI (Acute Respiratory Infection) Surveillance Programme. Many people are also choosing to recover at home on their own, and do not get tested.

Clinics in Singapore said they have seen a spike in patient load as well as patients seeking medical treatment for influenza.

When my family went to a doctor on Tuesday morning, we waited three hours for our turn, with 30 other patients in the line before us.

HAVING TO PAY FOR COVID-19 TESTS AND TREATMENT

As part of Singapore’s move to the endemic phase, financing support for COVID-19 testing and treatment was scaled back and realigned with that of other acute illnesses from Apr 1.

COVID-19 patients admitted to a C-class ward might pay up to S$700 (US$528) after subsidies and tapping MediShield Life, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam told Parliament in February. The cost of COVID-19 treatment for subsidised patients at polyclinics is about S$20 to S$35, similar to other acute respiratory diseases.