-
IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Serious Many Pappys don't like OngYK..not Team player.
- Thread starter SalahParking
- Start date
OYK announces a reset.
We did a reset and revised all our healthcare protocols. We call it the 1-2-3 protocols because there are only three procedures that should cater to almost all situations and circumstances.
Please see the diagram.
This revised set of protocols should be much easier for everyone to follow. We have effectively replaced quarantine due to close contacts with a testing procedure.
With simplicity, we can take charge of our own health and protect our loved ones and friends. Hopefully, this will lift the psychological burden that we are facing a scary disease. Because with vaccination, for the vast majority, COVID-19 is no longer a threatening disease.
Ong Ye Kung
2 hrs ·We did a reset and revised all our healthcare protocols. We call it the 1-2-3 protocols because there are only three procedures that should cater to almost all situations and circumstances.
Please see the diagram.
This revised set of protocols should be much easier for everyone to follow. We have effectively replaced quarantine due to close contacts with a testing procedure.
With simplicity, we can take charge of our own health and protect our loved ones and friends. Hopefully, this will lift the psychological burden that we are facing a scary disease. Because with vaccination, for the vast majority, COVID-19 is no longer a threatening disease.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - A new map showing areas most frequented by Covid-19 cases was published following requests from many people wanting to figure out which places they should avoid, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Saturday (Oct 2).
But some have raised concerns about whether such a map could cause alarm, and Mr Ong said the decision will be reviewed if needed.
The map, which shows places frequented by Covid-19 cases within the past three days, was published for the first time on Friday.
Uploaded on the Health Ministry’s Covid-19 situation report portal, it breaks down Singapore’s land area – including the southern islands – into over 323 sub-zones.
These are highlighted in five different shades, according to the number of Covid-19 cases who had been in the area.
The bands are for zero to 10 cases, 11 to 35 cases, 36 to 100 cases, 101 to 230 cases, and 231 to 560 cases.
As at Saturday night, there were more than 100 sub-zones with zero to 10 cases, and 12 sub-zones with between 231 and 560 cases.
The map can help people take their own initiative to regulate their movements as Singapore feels its way forward amid the wave of infections, and will change over time, Mr Ong explained.
He noted that many European cities have published similar maps.
Based on the MOH map, residential areas such as Jurong West Central, Sengkang Town Centre, Bedok North and Tampines East were among the places most visited by Covid-19 patients.
Districts such as the Central Water Catchment area and industrial zones such as Jurong Island, meanwhile, were mostly clear.
People who have recently visited the hot spots are advised to monitor their health, perform regular antigen rapid tests over the next 10 days and minimise interactions with others.
"Let's give this initiative a try, and we'll take feedback. And if we need to adjust the practice, we will do so," said Mr Ong.
As Singapore works towards treating Covid-19 as endemic, some measures have received mixed reviews.
Besides the map, the testing of asymptomatic individuals have also been questioned.
Several healthcare professionals, including infectious diseases specialist Paul Tambyah, have suggested scrapping the practice to ease the burden on the healthcare system. Professor Tambyah helped draw up the Singapore Democratic Party's alternative plan to dealing with the crisis.
At a press conference held by the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force on Saturday, director of medical services Kenneth Mak said the Health Ministry is relooking how it can simplify its protocols and processes, such as how to deal with infected people who exhibit no symptoms at all.
At present, people who have no symptoms but have a positive antigen rapid test are merely required to self-isolate for three days before doing a follow-up rapid test. If the test proves negative, they are allowed to resume their normal activities.
Associate Professor Mak said that in certain settings, the ministry prefers to maintain a slightly higher degree of caution. These include hospitals and nursing homes, where asymptomatic workers may come into regular contact with vulnerable individuals.
Such groups may still have to undergo PCR tests even if they are asymptomatic, he added.
"We will relook even in these use cases, whether there is value to continue with PCR testing," he added.
Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who is one of the task force's co-chairs, pointed out that Singapore has already shifted towards using antigen rapid tests rather than PCR tests in many instances.
These rapid tests are less sensitive and do not pick up cases with lower viral loads, who are less likely to be infectious.
But Mr Wong stressed that while Singapore's testing guidelines will be reviewed, this should not be predicated on the load on hospitals.
"I don't think we should be saying, 'Let's test less deliberately so that we have fewer cases and so a lesser load on the hospital system.'"
Instead, to ensure medical resources are allocated to those who need them most, the key is to enable the vast majority of people who are not seriously ill to recover at home, he added.
Covid-19 map put up as people want to know which places to avoid: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - A new map showing areas most frequented by Covid-19 cases was published following requests from many people wanting to figure out which places they should avoid, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Saturday (Oct 2).
But some have raised concerns about whether such a map could cause alarm, and Mr Ong said the decision will be reviewed if needed.
The map, which shows places frequented by Covid-19 cases within the past three days, was published for the first time on Friday.
Uploaded on the Health Ministry’s Covid-19 situation report portal, it breaks down Singapore’s land area – including the southern islands – into over 323 sub-zones.
These are highlighted in five different shades, according to the number of Covid-19 cases who had been in the area.
The bands are for zero to 10 cases, 11 to 35 cases, 36 to 100 cases, 101 to 230 cases, and 231 to 560 cases.
As at Saturday night, there were more than 100 sub-zones with zero to 10 cases, and 12 sub-zones with between 231 and 560 cases.
The map can help people take their own initiative to regulate their movements as Singapore feels its way forward amid the wave of infections, and will change over time, Mr Ong explained.
He noted that many European cities have published similar maps.
Based on the MOH map, residential areas such as Jurong West Central, Sengkang Town Centre, Bedok North and Tampines East were among the places most visited by Covid-19 patients.
Districts such as the Central Water Catchment area and industrial zones such as Jurong Island, meanwhile, were mostly clear.
People who have recently visited the hot spots are advised to monitor their health, perform regular antigen rapid tests over the next 10 days and minimise interactions with others.
"Let's give this initiative a try, and we'll take feedback. And if we need to adjust the practice, we will do so," said Mr Ong.
As Singapore works towards treating Covid-19 as endemic, some measures have received mixed reviews.
Besides the map, the testing of asymptomatic individuals have also been questioned.
Several healthcare professionals, including infectious diseases specialist Paul Tambyah, have suggested scrapping the practice to ease the burden on the healthcare system. Professor Tambyah helped draw up the Singapore Democratic Party's alternative plan to dealing with the crisis.
At a press conference held by the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force on Saturday, director of medical services Kenneth Mak said the Health Ministry is relooking how it can simplify its protocols and processes, such as how to deal with infected people who exhibit no symptoms at all.
At present, people who have no symptoms but have a positive antigen rapid test are merely required to self-isolate for three days before doing a follow-up rapid test. If the test proves negative, they are allowed to resume their normal activities.
Associate Professor Mak said that in certain settings, the ministry prefers to maintain a slightly higher degree of caution. These include hospitals and nursing homes, where asymptomatic workers may come into regular contact with vulnerable individuals.
Such groups may still have to undergo PCR tests even if they are asymptomatic, he added.
"We will relook even in these use cases, whether there is value to continue with PCR testing," he added.
Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who is one of the task force's co-chairs, pointed out that Singapore has already shifted towards using antigen rapid tests rather than PCR tests in many instances.
These rapid tests are less sensitive and do not pick up cases with lower viral loads, who are less likely to be infectious.
But Mr Wong stressed that while Singapore's testing guidelines will be reviewed, this should not be predicated on the load on hospitals.
"I don't think we should be saying, 'Let's test less deliberately so that we have fewer cases and so a lesser load on the hospital system.'"
Instead, to ensure medical resources are allocated to those who need them most, the key is to enable the vast majority of people who are not seriously ill to recover at home, he added.
OYK calls residents on home recovery.
Joined the Sembawang team today to make calls to residents who are on home recovery.
All the residents we spoke to today have mild symptoms - no more than the common flu. We assure them that with vaccines, they will recover very quickly and not likely to be infectious after a few days. On day 10, they can discharge and leave home without a PCR test under the new 1-2-3 protocol.
If you know of friends or neighbours recovering at home, lend some support if you can. It can be as simple as helping to get groceries or buy food.
Ong Ye Kung
6 hrs ·Joined the Sembawang team today to make calls to residents who are on home recovery.
All the residents we spoke to today have mild symptoms - no more than the common flu. We assure them that with vaccines, they will recover very quickly and not likely to be infectious after a few days. On day 10, they can discharge and leave home without a PCR test under the new 1-2-3 protocol.
If you know of friends or neighbours recovering at home, lend some support if you can. It can be as simple as helping to get groceries or buy food.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - Singapore's home recovery programme (HRP) was not fully ready to deal with the surge in Covid-19 patients, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament on Monday (Oct 4).
But the country has otherwise planned ahead for the spike in cases, including having measures in place to ensure hospitals and healthcare workers can cope with more patients.
"In terms of planning, capacity, manpower - we are always one, two bounds ahead," Mr Ong said. "What did not go well - and I fully acknowledge that - was the HRP and all the complaints about conveyancing, calling, people not getting responses."
The scheme had been in the middle of a trial run with just 21 patients on board when it had to be rapidly expanded, as Covid-19 cases rose in early September and put pressure on Singapore's healthcare system.
Many people reported that they were unable to reach the Ministry of Health (MOH) for advice on their specific situation, and were at a loss over what to do next.
Over the past three months, hospitals also saw up to an eightfold increase in the number of people who sought medical attention at the emergency department after testing positive for the virus.
There are currently around 9,800 people on the programme, with more than 2,800 having completed their 10-day home recovery stint. More than half the new Covid-19 cases reported every day are put on the HRP, with this proportion expected to rise in the coming weeks.
Home recovery is meant to be the default for all fully vaccinated people. This is because the vast majority of Covid-19 patients - 98 per cent - show mild or no symptoms, and do not require special care.
Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC) had asked Mr Ong about the Government's planning parameters, given the confusion on the ground.
"How many cases were we planning for back then, before this current surge?" she said. "How can we put in measures in place to make sure it doesn't recur?"
Mr Ong said the impression seems to be that the Government did not plan for the surge in cases - but this is not true.
It has worked closely with public health experts, who have projected that Singapore may eventually see 5,000 to 10,000 new cases a day.
It has also repeatedly stressed that cases will rise as the country eases restrictions as part of its plan to live with the virus, he added.
"The Delta variant came in, and then cases started to shoot up," Mr Ong said. "But fortunately, we have always been planning ahead, which is why at that point in time, we were already ready to handle 1,500 cases a day."
A total of 15 MPs raised questions on Covid-19 on Monday, several of which touched on the HRP and how it is being implemented.
The Singapore Armed Forces is now overseeing the operation from end to end, and teething issues are being ironed out, Mr Ong said. "Things are improving day by day."
At present, 93 per cent of those eligible for the programme are contacted promptly and enrolled without issues. People who test positive are typically contacted within 24 hours, during which a decision is made on whether they should be taken to a care facility or can recover at home.
But the authorities have faced difficulty contacting the remainder, either because they did not respond or have inaccurate contact details, he added.
Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang) asked if people can request to be taken to isolation facilities. Mr Ong said his ministry has been accommodating such requests, depending on patients' medical conditions and family circumstances.
"But it is also important to emphasise that individuals and families should make some adjustments to their living arrangements to make HRP possible," the minister stressed.
Hospitals can focus resources only on those who require greater medical attention - including patients who do not have Covid-19 - if most people opt for home recovery, he explained. "This will enable our healthcare professionals to concentrate on those who need hospital care."
Mr Ong urged people to help their family members or neighbours who may be illiterate and do not understand MOH notifications.
Volunteers from the People's Association have been reaching out to people on home recovery to ensure that they are well, and help with other needs such as groceries, he said.
Issues with Covid-19 home recovery programme being ironed out: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - Singapore's home recovery programme (HRP) was not fully ready to deal with the surge in Covid-19 patients, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament on Monday (Oct 4).
But the country has otherwise planned ahead for the spike in cases, including having measures in place to ensure hospitals and healthcare workers can cope with more patients.
"In terms of planning, capacity, manpower - we are always one, two bounds ahead," Mr Ong said. "What did not go well - and I fully acknowledge that - was the HRP and all the complaints about conveyancing, calling, people not getting responses."
The scheme had been in the middle of a trial run with just 21 patients on board when it had to be rapidly expanded, as Covid-19 cases rose in early September and put pressure on Singapore's healthcare system.
Many people reported that they were unable to reach the Ministry of Health (MOH) for advice on their specific situation, and were at a loss over what to do next.
Over the past three months, hospitals also saw up to an eightfold increase in the number of people who sought medical attention at the emergency department after testing positive for the virus.
There are currently around 9,800 people on the programme, with more than 2,800 having completed their 10-day home recovery stint. More than half the new Covid-19 cases reported every day are put on the HRP, with this proportion expected to rise in the coming weeks.
Home recovery is meant to be the default for all fully vaccinated people. This is because the vast majority of Covid-19 patients - 98 per cent - show mild or no symptoms, and do not require special care.
Workers' Party MP He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC) had asked Mr Ong about the Government's planning parameters, given the confusion on the ground.
"How many cases were we planning for back then, before this current surge?" she said. "How can we put in measures in place to make sure it doesn't recur?"
Mr Ong said the impression seems to be that the Government did not plan for the surge in cases - but this is not true.
It has worked closely with public health experts, who have projected that Singapore may eventually see 5,000 to 10,000 new cases a day.
It has also repeatedly stressed that cases will rise as the country eases restrictions as part of its plan to live with the virus, he added.
"The Delta variant came in, and then cases started to shoot up," Mr Ong said. "But fortunately, we have always been planning ahead, which is why at that point in time, we were already ready to handle 1,500 cases a day."
A total of 15 MPs raised questions on Covid-19 on Monday, several of which touched on the HRP and how it is being implemented.
The Singapore Armed Forces is now overseeing the operation from end to end, and teething issues are being ironed out, Mr Ong said. "Things are improving day by day."
At present, 93 per cent of those eligible for the programme are contacted promptly and enrolled without issues. People who test positive are typically contacted within 24 hours, during which a decision is made on whether they should be taken to a care facility or can recover at home.
But the authorities have faced difficulty contacting the remainder, either because they did not respond or have inaccurate contact details, he added.
Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang) asked if people can request to be taken to isolation facilities. Mr Ong said his ministry has been accommodating such requests, depending on patients' medical conditions and family circumstances.
"But it is also important to emphasise that individuals and families should make some adjustments to their living arrangements to make HRP possible," the minister stressed.
Hospitals can focus resources only on those who require greater medical attention - including patients who do not have Covid-19 - if most people opt for home recovery, he explained. "This will enable our healthcare professionals to concentrate on those who need hospital care."
Mr Ong urged people to help their family members or neighbours who may be illiterate and do not understand MOH notifications.
Volunteers from the People's Association have been reaching out to people on home recovery to ensure that they are well, and help with other needs such as groceries, he said.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - Singapore and Malaysia share a common desire to re-establish connections, and hope to start taking concrete actions to reopen borders as soon as possible, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Saturday (Oct 9).
Discussions between both countries are ongoing and Singapore will continuously update its border measures accordingly, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong and Transport Minister S. Iswaran added.
They were responding at a press conference held by the multi-ministry task force handling Covid-19 here to Malaysian government news agency Bernama, on whether Singapore would consider reviewing its border measures for Johor.
The Bernama reporter said the state has ramped up its vaccination roll-out in hopes of resuming the free movement of people to and from Singapore, which is critical to its economy.
Singapore classifies countries and regions into four categories based on their risks of Covid-19 transmission, with differentiated border measures for each group.
Category IV, where Malaysia sits, comprises places deemed to have the highest risk.
Johor's chief minister told The Straits Times last month that he was confident of vaccinating 80 per cent of the state by the end of October. As at Saturday, 62.3 per cent of Johor's population are fully inoculated, slightly behind the 64.6 per cent for the whole of Malaysia.
Mr Wong said the categories are reviewed fortnightly to take into account the infection situation and vaccination status in different territories, including Malaysia.
"As the situation in Malaysia improves, I have no doubt that over time, it will be reflected in the category that it is," he added.
Mr Wong said the "order of risk" for land crossings differed from air travel and would have to be considered separately.
He noted that before the pandemic, there was a high volume of people traversing the Causeway to visit families or for work purposes. Before the border closed in March last year, about half a million people made the daily overland trip between Singapore and state capital Johor Baru.
There are an estimated more than 100,000 Malaysians stuck in Singapore and hoping to be reunited with families back home.
Present cross-border travel with Malaysia is facilitated by the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) scheme and the framework for emergency visits in case of deaths or critical illness.
Applications for the PCA have to be sponsored by companies, and approved travellers must have stayed in their country of employment for at least 90 days before returning home for short-term home leave. After going back to Singapore, they then have to serve a 10-day stay-home notice at a dedicated facility.
Singapore, Malaysia share common desire to reopen, reconnect: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - Singapore and Malaysia share a common desire to re-establish connections, and hope to start taking concrete actions to reopen borders as soon as possible, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Saturday (Oct 9).
Discussions between both countries are ongoing and Singapore will continuously update its border measures accordingly, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong and Transport Minister S. Iswaran added.
They were responding at a press conference held by the multi-ministry task force handling Covid-19 here to Malaysian government news agency Bernama, on whether Singapore would consider reviewing its border measures for Johor.
The Bernama reporter said the state has ramped up its vaccination roll-out in hopes of resuming the free movement of people to and from Singapore, which is critical to its economy.
Singapore classifies countries and regions into four categories based on their risks of Covid-19 transmission, with differentiated border measures for each group.
Category IV, where Malaysia sits, comprises places deemed to have the highest risk.
Johor's chief minister told The Straits Times last month that he was confident of vaccinating 80 per cent of the state by the end of October. As at Saturday, 62.3 per cent of Johor's population are fully inoculated, slightly behind the 64.6 per cent for the whole of Malaysia.
Mr Wong said the categories are reviewed fortnightly to take into account the infection situation and vaccination status in different territories, including Malaysia.
"As the situation in Malaysia improves, I have no doubt that over time, it will be reflected in the category that it is," he added.
Mr Wong said the "order of risk" for land crossings differed from air travel and would have to be considered separately.
He noted that before the pandemic, there was a high volume of people traversing the Causeway to visit families or for work purposes. Before the border closed in March last year, about half a million people made the daily overland trip between Singapore and state capital Johor Baru.
There are an estimated more than 100,000 Malaysians stuck in Singapore and hoping to be reunited with families back home.
Present cross-border travel with Malaysia is facilitated by the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) scheme and the framework for emergency visits in case of deaths or critical illness.
Applications for the PCA have to be sponsored by companies, and approved travellers must have stayed in their country of employment for at least 90 days before returning home for short-term home leave. After going back to Singapore, they then have to serve a 10-day stay-home notice at a dedicated facility.
from asiaone.com:
Unvaccinated people can "definitely still continue" with their staycation in hotels but they will not be able to enter a restaurant in these premises, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said.
Sitting next to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, the co-chairs of Singapore's multi-ministry task force answered questions about the new Covid-19 protocols for the unvaccinated — in a video shared on Gov.sg Facebook page on Tuesday (Oct 12).
He added that children under 12 are exempted from the latest vaccination-differentiated measures, which will kick in after the one-week grace period starting Wednesday.
"You know the risks are higher, when you're not vaccinated. So please take the necessary precautions," he said.
"I cross the road only when the light says I can cross. I don't say that I don't fear crossing the road, and therefore I walk across anytime I want," he said.
Can unvaccinated people go for staycation? Here's what we learnt from Ong Ye Kung and Lawrence Wong's Covid-19 Q&A video
Unvaccinated people can "definitely still continue" with their staycation in hotels but they will not be able to enter a restaurant in these premises, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said.
Sitting next to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, the co-chairs of Singapore's multi-ministry task force answered questions about the new Covid-19 protocols for the unvaccinated — in a video shared on Gov.sg Facebook page on Tuesday (Oct 12).
1. Flexibility for unvaccinated parents to bring their children to childcare centres in a mall
While unvaccinated individuals will no longer be able to visit shopping malls, Wong has assured that there will be flexibility for cases of unvaccinated caregivers who need to bring their children to childcare centres in these premises.He added that children under 12 are exempted from the latest vaccination-differentiated measures, which will kick in after the one-week grace period starting Wednesday.
2. Will standalone supermarkets be a haven for the unvaccinated?
Wong acknowledged that they can't stop unvaccinated people from "running their errands" in places such as large standalone supermarkets, which are exempted from the new rules."You know the risks are higher, when you're not vaccinated. So please take the necessary precautions," he said.
3. There's no need to fear living with Covid-19 as long as we 'follow the rules'
Comparing the latest protocols to traffic rules, Ong said that there's no need to fear Covid-19 as long as people "know where the risks are and observe the rules"."I cross the road only when the light says I can cross. I don't say that I don't fear crossing the road, and therefore I walk across anytime I want," he said.
OYK had been feeling anxious on Tuesdays.
I have been feeling anxious on Tuesdays, because that is when cases detected on Mondays would be reported, and it always spike after the weekends.
The good news is that it didn’t today, to the great relief of the MTF. But we continue to have many patients who need oxygen supplement, ICU care and sadly, passed on.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely over the next few days. But it would appear the stabilisation measures are helping to moderate the transmission wave, and infection numbers are no longer doubling every week. This is important to our healthcare system and our healthcare workers.
Ong Ye Kung
22 hrs ·I have been feeling anxious on Tuesdays, because that is when cases detected on Mondays would be reported, and it always spike after the weekends.
The good news is that it didn’t today, to the great relief of the MTF. But we continue to have many patients who need oxygen supplement, ICU care and sadly, passed on.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely over the next few days. But it would appear the stabilisation measures are helping to moderate the transmission wave, and infection numbers are no longer doubling every week. This is important to our healthcare system and our healthcare workers.
from msn.com:
Singapore — Health Minister Ong Ye Kung wrote in a Facebook post late on Tuesday night (Oct 12) that Tuesdays had been making him feel anxious, because reports of Covid-19 cases tended to spike on that day.
This week, however, bucked this trend, he added. On Oct 12, 2,976 new infections were reported in the news. That meant, after recording between 3,483 and 3,703 new infections from Oct 5 to 9, new cases were finally down below 3,000.
While new cases did increase between Oct 11 and 12, Mr Ong did not seem to regard that as a spike.
Nevertheless, he did mention the number of Covid patients under treatment — including those needing supplementary oxygen and intensive care, as well as those who have died from Covid-related complications.
Eleven more deaths were reported on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 183.
The vast majority of new infections are still classified as mild or asymptomatic, and most of those who have tested positive qualify for the Home Recovery Programme which was launched last month.
“But we continue to have many patients who need oxygen supplement, ICU care. and sadly, passed on,” Mr Ong wrote, adding that the authorities will continue to keep a close eye on the trajectory of infections.
He ended his post on a cautiously optimistic note, saying that the measures to curb transmissions appear to be working, observing that “stabilisation measures are helping to moderate the transmission wave, and infection numbers are no longer doubling every week”.
This is important to our healthcare system and our healthcare workers,” he said.
Ong Ye Kung confesses ‘feeling anxious’ about COVID spikes on Tuesdays
Singapore — Health Minister Ong Ye Kung wrote in a Facebook post late on Tuesday night (Oct 12) that Tuesdays had been making him feel anxious, because reports of Covid-19 cases tended to spike on that day.
This week, however, bucked this trend, he added. On Oct 12, 2,976 new infections were reported in the news. That meant, after recording between 3,483 and 3,703 new infections from Oct 5 to 9, new cases were finally down below 3,000.
Mr Ong provided a graph showing the number of new Covid infections since Aug 18, with each number of new cases reported on Tuesday – as indicated in red – reveal a rising pattern that jumped each Tuesday.
While new cases did increase between Oct 11 and 12, Mr Ong did not seem to regard that as a spike.
Nevertheless, he did mention the number of Covid patients under treatment — including those needing supplementary oxygen and intensive care, as well as those who have died from Covid-related complications.
Eleven more deaths were reported on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 183.
The vast majority of new infections are still classified as mild or asymptomatic, and most of those who have tested positive qualify for the Home Recovery Programme which was launched last month.
“But we continue to have many patients who need oxygen supplement, ICU care. and sadly, passed on,” Mr Ong wrote, adding that the authorities will continue to keep a close eye on the trajectory of infections.
He ended his post on a cautiously optimistic note, saying that the measures to curb transmissions appear to be working, observing that “stabilisation measures are helping to moderate the transmission wave, and infection numbers are no longer doubling every week”.
This is important to our healthcare system and our healthcare workers,” he said.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - The youth of today face starkly different mental health challenges compared with those before them, a profound issue which the Government must recognise if it wants to tackle the problem at hand, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Saturday (Oct 16).
"The Government can make a statement to say, 'We see that this generation has additional challenges leading to mental health issues, and we should not stigmatise it; we should be open, share, and that is part and parcel of preventive and community care,'" he added.
Mr Ong said the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being, set up in August, has been moving in this direction.
He was speaking at an in-person panel discussion organised and live-streamed on Facebook by Project: It'll Be Alright, a community support initiative under the government-supported Youth Mental Well-Being Network.
The project is mentored by Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Education Sun Xueling, who moderated the session on Saturday.
Mr Ong said the statement that "young people are more liberal in their thinking and more rebellious" held true for youth across the centuries.
But when it comes to mental health, something has changed for this generation.
"I do not think it's just a matter of young people talking more about it, therefore, general higher awareness. I don't think it's a matter of better diagnosis," he noted.
"I do think, looking at WHO (World Health Organisation) data and other data around the world, we are seeing a higher incidence of mental health issues among young people.
"It's important for us to recognise that something has changed in the last 10, 20 years."
This is a matter that "preoccupies" the Ministry of Health, and the interagency task force chaired by Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary is keen to hear the views of youths, said Mr Ong.
Bullying, as an example, has a different impact on mental health today.
"Now, most people are on their gadgets and they are talking through things like gaming. There's a lot more bullying… it's written, and it's kept there," said panellist and clinical psychologist Sunita Rai, referring to online platforms.
"In the past, maybe you will replay (the bullying) for three, four days, then you move on. Now you see it, and you look at it again and again and again."
Mr Ong then related his own playground experience when young.
"I got punched in the nose," he said. "But after that, you settle things and it's done, over.
"There's no mob, and (the act) doesn't stay there forever."
Ms Sun noted that these were new "parameters" faced by the youth and that social media can be a force for good but also used negatively.
In this environment, society needs to normalise conversations where there are young people facing stress and distress, and ensure an ecosystem of support around them, she said.
TikTok's South-east Asia public policy head, Ms Teresa Tan, said the video-sharing platform has been building up individuals and organisations in the mental health space as "wellness content creators".
Their main goal is to post short-form educational videos to support vulnerable, at-risk youth.
Mr Ong stressed the importance of teaching the youth, from early on, the skills to survive in a virtual world.
"From primary school, we throw them into the jungle of the Internet, and they are supposed to survive. It's too much to ask for a child," he added.
"There has to be a whole new literacy other than numeracy and language literacy… and that is digital literacy."
Influencer Joel Lim said that aside from a one-size-fits-all solution of public education, young people should each take the time to understand the online environments they are immersing themselves in.
They should also explore what resources and tools are available for them to curate a positive experience out of it.
Mr Ong then concluded the discussion with his acknowledgement that the Government could take a clear stance on recognising and calling for openness to mental health issues faced by the youth today.
"In terms of reducing stigma, what the Government says, I must admit, counts," he said.
"I think it will be a useful statement that it needs to make publicly, so we know as a society where we stand on this issue."
Youth mental health challenges a profound issue 'preoccupying' Government: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - The youth of today face starkly different mental health challenges compared with those before them, a profound issue which the Government must recognise if it wants to tackle the problem at hand, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Saturday (Oct 16).
"The Government can make a statement to say, 'We see that this generation has additional challenges leading to mental health issues, and we should not stigmatise it; we should be open, share, and that is part and parcel of preventive and community care,'" he added.
Mr Ong said the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being, set up in August, has been moving in this direction.
He was speaking at an in-person panel discussion organised and live-streamed on Facebook by Project: It'll Be Alright, a community support initiative under the government-supported Youth Mental Well-Being Network.
The project is mentored by Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Education Sun Xueling, who moderated the session on Saturday.
Mr Ong said the statement that "young people are more liberal in their thinking and more rebellious" held true for youth across the centuries.
But when it comes to mental health, something has changed for this generation.
"I do not think it's just a matter of young people talking more about it, therefore, general higher awareness. I don't think it's a matter of better diagnosis," he noted.
"I do think, looking at WHO (World Health Organisation) data and other data around the world, we are seeing a higher incidence of mental health issues among young people.
"It's important for us to recognise that something has changed in the last 10, 20 years."
This is a matter that "preoccupies" the Ministry of Health, and the interagency task force chaired by Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary is keen to hear the views of youths, said Mr Ong.
Bullying, as an example, has a different impact on mental health today.
"Now, most people are on their gadgets and they are talking through things like gaming. There's a lot more bullying… it's written, and it's kept there," said panellist and clinical psychologist Sunita Rai, referring to online platforms.
"In the past, maybe you will replay (the bullying) for three, four days, then you move on. Now you see it, and you look at it again and again and again."
Mr Ong then related his own playground experience when young.
"I got punched in the nose," he said. "But after that, you settle things and it's done, over.
"There's no mob, and (the act) doesn't stay there forever."
Ms Sun noted that these were new "parameters" faced by the youth and that social media can be a force for good but also used negatively.
In this environment, society needs to normalise conversations where there are young people facing stress and distress, and ensure an ecosystem of support around them, she said.
TikTok's South-east Asia public policy head, Ms Teresa Tan, said the video-sharing platform has been building up individuals and organisations in the mental health space as "wellness content creators".
Their main goal is to post short-form educational videos to support vulnerable, at-risk youth.
Mr Ong stressed the importance of teaching the youth, from early on, the skills to survive in a virtual world.
"From primary school, we throw them into the jungle of the Internet, and they are supposed to survive. It's too much to ask for a child," he added.
"There has to be a whole new literacy other than numeracy and language literacy… and that is digital literacy."
Influencer Joel Lim said that aside from a one-size-fits-all solution of public education, young people should each take the time to understand the online environments they are immersing themselves in.
They should also explore what resources and tools are available for them to curate a positive experience out of it.
Mr Ong then concluded the discussion with his acknowledgement that the Government could take a clear stance on recognising and calling for openness to mental health issues faced by the youth today.
"In terms of reducing stigma, what the Government says, I must admit, counts," he said.
"I think it will be a useful statement that it needs to make publicly, so we know as a society where we stand on this issue."
OYK attended 2 fundraising events.
I attended two very meaningful fundraising events this week — by St Luke's Hospital - Singapore and Dover Park Hospice.
St Luke’s Hospital is a community hospital for the elderly, and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It has journeyed with many of our seniors in their health recovery, from rehabilitation to palliative care.
Dover Park Hospice was established in 1992 as Singapore’s first purpose-built inpatient hospice. It started with 40 beds, but today it provides a full suite of palliative care services. There are plans to double its bed capacity.
As our population ages, the roles of St Luke’s and Dover Park Hospice will increase in importance, especially in the area of palliative care. It is a sensitive topic to raise within families, but it is a certainty of life that we should not avoid talking about.
Please continue to support these institutions.
https://slh.org.sg/gosilver/
https://www.doverpark.org.sg/donate/
Ong Ye Kung
11 hrs ·I attended two very meaningful fundraising events this week — by St Luke's Hospital - Singapore and Dover Park Hospice.
St Luke’s Hospital is a community hospital for the elderly, and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It has journeyed with many of our seniors in their health recovery, from rehabilitation to palliative care.
Dover Park Hospice was established in 1992 as Singapore’s first purpose-built inpatient hospice. It started with 40 beds, but today it provides a full suite of palliative care services. There are plans to double its bed capacity.
As our population ages, the roles of St Luke’s and Dover Park Hospice will increase in importance, especially in the area of palliative care. It is a sensitive topic to raise within families, but it is a certainty of life that we should not avoid talking about.
Please continue to support these institutions.
https://slh.org.sg/gosilver/
https://www.doverpark.org.sg/donate/
OYK highlights the initiatives of a halfway house.
The Ashram is a halfway house in Sembawang. Their core mission is to rehabilitate and reintegrate substance abusers into society. As part of this effort, their residents undertake community projects as a way to give back to society.
One such initiative is Project Home Pride, where they help to remake the homes of beneficiaries. Yesterday, I visited Mdm Siti Hajar and her family, who had their home spruced up, repainted and their furniture refurbished.
A second chance, and a ‘new’ home.
#MakeSembawangSpecial
Ong Ye Kung
13 hrs ·The Ashram is a halfway house in Sembawang. Their core mission is to rehabilitate and reintegrate substance abusers into society. As part of this effort, their residents undertake community projects as a way to give back to society.
One such initiative is Project Home Pride, where they help to remake the homes of beneficiaries. Yesterday, I visited Mdm Siti Hajar and her family, who had their home spruced up, repainted and their furniture refurbished.
A second chance, and a ‘new’ home.
#MakeSembawangSpecial
