A cautionary tale for all?
Singapore, widely hailed for their successful use of aggressive public health measures to contain COVID-19, has seen a surging 2nd wave of cases.
Since March 17: 266 ➡️ over 5,900
Singapore’s success early on revolved around prompt testing, robust public health contact tracing, and strict isolation of ill persons and quarantine of exposed persons .
They did not implement widespread social distancing or shut downs.
It seems that many clusters have been connected to Singapore's migrant worker population, living in cramped dormitories and where testing was not as widespread.
Important reminder that clusters anywhere are a threat to people everywhere.
As cases of COVID-19 in many US cities are believed to have “peaked” & restrictions begin to be relaxed, it is critically important that we proceed cautiously.

➡️ Widespread testing
➡️ Prompt public health actions for identified cases
➡️ Focus on vulnerable populations

There may be some back & forth as social distancing restrictions are relaxed, and then possibly reinstituted due to a spike in cases. We ALL yearn for normalcy.
But, we must be patient & intentional in our next steps to ensure that COVID-19 doesn’t resurge nationally.
Things change VERY quickly with this virus. This is no time for complacency.

Ministry of Health News Highlights 942 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION

18TH APR 2020

As of 18 April 2020, 12pm, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has preliminarily confirmed an additional 942 cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore, the vast majority of whom are Work Permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.
2. The number of local cases has continued to decline, with 14 Singaporeans/ Permanent Residents among the cases today.
3. We are still working through the details of the cases, and further updates will be shared via the MOH press release that will be issued tonight.
MM Fill, MD

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/18/asia/singapore-coronavirus-response-intl-hnk/index.html