Singapore’s coronavirus cases could reach 10,000 a day in next two weeks
- But some experts say testing of asymptomatic people should stop to conserve health resources for the most vulnerable, as 2,909 cases are recorded on October 1
- Of thousands infected recently, 98 per cent had no, or mild, symptoms, while just 0.2 per cent were severely ill
The high daily caseload is not in itself a cause for alarm, given the nation’s high vaccination rate. Official data showed that of about 28,000 people infected over the last 28 days, about 98 per cent had no, or mild, symptoms. 1.6 per cent required additional oxygen and 0.2 per cent were severely ill.
Alex Cook, vice-dean of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said his projections showed that daily new infections in the city state would surpass 5,000 next week, with the figure doubling the week after. There were 2,909 new cases on Friday.
These projections underscored the rapid manner in which the current outbreak is spreading through Singapore’s 5.45 million people, despite 82 per cent of them being fully vaccinated.
Amid the surge in cases, there have been calls from some local health experts for the authorities to issue fresh directives reducing testing of asymptomatic patients.
