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Singapore held a workshop for the whole world on how to deal with the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.
Before the disease got its name, country there were already severe travel restrictions and an efficient contact tracking operationthat held back the spread of the virus in fear.
But in recent days, the number of confirmed cases has increased dramatically. Thursday, the highest day of new infections to date, added 287 patients compared to 142 on the eve.
Most infections come from housing for guest workers populous.
Thus, after avoiding this for several months, Singapore is now under partial quarantinewith closed schools and secondary businesses and encouraging people to stay home.
Getty Images-Controls for finding covid-19 in Singapore was one of their first defenses for travelers.
Experts say that one of the richest nations in the world, which seems to be doing everything right, has important lessons for the poorest countries.
And further there is time to put them into practice.
What was good in Singapore?
Singapore had the first case of a new coronavirus very soon. He was a Chinese tourist who came from Wuhan January 23, the same day that the epicenter of the virus was quarantined.
When the disease caused by the virus got its official name, covid-19, it was already spreading among the population of Singapore. but a well-rehearsed response was underway.
In addition to airport health checks, the government conducted extensive tests for each suspected case; he tracked down anyone who came in contact with a confirmed case; and limited these contacts in his homes.
A monitoring team has been set up at the Singapore Ministry of Health for possible infected people, BBC-A.
Director World Health Organization (WHO)Tedros Adhan Gebray called it good example nationwide approach. “
For several weeks, Singapore managed to keep its numbers low and track them, with only small groups and easily restrained, without any real restrictions in everyday life.
But Professor Dale Fisher, president of the WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and professor at National University of Singapore, told the BBC that whenever he heard people say that everything was fine with Singapore, he answered : “Still.”
“It’s a really complicated disease,” he says.
When did things get worse?
The system worked until mid-March, says Professor Yik-In Theo, Dean of the School of Public Health named. Sou Soo in Singapore.
Just when the seriousness of the situation became apparent throughout the world, countries began to urge their citizens to return to the country.
Thousands returned to Singapore from places where their governments were not so active, including more than 500 people who accidentally infected the virus with them.
By then, returnees were supposed to stay home for two weeks.
But other people in the country were told that they could continue their lifeUntil no one showed any symptoms.
Although the number of new cases has increased, in mid-March there were already a few dozen per day. Most of them were imported or related to imported cases, but for the first time not all internal cases were easily traceable.
Professor Theo says that in retrospect it’s easy to say that it was a mistake not to restrict the interaction of returneesBut the reality, he points out, is that “now we know much more about the disease compared to March.”
“Now we know that asymptomatic distribution is possible: it occurs and can be a major factor in the transmission of covid-19,” says Professor Theo.
Precisely because Singapore kept such detailed records of all cases, he was able to learn from internal dissemination.
“The measures were designed with an understanding of where the cases come from,” says Professor Theo.
It means countries should be careful when relying on information now availablehe explains.
Reuters – In January, Singapore began working with the military to curb the spread of the virus.
For example, believing that people who have recovered are immune to future infections when you are still not sure that it is.
What does Singapore tell us about where the virus spreads?
The import problem is currently being addressed by all newcomers who are sent directly to quarantine.
Due to the small number of people entering now, the number of imported cases has been reduced to single digits in recent days.
And on Tuesday night, Singapore passed a new law, which, although it does not use the term, effectively partial national quarantine.
Everyone is prohibited from leaving their homes, with the exception of basic activities and exercises, and a fine of up to $ 7,000 or six months in prison is imposed.
Getty Images-Authorities may apply sanctions to citizens who do not comply with quarantine
Professor Theo says that it will be effective, and emphasizes that although their number may still increase in the short term, “this is a reflection of what has happened in the past seven days; this does not mean that the measures taken do not work. ” ,
But alarming exponential growth last week was around Singapore Migrant Working Group: Hundreds of thousands of men in the poorest countries are employed in construction, transportation, and maintenance.
Singapore relies entirely on these workers to support its economy, but they are jobs where social distance is almost impossible.
In addition, the law requires workers to live in dormitoriesprivate objects that accommodate up to 12 people in a room, with shared bathroom, kitchen and services.
It seems almost inevitable that these bedrooms will become foci of infection, and in fact they did: almost 500 cases were confirmed in different groups of bedrooms. You only have 15% of all cases nationwide.
Reuters-Up to a dozen people live in bedrooms in the same room.
National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday that if it had been known before how quickly the virus could spread, “it would have acted differently.” And what many workers continued their work despite the presence of symptoms.
There is concern that these numbers will explode next week.
Professor Theo says what happened in the bedrooms is an indicator what will happen in other countriesespecially in lower middle-income countries. ”
“All they need to do is look in many countries of South Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of Africa; there are many communities where living conditions are very similar to living conditions in hostels, ”he says.
AFP-Dorm workers are mostly foreign immigrants.
Therefore, he calls on all governments to look at their countries “openly and transparently” in terms of what they can do to “minimize the risk of an uncontrolled outbreak when people live close together.”
Professor Lee Yang Xu, also from SSH, says there is a lesson in social equality.
“The virus very effectively identifies the weaknesses of our societies, which, of course, takes place in the communities of migrant workers,” he explains.
Bedrooms above all international requirements Professor Xu said that the number of seats per inhabitant, “such a situation” only shows that [los requisitos] they are inadequate. “
“Perhaps a high-income country like Singapore can better protect its health and improve the well-being of people who are so important to our society,” he says.
EPA-Health officials fear that the number of new cases of covid-19 will explode soon.
More than 24,000 workers are currently limited in their dormitories, with full payment and with guaranteed food.
The government says it is also conducting “aggressive” trials and has begun to relocate some non-virus residents to empty houses or army camps in an attempt to reduce population density.
Comparing hostels to cruise ships that caused such major outbreaks of infection worldwide, Transient Workers Count Too also called it “Risky strategy”He says that “the incidence rate in the bedrooms could increase dramatically” and calls for urgent measures to provide better housing.
Minister of Human Resources Josephine Theo promised to raise standards in dormitories in general, calling it the “right thing to do.”
Is Singapore proof that the virus cannot be localized?
Despite allegations that the arrival of partial quarantine was too slow, Professor Fisher said that Singapore actually acted much earlier than other countries, while the number of cases exceeded only 100 per day.
But for the conclusion to be effective, he says: three things must happen.
First of all, transfer to a stopWhat happens if everyone stays at home.
that the health system needs time and space to recover: Free beds and allow medical staff to relax.
“Thirdly, put all systems in place: All isolation tools, quarantine, laws, contact tracing. If you just do one and two, then let go again [la cuarentena]“History will repeat itself,” he warns.
Getty Images experts emphasize the need for social distance measures.
Singapore was fortunate in this regard, unlike, for example, the United Kingdom and the United States, its health system has never been overloaded.
It also has a completely dominant political party and smug media, but Professor Dale says that even with “clear messages to a community that trusts the government“He is concerned that“ the average citizen still does not understand the importance of his individual role. ”
“They probably say,” Yes, Singapore should do it, but I’m going to visit my mom. “
In the first two days of the new law more 10,000 quarantine warningsfor example, sitting to eat instead of taking food home, or chatting in public.
Bbc
All countries are looking for signs of hope, but Singapore’s lesson is that no room for complacencyand that all countries should be prepared to face the second, and possibly third or fourth wave of infection.
Professor Theo says that if reported cases of coronaviruses in the world are a fair reflection of their actual spread, “many countries still have the opportunity to really try to prepare,” surrounding their vulnerable or crowded communities and “trying to minimize those who are sick and interact with by communities. “
“I can only say that the world must look at Singapore very clearlyespecially on the subject of bedrooms, and start to study what is happening, ”he says.
“We must begin to prepare the world, even in Europe and America there are communities where people live close to each other. What happens when Kovid 19 enters? “
Bbc
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