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SINGAPORE: There were 19 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (February 2), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary daily update.
All new infections were imported and placed on notice of admission or isolated upon arrival in Singapore. No cases of local transmission were reported for the third consecutive day.
Details of the new cases will be released Tuesday night, the Health Ministry said.
PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TRAVEL SHOULD WAIT THEIR TURN TO BE VACCINATED
No one can jump the queue for the COVID-19 vaccine, even those who have valid reasons to travel outside of Singapore, State Health Minister Janil Puthucheary said on Monday.
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This is because vaccine supplies are limited at the moment, said Dr. Puthucheary, who spoke in Parliament after members of Parliament raised questions about vaccination.
“At this point, when vaccine supplies are limited, we must prioritize our healthcare and frontline workers and seniors for vaccination,” said Dr. Puthucheary.
“Therefore, we are not able to provide vaccines to Singaporeans outside of these groups at this time and seek their understanding.”
He said this option can be considered when there is greater certainty in the supply of vaccines from Singapore.
As of Sunday, more than 155,000 people have taken their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with four reported cases of anaphylaxis, or the rapid onset of severe allergic reactions.
All four individuals, ages 20 to 30, developed rashes, shortness of breath, lip swelling, throat tightness and dizziness, he said.
The symptoms were “caught and treated quickly” and all have recovered, Dr. Puthucheary said.
The benefits of getting vaccinated continue to “far outweigh” the risk of anaphylaxis or other potential adverse events known to be associated with vaccination, he added.
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To boost Singapore’s vaccination program, all 20 Singapore polyclinics will offer COVID-19 vaccines starting Tuesday.
“More vaccination centers will be established in the coming weeks to ensure that everyone can receive their vaccinations in a convenient manner,” said Dr. Puthucheary.
Authorities plan to establish some 40 vaccination centers, each of which will be able to vaccinate about 2,000 people per day on average, added Dr. Puthucheary.
As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,584 COVID-19 cases.
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