COVID-19: Singapore records highest weekly hospitalisation and ICUs admission for 2023

Singapore is witnessing a surge in Covid-19 instances presently. In the previous week, the nation registered the highest variety of weekly hospitalisation and ICU admission within the present 12 months, as per the Ministry of Health.

Recent data confirmed that 965 new Covid-19 sufferers have been admitted to hospitals between December 10 and 16. As many as 32 sufferers have been additionally moved to the intensive care items (ICU). The week prior recorded figures of 763 and 23, respectively.

As per information, the infections largely affected folks over the age of 60.

The weekly an infection additionally rose to 58,300 instances, from 56,043 instances the earlier week.

However, the 7-day shifting common every day estimated quantity has decreased. On December 17, the quantity recorded was 7,730. The subsequent day it dipped to six,820, following one other dip, to six,530, on December 19.

MOH mentioned that the numbers reported may very well be lesser than the precise variety of instances. “Healthcare utilisation indicators comparable to hospitalised and ICU instances sometimes lag behind the estimated weekly variety of infections. This is as a result of time taken for signs to develop in COVID-19 sufferers,” the ministry mentioned.

Rise of JN.1 variant, MOH advocates masks utilization

The MoH has suggested folks — even when they don’t really feel sick — to maintain the masks on in crowded out of doors areas; in indoor areas full of individuals; and round susceptible folks extra vulnerable to the an infection.

Most of the Covid-19 sufferers in Singapore are contaminated by JN.1, a sublineage of the coronavirus’ Omicron subvariant BA.2.86. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday (December 19, 2023) designated COVID-19 variant JN.1 as a “variant of curiosity”.

Based on the accessible proof, the extra international public well being threat posed by JN.1 is presently evaluated as low, WHO mentioned.

“Despite this, with the onset of winter within the Northern Hemisphere, JN.1 may enhance the burden of respiratory infections in lots of nations,” WHO warned in its X submit.