Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Updates

[Jadedfox]

A Singapore doctor has spoken out against the Singapore government’s new advice to not wear mask in public if one is well, describing the move as reckless and a gamble on human lives:


"Not wearing a mask in public greatly expose yourself to potential super-spreaders who, for any reasons or fears they have, are not seeking treatment… While I understand that there is a shortage of face mask in Singapore, the advice is reckless and a gamble on human lives. Many patients, especially the elderly ones, do not visit the hospital until their conditions become serious or when they feel they are unable to recover from self-medication and this is why all the more healthy people should protect themselves in public."

MOH propaganda poster telling people not to wear mask; Facebook

The doctor who works in a government hospital spoke to over the phone on conditions of anonymity. The Singapore doctor said many colleagues expressed similar reservations when they heard the Ministry of Health is telling the public not to wear a mask if, they think, they are feeling well. None of them spoke out against the ministry’s directive out of fear they may face repercussions.

The doctor also pointed out that during the SARS outbreak in 2003, the Singapore government did not issue the "reckless" advice and they handled the situation much better. The Singapore government is also the only one that issues such an advice.

The Taiwan authorities have issued the following health measures for the public:
1) Wear a mask
2) Wash your hands with soap
3) Avoid crowded places
4) Avoid uncooked meat
5) See a doctor if you have been to China and are feeling unwell within 14 days

Taiwan government poster; China Times

Singapore’s 5.7 million population currently needs at least 160 million face masks a month, and each face mask can only be used for a maximum of 6 hours. The Singapore government refused to declare how many face masks they have in stock, and only 4 pieces were issued to each household.

[phtthp]

Wuhan death virus death toll had overtaken that of SARS (2003)


last night (around mid-night), death toll was 305

now, after 12 hours later, death 361

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/03/asia/wuhan-coronavirus-update-intl-hnk/index.html

[sharonkhoo]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1961680\" time=\"1580705682\" user_id=\"43981:

to catch droplets..I remember slmkhoo mentioned something like making do with cloth mask, wash it..I been using cloth mask till now. Still haven't receive my 'surgical' masks .

That's what I thought then, but it was a poor suggestion: it seems that since the cotton fabric can get damp and doesn't dry while in use, it's not a good option (can be a breeding ground for other bugs). Of course, it will block big droplets, but just like the surgical masks, it does not block everything, and can also be contaminated on the outside. Even N95 doesn't work well as the virus is smaller than what the mask screens out. Hand hygiene and not touching the face are still the best strategies. See articles below:

https://www.businessinsider.sg/wuhan-coronavirus-face-masks-not-entirely-effective-2020-1/?r=US&IR=T
https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2020/01/29/should-you-get-a-face-mask-a-guide-to-coronavirus-face-protection/#4d94acb530a5

I think it would be wise for some people to wear masks more: e.g. those in the front-line service jobs who speak directly and at length to large nos. of strangers every day, or those who work in hospitals/clinics where there are large nos. of sick people. For others who don't spend so much time interacting directly with strangers, I would say masks are not necessary unless there is wide community spread or it's proven that masks actually help significantly. If not, it's just a waste of resources.

By the way, I collected my 4 free masks earlier today - no queue at all! Based on the lists I saw, it looks like many households in my area haven't collected yet.

[MyPillow]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1961704\" time=\"1580711985\" user_id=\"28674:

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1961680\" time=\"1580705682\" user_id=\"43981:

to catch droplets..I remember slmkhoo mentioned something like making do with cloth mask, wash it..I been using cloth mask till now. Still haven't receive my 'surgical' masks .

That's what I thought then, but it was a poor suggestion: it seems that since the cotton fabric can get damp and doesn't dry while in use, it's not a good option (can be a breeding ground for other bugs). Of course, it will block big droplets, but just like the surgical masks, it does not block everything, and can also be contaminated on the outside. Even N95 doesn't work well as the virus is smaller than what the mask screens out. Hand hygiene and not touching the face are still the best strategies. See articles below:

https://www.businessinsider.sg/wuhan-coronavirus-face-masks-not-entirely-effective-2020-1/?r=US&IR=T
https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2020/01/29/should-you-get-a-face-mask-a-guide-to-coronavirus-face-protection/#4d94acb530a5

if everybody can be not so kiasu, then it is easier; education , education & education to Gen public
Bring a hanky along /cloth mask is gd idea for timebeing, just cover out half face & hurry get out of the area if too crowded

As of yest, only 6 % collect the free masks, i collected for my mum - no Q
I wonder .... many kiasu people already bought masks or have masks so need the precious 4 pcs of masks like us
we din anyhow wear masks around too, just got to be v careful , not to touch our face , mouths with naked dirty hands
in fact, wearing the surgical mask also not very comfortable n breathe free... i wore a while last week when i had sore throat .

[pirate]

I would worry more about dengue. We already have 604 cases between 19 to 31 January this year.

[pokoyoko]

phtthp\" post_id=\"1961641\" time=\"1580657918\" user_id=\"35251:

pokoyoko\" post_id=\"1961573\" time=\"1580575694\" user_id=\"122014:

Have a story to share. I have a relative who was affected by the travel ban that took place on 1 Feb 11.59pm.. He often flies to China for work and was planning to ROM middle Feb. His fiance is affected by the ban as she is only holding a China passport without any long term pass. They were quite sad. But this kind of things can't be helped I suppose. Hopefully the situation will get better soon... Take care all!

The whole world is on its knee, fighting the virus, now. Those infected patients, to them is a matter of life and death, can get out of hospital or not, or die inside isolated cell ?

Somewhere throughout the world, people are suffering dying.
death toll exceeded ... 300

Not sure what you mean... If you are saying they are being selfish cos they are only thinking about their marriage then I would have to disagree. Both of them are in China more than in Singapore and because of that, they are feeling the effects more than us. Their family and friends are all there and affected... It is closer to them than it is for most of us.

Maybe I didn't show the full picture with my story. But I respect you for being empathetic to the whole situation... Many of my friends feel it is far away... and we speak of the whole situation lightly. Even myself. We forget that people are fighting for their lives, especially the medical staff. So I agree with you.

In a time like this, don't be quick to judge. Be kind. Thank you for the reminder.

[floppy]

pirate\" post_id=\"1961712\" time=\"1580713151\" user_id=\"66252:

I would worry more about dengue. We already have 604 cases between 19 to 31 January this year.

Oh man. Sh1t being so pragmatic. You are so not in with the times. We are supposed to be paranoid and brought to our knees by the deadliest viral infection since Lou-Hei Fever.

[lee_yl]

floppy\" post_id=\"1961686\" time=\"1580708787\" user_id=\"97579:

lee_yl\" post_id=\"1961682\" time=\"1580706716\" user_id=\"17023:

Actually wearing a mask is not enough as our eyes are vulnerable openings. We should also wear goggles. Lol.

While I can agree that there is no need to wear a mask if one is not sick, DH says we cannot guarantee the person sitting in the MRT or someone talking to us is sick, and not wearing a mask!! I guess wearing a mask is to protect ourselves against socially irresponsible persons.

N95 is overkill for us since there’s no community infection at the moment. One key disadvantage about N95 is that one can hardly breathe while using N95 masks in the proper manner. If one cheats by allowing a small gap in between, it is as good as not wearing a mask.

“ I guess wearing a mask is to protect ourselves against socially irresponsible persons.“
Therein lies the problem. The surgical mask isn’t designed to protect the wearer but to protect the others from the wearer!

If the sick bugger sneezes, the droplets / viruses will still end up on you, mask or no mask. The only good thing the mask does is to prevent the wearer from touching his nose / mouth. If you touch your nose / mouth without proper sanitization / before the virus dies, you will still get it, even you had mask on at the point.

There lies the confusion for many.

So are all the medical staff at NCID (and other hospitals) sick thus they need to wear a mask? Aren’t they wearing a mask to protect themselves?

I suspect most wearing surgical mask right now, most aren’t sick but they just want to protect themselves and their families against the virus.

Or Perhaps they seriously want to protect themselves against the virus with N95, but many couldn’t get hold of N95 (or even surgical mask) at this point.

Plus, earlier, there was an ST article “Public should use surgical masks, not N95 masks, to guard against Wuhan virus spread: Experts“ giving us impression that surgical mask is the one that we should wear again coronavirus and not N95.

Super confusing I find.

[Jadedfox]

I will share with you the PAP government's approach to any health crisis.


Calm the public. Say it isn't that bad. Everything is ok. Don't panic. Life goes on. The economy goes on.

I knew so because I was on the front lines of SARS back in 2003. I lived through MOH instructing SGH healthcare staff NOT to wear N95 masks because it would therefore result in everyone wanting to wear a mask in the hospital. This contributed to the outbreak of SARS in SGH. This coupled with their crazy decision to send patients from TTSH which was SARS ground zero to SGH! And they still have the cheek to request that we DO NOT wear N95 masks when seeing transferred patients.

This was exactly how Dr Alex Chao and Dr Chng Siew Ping caught the SARS when we performed the cholecystectomy on the SARS patient transferred from TTSH. Them and the accompanying nurses.

For the PAP and Singaporeans, $$$$ is the most important thing in the world. If it wasn't for SARS and all the shit that happened I wouldn't have chosen to migrate to Canada.

I myself got a fever and was admitted to TTSH; in fact my bed was just right next to Dr Chng Siew Ping. Thank god I did not contract SARS. I dodged the bullet. Nevertheless durin the following quarantine period after being discharged both me and my wife had to make the difficult decision of moving our family (just my wife, myself , my 2 year old daughter and 1 year old son) back to our own flat. We were living with my in-laws before that. In fact we decided if it was meant to be we shall die together as a family then and there.

More at https://tinyurl.com/ub8lw8w

[MyPillow]

Hearland malls crowd is as usual - maybe less a bit only

there are still Q in supermarkets .

Town shoppings n restaurants really suffer big time