REACH 287 - What do you think of the new measures announced today (23 Oct) to help Singapore move toward a calibrated reopening, in particular the inclusion of Sinovac under the national vaccination programme, changes to vaccine-differentiated measures, and selective resumption of community activities? (SK)
23 Oct 2021 (10am - 7pm)
REACH
[5:20 pm, 23/10/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,
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[5:22 pm, 23/10/2021] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢
New measures were announced today (23 Oct) by the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19, to help Singapore live with the COVID-19 pandemic
💬 What do you think of the new measures announced today (23 Oct) to help Singapore move toward a calibrated reopening, in particular the inclusion of Sinovac under the national vaccination programme, changes to vaccine-differentiated measures, and selective resumption of community activities?
The new measures announced by the Multi-Ministry Taskforce tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in Singapore are:
1. Sinovac-CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine to be included in the National Vaccination Programme
👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/sinovac-included-in-national-vaccination-programme-for-those-18-and-above-3-doses
The Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine will be included in the national vaccination programme to cater to those unable or unwilling to be vaccinated with mRNA vaccines. It will be administered for free and come under the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme (VIFAP).
2. Concessions for those medically ineligible for vaccination
MOH will make special concessions to exempt some people from vaccination-differentiated measures and allow them to enter places such as malls and hawker centres, if they are certified to be medically ineligible for the national vaccination programme.
3. Only fully vaccinated employees can return to workplaces from next year
👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/from-jan-1-only-those-fully-vaccinated-can-return-to-workplace-others-must-test
From 1 Jan next year, all workers who return to the office have to be fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 in the past 270 days. This expansion of vaccination-differentiated measures means that unvaccinated people will need to test negative for Covid-19 before they can return to the workplace, and pay for the costs of these tests.
4. Calibrated easing of community measures
Singapore will ease some COVID-19 measures such as allowing household members to dine-in together if the weekly infection rate (the ratio of community cases in the past week over the week before) drops below 1. The People's Association will also organise activities for fully vaccinated seniors according to prevailing safe management measures, with more details to come at a later date.
5. Pregnant Covid-19 patients can recover at home
The Home Recovery Programme will be extended to pregnant Covid-19 patients who are fully vaccinated, under 35 years old, less than 26 weeks pregnant, and clinically assessed at selected hospitals to be suitable for home recovery.
6. Updates to border measures
👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/spore-to-open-to-travellers-from-south-asia-relaxes-measures-for-travellers-from
MOH said it will facilitate the entry of more fully vaccinated domestic workers, to meet urgent domestic and caregiving needs of local households, while regulating the numbers carefully.
All travellers with a 14-day travel history to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will also be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore.
👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/living-with-covid-19-new-domestic-border-measures-announced-on-oct-23
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[5:30 pm, 23/10/2021] +John Cheong: Please relax rules to allow Household members to dine out together now. It's quite pointless keeping this measure.
[5:31 pm, 23/10/2021] +Caleb: Shld allow people to take booster with SINOVAC
[5:34 pm, 23/10/2021] +Wilson Leong: :)
[5:35 pm, 23/10/2021] +Wilson Leong: Not easy to get appointment for Sinovac.
[5:35 pm, 23/10/2021] +linyuxiang: booster shots for students is smth that shld be considered if schools are gonna continue having face 2 face lessons, now parents are very worried for children on their well being, plus having the fear of bringing back the virus. As a student, it is frustrating to do HBL which has been the case during heightened alert and now that I am back to F2F lessons, i would prefer letting it stay this way
[5:36 pm, 23/10/2021] +Rama: What is the conclusion report for sinovac to be included!? Hope no political pressure!?
[5:38 pm, 23/10/2021] +Angelica: I think it’s a good move by the government to allow flexibility (concessions for those medically ineligible, and possibly family dine in tgt), while making it stricter for those who are very stubborn but eligible.
[5:38 pm, 23/10/2021] +Caleb: And the upcoming Novavax too.
Allow people who are taking their booster to be able to choose freely
[5:49 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Written and posted in 21 Oct 2021 (Thu).
[5:49 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Part 1 - Raging Delta waves - 2 extreme views on how to tackle it
1. 2 important issues are at stake for Singapore ---- at this very difficult time for us as Delta wave spike - taking many casaulties - in terms of infectiion number, hospitalisation number, oxygen support, ICU and death ---- a fearsome public health crisis.
2. The 2 issues are :-
a. Lives
b. Livelihood
3. Government is our important partner and trusted custodian of Singaporeans and Singapore residents' lives and livelihood. Hence our Government will have to make a delicate and fine balance between the 2 - to protect our lives and keeping our livelihood afloat.
4. Death from covid are preventable if people take vaccination as advise and for those where anti-bodies that have wane - get a booster shot - so that we can protect ourselves from succumbing to covid (as demonstrated by Israel population wide booster shot).
5. For our Livelihood - we have been able to stay afloat by calibrated reopening of the Economy - to let business and jobs to operate. Moderate amount of social interaction is allow for majority of vaccinated people with 2 dine-in,and visiting of malls, conduct events etc.
6. But currently, there are 2 very vocal extreme views both taking an uncompromising opposing stand in which our Government will have to balance:-
a. One extreme view is, since the raging 4 figures high infection numbers, hundreds in hospitals, oxygen and ICUs as well as the high single digits and double digits death should justify a CB lockdown until we subdue the current Delta wave. Why Government did not fall back in using CB to curb the current Delta wave and save lives.
b. Another vocal extreme view, is that since we cannot control the Delta wave, majority are vaccinated and we want to move into endemic - why control, just let it run wild.
Both extreme views are highly undesirable.
a. The 1st lockdown view - will kill our Economy, our business, our jobs - and the Economic cost is far too high for us to stomach - as all our wealth and reserves will go down the drain in no time.
Because Singapore has a very small domestic Economy - our business cannot survive by just selling to our very small poppulation of 5.45 million.
With city small land space, we don't have our own domestic air flight - and our airlines need to fly all over the World.
We depends on the World trade to survive and thrive.
Our financial reserves will be used up in no time - if we do a complete lockdown from time to time.
Morevover even if we can stop the current Delta wave or turn it into zero covid through draconian lockdown, the moment we re-open, Delta wave will again surge - and we are not solving the root cause of the Delta wave correctly.
b. The reckless let it go view - will trigger Delta to spread like wildfire to infect the whole population - and many vulnerables, unvaccinated adults, elderly and childrn will take a heavy toll.
As shown in the current statistics hitting our healthcare, even controlled reopening of our Economy - lead to tremendous pressure as sustain by our hospitals in terms of overwhelm demand in beds, doctors, nurses and our medical staff cause by Delta covid --- and will overwhelm our hospital services - causing our healthcare services to paralyse - resulting in not only many covid death, but also other medical conditions death due to inability to get treatment.
Our medical staff will also succumb to infection or through overwork - and the whole Country will be devoid of medical care that we take so many years to establish into a World class healthcare system.
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[5:50 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Part 2 - What is our best strategy to tackle the current raging Delta waves? - At Public Safety Front
1. So what will be our best strategy to tackle the current Delta wave that is hitting us - causing daily high hospitalisation number, oxygen support, ICU and death?
a. Our Government adopt the "Middle Path" approach - a fine balance to safeguard both the public lives and livelihood - and hold this fine balance until this Delta wave do a downward trajectory from 4 figures infection number - to a low infection number, low and manageable hospitalisation number, oxygen support, ICUs and mininmal or zero death.
This is because no rocket can shoot up and up without coming down - as its fuel one day will get burn out. Similarly, no virus pandemic will keep raging infinitely and one day it will burn itself out.
This must be a pre-requisite condition - whereby the current Delta wave reach its peak, do a downward slide and stabilise at a low base and plateau - before hospitals can resume normalcy and patients with other medical conditions can get treatment like the pre-pandemic state.
It cannot be hospitals only treat covid predominantly - while patients with other medical conditions can't get treatment because we can't control the onslaught of the Delta wave.
b.Reach out vaccination efforts - to get to those Adults and Elderly who have not yet vaccinated to vaccinate.
Our statistics reveal the overwhelming covid patients that hog the hospitals, oxygen support, ICU and death - are mainly from the unvaccinated Adults and Elderly.
As long as we successfully get the unvaccinated to get their vaccination - we will have cut down the hospitalisation number by half and more than 70% death daily.
c. Ramp up the 3rd jab booster to the population where anti-bodies have wane after 6 months.
Our statistics have shown that most breakthrough vaccinated death (about 25% to 30% death) - are predominantly Elderly where anti-bodies have wane and who also suffer from co-morbidities.
These group can be protected by the 3rd booster shot as shown by Israel 3rd booster experience that are roll out to their populations.
d. Hence the current restrictive measures is to buy-time for us to do the above - in our bid to curb the current Delta wave - until a protracted downward trajectory of damage caused by the Delta wave reveal itself.
e. Only if we do as such, we can achieve a soft landing - instead of witnessing overwhelm hospitals and many death - a hard landing as seen in many countries.
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[5:50 pm, 23/10/2021] +Anthony: Siinovac becoming our latest vaccination Shot showing that .
That's no perfect Vaccine in the world by now
But hopefully no more Sub-Standard Vaccine from now😉😉
[5:50 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
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Part 3 - What is our best strategy to tackle the current raging Delta waves? - At Economy Front
1. We can adjust this "Middle Path" approach - by sliding the restriction measures down or up as our covid situation turn better or worse ---- until the high infection number, hospitalisation number, oxygen support, ICU and death - slides to a low manageable number, stabilise and plateau.
c. Have we done too badly using this "Middle Path" approach?
i. Economy - our GDP growth - is projected to grow by about 6% - one of the highest in ASEAN - even though it come from a low base. But it is still respectable and even with this growth rate, we will beat other powerful Asia Pacific Countries (other than ASEAN).
Though some retailers and F&B will still struggle - due to restricting the vaccinated differentiated measures in visiting malls and dine-in of 2.
But the Government is willing to review the dine-in of 2 by 2 weeks time - contingent to the covid situation improving after 2 weeks time.
Air travel, tourism, hospitality hotel services - are poised to bounce back - as Vaccinated Travel Lane go into action with few overseas Countries and seeing overseas travellers landing in Changi Airport.
Our sea port is taking over the role of diverting stuck sea cargoes in China and US ports into our seaports to handle the disrupted global supply chain.
Many ultra-rich are parking their funds into our Finance Hub to set up home-office and buying prime residential and office properties.
Though we have not return to full functional Economic activities as per pre-pandemic, our Economy are indeed firing at most if not all cylinders.
ii. However, we can open our Economy further by allowing more vaccinated dine-in of 5 if we see Delta wave take a turn for the better if it show a protracted downward trajectory in infection number, hospital number, oxygen support number, ICU number and death in 2 weeks time.
iii. Else we will still hold one to our current restrictive measures until and unless the above condition sets in (ie. Delta wave burn itself out).
iv. Please note, the Government did not slide backwards to implement more restrictive measures even though all the hospital vital numbers go into an unchartered water --- that is the Government is allowing Economy to chug along despite the exorbitant number ----- this is the answer to the "free for all" extreme view.
v. The Government is also safeguarding lives - by extending the current restrictive measures without loosening any of them - as the hospital vital number linger at a "eye popping figure" - while ramping up vaccination - coaxing unvaccinated to vaccinate and rolling out booster to those eligible.
vi. I personally feel that the Government extending the restrictive measures to another month --- is the right balance.
Also notice in Channel 8 news (21Oct2021)(6.30pm) taking a straw poll - reveals that majority also support the current Government measures for extending to another month.
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[5:53 pm, 23/10/2021] +Joseph: All it shows is that there are people who refuse mRNA and the G/MOH would rather they have some (non-mRNA), than none at all.
[5:57 pm, 23/10/2021] +Anthony: I always believe the more group of people going for gathering
Another group of elderly are going to soon ,
Maybe is time to reflect our younger ones how do we keep older generation to be safe
Death rate was too huge not to annoyed
[6:02 pm, 23/10/2021] +DC: They should have done so a long time ago. Even SAGE has studied and given approval, why wait so long?
[6:04 pm, 23/10/2021] +DC: Now the main issue is the boosters. Hopefully we won't be needing boosters after boosters as the jabs wane with new mutations. Even Dr Leong Hoe Nam pointed out this is not the eay to go.
[6:04 pm, 23/10/2021] +DC: I think we should recognise that we need a broad spectrum strategy which includes vaccines but NOT fully reliant on just vaccines.
[6:12 pm, 23/10/2021] +Lim Suang: I feel that two measures should have been implemented instead:
1. Mandatory vaccination
2. Subsidized test kits for medically ineligible unvaccinated SG residents
One question that I hope could be answered: Why do we have such high number of the infected cases compared to other countries, despite the high vaccination rate and restriction measures?
[6:20 pm, 23/10/2021] +Lim Suang: Furthermore, i think that the current way of reporting of vaccinated vs unvaccinated serious cases would be unsustainable in the long run. With increasing vaccination rate due to all the gov intiatives targeting the unvaccinated, we will eventually see the number of seriously ill vaccinated patients exceeding the unvaccinated patients purely due to larger statistical base. This will create confusion among the population soon
[6:20 pm, 23/10/2021] +Joseph: I think what Dr Leong said was that the vaccine gives us the basic defense against the virus. We eventually need to encounter the virus to trigger our own T-cell response. The risk of doing this without the B-cells (from vaccines) protection is high.
A certain percentage of the population (including vaxxed people) will fall seriously i’ll and require oxygen supplement/ICU support.
That’s why when the infection numbers rise too quickly, we need a “break” so that our medical facilities don’t get overwhelmed. We ALL eventually need to (and will) encounter the virus to gain full/effective immunity. Just make sure when the time comes, there is ICU beds in case needed.
[6:21 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/27/data-israel-covid-booster-shots-standar
The message from Israel is clear: Covid booster shots should be standard - like Hepatitis B - 2 shots + 1 booster shot.
Israel demonstrate to the World that its 3 vaccination shot have defeated the Delta wave.
[6:22 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://sg.yahoo.com/news/analysis-vaccinated-singapore-shows-zero-072351859.html
Vaccinated Singapore shows zero-Covid countries cost of re-opening (from covid-naive to endemic).
[6:23 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Fighting the covid, is like fighting a guerilla warfare.
2. It is constantly changing its tactics to evade our defence system to gain a tactical advantage.
3. As it changes its tactics, human needs to adjust our defence to regain our advantage.
4. This is never static and change is constant.
5. Fighting a guerilla war is more than a superior warfare and tactics.
6. We are also fighting at the psychological level.
7. Whoever has the superior mental strength and lasting stamina and endurance will eventually win the ever changing guerilla warfare.
8. The winner will always be beholden to the side that possess selflessness, compassion and wits.
9. As of now, covid rage along because they work in a collective selflessly, mutually helping themselves and sacrificing themselves so that the fittest virus survive and they try to outwit the human defence system time and again.
10. Human on the other hand are less then cooperative, doubting what the government and medical scientists are doing, not vaccinating, disrupting vaccination, each and everyone for its own interest. Thus human defence system is always outrun by the covid.
11. Eventually, human can prevail like all virus pandemic - because selflessness, compassion and wisdom will eventually emerge for the better and outwit the covid pandemic.
12. Thus we must have stamina, preserverence, endurance, patience, have faith with our medical scientists, our government and human must cooperate - before we will eventually defeat the covid pandemic.
[6:23 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
13. Ultimately, it is the smartest and the fittest that will survive.
14. Human must eventually be the smartest and fittest to survive.
[6:33 pm, 23/10/2021] +Lim Suang: Agree with the middle ground approach, but we really have to be careful with the frequency and timing of the changes. If new measures are constantly being introduced at short notice, there is a high chance of our population getting fatigued and become less compliant to the new measures
[6:37 pm, 23/10/2021] +CQ: https://mothership.sg/2021/10/singapore-ease-measures-covid-19-weekly-infection-rate/?fbclid=IwAR3NH77QyXaSczImtOqMXAUwczLEydMBxYKcmkjT-jJsxbUL_yDO2esXh_Q
"1. Allowing team sports to resume. For example, "a group of five people can play football with another group of five people or any other contact sports".
2. Resumption of more activities in schools and institutions of higher learning.
3. Allowing family members from the same household to dine together in F&B establishments, up to a group of five persons."
I spotted this part, look at points 1 and 3. How is the risk of 10 people playing contact sports equivalent to family members dining together? is it inaccurate reporting, or is there something a bit off with the rationale here....?
[6:37 pm, 23/10/2021] +Caleb: https://youtu.be/P3QKRJ0ZdFs
[6:38 pm, 23/10/2021] +DC: Kindly consider and include sinovac and sinopharm for the 12 to 17 yrs children. Understand china has done so for 91% of the children in this age group. If there are not sufficient data, it's time to engage chinese gov.
[7:06 pm, 23/10/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://sg.style.yahoo.com/us-set-vaccinate-kids-aged-115531978.html
US set to vaccinate kids aged 5-11 against Covid from next month: White House.
[7:20 pm, 23/10/2021] +BL: Agreed, or at least raise to 3 so people don't have to sit on their own.
[7:20 pm, 23/10/2021] +BL: Agreed
[7:21 pm, 23/10/2021] +BL: Agreed
[7:22 pm, 23/10/2021] +BL: Also agree, or at least post the context (ie % or vax or not that are infected.)
[7:23 pm, 23/10/2021] +BL: If there are 3,500 cases a day, the chance of infection is 1 in 1800 which is equivalent to taking nearly 3 years on average to get infected. Just wanted to give some perspective. You have very little chance of catching it, but please take precautions.
[7:24 pm, 23/10/2021] +BL: Sorry, 1 in 1800 is about 5 years.
[7:26 pm, 23/10/2021] +BL: Great, hope to see it here before 2022
[7:31 pm, 23/10/2021] +DC: I think on the contrary, everyone will have to catch covid just like flu. There is no herd immunity as originally conceived as the vax doesn't prevent spread. You do need to look out for a prolonged period of c19 transmissions and not think that the vax will get you out with 1 or 2 waves.
It is going to be a war of attrition. You are not going to win it giving disbursements of a few hundred dollars. It's not going to work. You need a hoslitic plan not one to plugs the hole everytime we go into a semi lockdown.
And, i would advocate for gov to look for alternate treatments than the $700 per course treatment. Try opening up to TCM treatment for those we are agreeable to TCM treatment. Don't put all eggs into one basket. You are going to burn a very big hole even if 2% of your population needs the $700 course.
[7:43 pm, 23/10/2021] +DC: We also need some good old 50s 60s contingency planning. We need to have plans in place if this virus mutates to become more deadly instead of more transmissible, especially when every country is simultaneously opening up.
[7:45 pm, 23/10/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan
[7:52 pm, 23/10/2021] +65 BL: Contingency would be good. If they have that, which I assume they do, it should be communicated. It does feel we have been a bit reactive and unprepared, hence the changes and tweaks to the restrictions over the last6 months.
[7:59 pm, 23/10/2021] +Smiley face: 23 October, 2021
To: Distinguished Ministers and All Honorable Members
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
- - Mark Twain
YOLO (You Only Live Once):
What if you contracted C19? What if you never wakes up tomorrow? Is it highly risky for seniors to physically connect and interact? Will I be depressed or demented? Perhaps these what ifs each has a spectrum of questions, arguments and answers!
In the minds of seniors, let's take a moment of silence, reflect and rethink what's the true meaning of life and its existence. Let our seniors live their GOLDEN YEARS AND PRECIOUS MOMENTS with their friends, relatives and love ones. Please do not let this C19 robs away their time to enjoy, to travel and to mingle. Just carry on NOT living in fear but use the BEST of time. To Covid, yes, we all understand you are around too! BEAT IT!
As for many of us, we will become seniors one day, for that, perhaps that day will arrive! A common saying "is just a matter of time...that's life! "
" a CLEAR mind is like the image of a full moon shines upon the surface of a CALM lake... "
- - Ian T
- - to be continued - -
[8:00 pm, 23/10/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
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