Coronavirus: Singapore reviews Covid-19 rules; Malaysia in talks to buy Merck’s experimental pills
- Singapore is reviewing its Covid-19 protocols amid growing calls by some doctors to shelve the city state’s aggressive testing regime
- Elsewhere, some 10,000 people are expected to attend a sports event in Indonesia, while Malaysia is eyeing a deal to buy Merck’s antiviral pill
Singapore on Saturday said it was reviewing its Covid-19 protocols, including the testing of asymptomatic patients, amid growing calls by some doctors to shelve the city state’s aggressive testing regime.
“As far as our protocols are concerned, we have lightened up,” said Kenneth Mak, the health ministry’s director of medical services.
For example, he said individuals who tested positive at home with antigen rapid-test kits would not need to be hospitalised. They would only need to self-isolate and could resume their normal activities if they tested negative after three days.
But more caution was needed for residents who were in close contact with vulnerable persons, like those in nursing homes or hospitals, he said. These individuals would be required to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
“We are looking to simplify our protocols, simplify the processes, and we will relook even in these cases, whether there is value to continue with PCR testing,” Mak told reporters.
The remarks came as experts and the opposition in recent days urged authorities to drop the city state’s aggressive testing programme. They suggested that mild positive cases could flood hospitals, draining resources that should be conserved for severe cases.
Singapore is grappling with its worst outbreak yet, with 2,356 infections reported on Saturday. The death toll stood at 107, mostly made up of unvaccinated seniors.