晨光 – 大数据 新视力: 为何接种率达标 死亡例却不减 (Morning Express – why is the vaccination rate on target but deaths have not decreased?)

​Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, explained that worldwide, vaccinated people were 10 to 25 times less likely to die when they are infected with COVID-19. Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, shared that in the wake of COVID-19, there may be fewer flu deaths in future because more people will take the flu vaccine and there will be better restrictions particularly in older people.

住院冠病病患超过1000人 专家担心医疗系统不胜负荷 (More than 1,000 hospitalised COVID-19 patients – experts fear that healthcare system will be overwhelmed)

​Lianhe Zaobao quoted Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, who commented that new facilities and admission standards set by the government were believed to be able to help ease the hospital situation. He believed that the authorities will continue to review the situation to help ease the pressure on the healthcare system and to ensure that all patients in need receive assistance.

Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health noted that there are currently two types of COVID-19 patients who require hospitalisation -  those who require observation and those who are unable to recuperate at home. For the latter, they are suitable to be transferred to community care facilities to relieve the pressure on hospitals.

Vaccines keeping severe cases in check: Experts

Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant at National University Hospital's Division of Infectious Diseases and Professor of Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, highlighted that vaccine is most effective in preventing severe diseases and death and these cases are expected to be low, though not zero, in the vaccinated population. A/Prof Hsu Li Yang, Vice-Dean of Global Health and Infectious Diseases Programme Leader, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, agreed but cautioned that there is a lag of about a week between the onset of COVID-19 and deterioration, so there is likely to be a rise in ICU cases in the coming weeks.

Prof Paul Tambyah, Senior Consultant at National University Hospital's Division of Infectious Diseases and Professor of Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, noted that no transmission wave lasts forever. He opined there is no need to tighten measures at the moment and that it is not clear if further tightening will bring any benefits.

In a Channel 8 interview, Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said that booster shots can be given to the elderly and immunocompromised people to provide additional protection to reduce risk of infection but it is not necessary for all.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 24 September 2021, Page 2, 对年长者等高危人群确实有效 学者：普通人应否打追加剂仍未有定论 (Booster shots more effective for high-risk groups such as elderly, no conclusion yet average people)
• Mediacorp 8world, 23 September 2021, 本地公共医院床位使用率 两周前已近88% (Bed occupancy in public hospitals was nearly 88% two weeks ago)
• CNA, 23 September 2021, Heart of the Matter, S2: COVID-19 booster shots and the challenge of vaccine science moving at breakneck speed

The Big Story: With over 1,000 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in S’pore, will there be tighter restrictions?

Professor Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant at National University Hospital's Division of Infectious Diseases, discussed Singapore's current COVID-19 situation and weighed in on whether tighter restrictions are needed.

In a separate article, 8world quoted Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, who said that looking at what is happening around the world, whenever outbreaks occur in nursing homes, a considerable number of people would require oxygen and ICU care. This is because these clusters involve seniors who may be frail and may have underlying health conditions.

• Money 89.3 FM, ST: The Big Story, 23 September 2021
• Mediacorp 8world, 23 September 2021, 数据：需输氧冠病患者破百人 一半已接种疫苗(Statistics: More than 100 COVID-19 patients require oxygen; half have been vaccinated)

When arthritis strikes early

​Young people are often shocked or in denial when told they have arthritis because they think it affects only the aged.  This may stem from how arthritis is often associated with rheumatism, and the perception that arthritis refers to osteoarthritis, which indeed affects older people more, says Dr Anindita Santosa, a consultant at Changi General Hospital’s department of medicine (rheumatology).

长期冠病留下难以承受的痛 (Long COVID leaves unbearable pain)

Lianhe Zaobao quoted Prof Paul Tambyah, Senior Consultant, National University Hospital ,Division of Infectious Diseases, who said that it is generally recommended that people who have recovered from long-term COVID-19 symptoms receive symptomatic treatment, such as cough medicines or bronchodilators for chronic cough. He also encouraged them to enjoy the sun instead of staying at home as long as they comply with safety measures.

The article also quoted Dr Alvin Wang, Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, who pointed out that not all symptoms might be related to long COVID. For example, problems concentrating, memory issues or sleeping problems could also be features of depression. He recommended that COVID-19 survivors who experience persistent symptoms seek medical evaluation from a trained healthcare professional. In general, COVID-19 survivors should balance their daily activities with their symptoms and take more frequent rests if necessary, to avoid exhaustion.

Calls grow among experts in Singapore for mandatory vaccination as Covid-19 cases spike

​Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital said that he would “love to see vaccine mandates in over 60s” as they are the group most at risk of severe disease and death. Prof Fisher added that it is the same reason that age group was selected early for vaccines and booster jabs. A/Prof Alex Cook, Vice Dean of Research, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health opined that vaccination is much more protective than the other measures in place and less economically and socially damaging. He added that it would seem odd to enforce weaker and more costly measures if vaccination is not enforced.

• Reuters, 21 September 2021, Calls grow among experts in Singapore for a vaccine mandate as COVID-19 spikes

Perkembangan lewat bagi anak yang banyak guna alat digital? (Do children suffer developmental delays from high exposure to digital devices?)

​Semasa Steve Jobs ditanya pada 2010 sa-ma ada anak-anak beliau suka bermain dengan model baru iPad yang baru, beliau menjawab: “Mereka tak menggunakannya. Kami had-kan penggunaan teknologi bagi kanak-kanak di rumah.”  Sebagai digital natives atau generasi yang membesar dengan teknologi, memang tidak munasabah jika ibu bapa tidak dedahkan anak-anak zaman sekarang kepada teknologi.

Some public hospitals in S’pore seeing surge in Covid-19 positive & suspect cases at A&E

​Mothership quoted an National University Hospital Facebook post noting that the hospital has put in place extra precautionary measures in its emergency department to ensure the safety of the patients, and waiting time will be longer than expected. Patients with more serious conditions and who require admission will be prioritised. National University Hospital also encouraged patients with non-critical conditions to visit a GP or polyclinic, or the 24-hour Urgent Care Centre at Alexandra Hospital.

专家：大量人口染疫后确诊病例增幅将放缓 (Experts: Increase in COVID-19 cases will slow down after a large number of people are infected)

Lianhe Zaobao quoted A/Prof Hsu Li Yang, Vice-Dean of Global Health and Programme Leader of Infectious Diseases, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, who used Denmark as an example to explain that once most of the population recover from the epidemic, the natural immunity generated can further increase the immunity brought about by vaccines or previous infections and the number of confirmed cases will begin to decrease. Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health commented that eight out of 10 people in Singapore have completed vaccination and most of the confirmed cases are asymptomatic or mild. Therefore, he believes that these patients will not cause too much problems to the local healthcare system.

A/Prof Jeremy Lim, Director of the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health opined that slowing down severe cases and maintaining the healthcare system are the two major steps Singapore must take in the coming days and weeks. Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital also said that there is still a big concern that unvaccinated patients can become severely ill and overwhelm the healthcare system.

Singapore's COVID-19 reproduction number is above 1. What does this mean and should we be concerned?

​A/Prof Alex Cook, Vice Dean of Research, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, explained that the reproduction number of COVID, or R, quantifies the transmissibility of the virus and how bad things will get if control measures are stopped. R goes up and down as immunity grows, as control measures change, and as the population’s social activities wax and wane.  Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, National University Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases, said R will eventually become “irrelevant” if Singapore stops mass testing and counting cases.

• BERITA Mediacorp, 17 September 2021, Kadar pembiakan COVID-19 S'pura lebih daripada 1. Perlukah kita rasa bimbang? (Singapore's COVID-19 reproduction number is above 1. What does this mean and should we be concerned?)

Health Matters – New global initiative to help colorectal cancer patients

​A/Prof Glenn Bonney, Consultant at National University Centre for Organ Transplantation and Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital as well as National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Division of Surgical Oncology, discussed how National University Health System clinicians in Singapore are leading a global initiative that could change how patients with colorectal liver metastasis are managed and treated. They have formulated a patient management algorithm or consensus guidelines, which define the specific patient groups, as well as the tests and classifications that are needed to treat them.

NUHS Leads Global Initiative for Precision Care of Colorectal Cancer Patients with Liver Metastasis

Covid-19 heroes get a boost

​In an ST report on local initiatives that recognise health workers, it was mentioned that more than 25,000 healthcare workers from 11 healthcare institutions including National University Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital have been given complimentary one-year membership to the Fuzzie Corporate Club, which offers discounts and privileges from over 600 brands in Singapore. Dr Janice Lam, Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, National University Hospital, said that it is a useful and meaningful gift to healthcare workers, and the special perks boost healthcare workers’ morale. The report also carried a photo of Alexandra Hospital healthcare workers with their care packs.

Building resilience in Singapore’s youth

​Commentary by Dr Chiong Yee Keow, Consultant, Children’s Emergency, Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, and Prof Chia Kee Seng, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, discussed mental health and building resilience in Singapore’s youths. They opined that Singapore’s efforts to increase resilience for its youths must grow so that it can broaden its outreach to each individual, through families, friends, the wider communities and government ministries.