Singapore has been repeatedly hailed for its handling of the coronavirus. Through large parts of the pandemic, the country has had the situation under control, with stably low infection rates and few corona-related deaths.
This summer, however, the authorities decided to change strategy, and went from having to kill the virus, to living with it.
As a result, the delta virus gained a foothold in the country, which houses 5.6 million inhabitants. From having around 50 new infections every day, Singapore has registered several thousand daily cases in the autumn months. The rise of infection has led to severe pressure on the health care system, which has recently experienced a huge increase in the number of corona patients admitted.
Now the authorities are taking drastic measures to overcome the situation, he writes The Guardian.
Awaiting infection explosion
Deprives people of support
So far in the pandemic, the state has covered the covid costs of the inhabitants. That’s the end of it now.
– Unvaccinated people make up a significant majority of those who need intensive care and are a great burden for our health care system. Singapore will therefore no longer pay the medical costs for people who have deliberately chosen not to be vaccinated, the country’s Minister of Health, Ong Ye Kung, said at a press conference.
From 8 December, everyone who has chosen not to take the corona vaccine must pay for medication and treatment related to the virus.
The exception is people who are not qualified for vaccination, including children under the age of 12 and people with certain diseases. The government will also give partially vaccinated people the opportunity to receive the last vaccine dose, and will therefore cover their costs until 31 December.
The big city is being invaded
Opens up for vaccinated
Singapore has vaccinated 85 percent of the population, and is thus among the countries in the world with the highest vaccine coverage. Nevertheless, the country has experienced a violent boom in recent months.
– We must do everything we can to keep infection rates as low as possible, says Minister Janil Puthucheary at the press conference.
The majority of coronary patients at the country’s hospitals are over 60 years old. At least six percent of people in this age group are still unvaccinated.
– We therefore send this important signal to encourage everyone who can, to take the vaccine, says the Minister of Health.
In the wake of the boom, the government reintroduced several strict infection control measures. To encourage residents to get vaccinated, the authorities are now facilitating more measures for the fully vaccinated. Among other things, it will be allowed to gather several people from the same household at restaurants, writes ABC.
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