STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH
HEALTH MEASURES AGAINST SARS OUTBREAK

Going Forward
My Ministry has put in place all the necessary measures to minimise the risk of new clusters of infection from unrecognised cases of SARS in our hospitals and from imported cases. However, I would like to caution Members that in the absence of a definitive diagnostic test, it is very difficult to identify and isolate such cases early.

Right now, we only have two weapons to work with. First, the clinical symptoms, of which the onset of high fever is an important indicator. Second, the contact history which points to the possibility of being infected by a SARS patient.

To win the battle against SARS, we need a change in mindset, a higher level of social discipline and social responsibility. To make full use of the first weapon, we must encourage everyone to take their temperature daily. If you detect that you have fever or are unwell, do not go to work. If your child has a fever, do not send your child to school. See a doctor and stay at home until you are well. When you go to the doctor's clinic, wear a face mask to as to reduce the risk of spreading infection to others. If you cough, cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper or a handkerchief. Do not spit on the floor or in the open. Practise good personal hygiene and wash your hands frequently.

During this difficult period, Singaporeans should look out for one another. If your family member or colleague or neighbour is sick, advise him to see a doctor and stay at home.

Next, we must be truthful about our contact history. If we suppress information about our travel history, our likely contacts with probable or suspect SARS patients, our visits to the hospitals or other venues where we may have contact with SARS patients, then we are giving false information and giving up a very important weapon in our fight against SARS. To the GP, for example, without knowing your contact history, he may arrive at the wrong diagnosis and think that your fever and cough are just the symptoms of a cold or a flu.

Singaporeans must recognize that it is in your interest to work together with the Government to prevent and control SARS in our community. If you are sick and you seek medical treatment immediately, your chances of recovery are better. You are less likely to infect your family. If everyone who has fever and is unwell stays at home and away from crowds, then Singaporeans will have greater confidence that the likelihood of their meeting a very infectious person in a crowd will be much reduced. In this way, we prevent the Battle Against SARS from becoming a Crisis of Fear.

In the Battle Against SARS, if all Singaporeans work together, with our healthcare workers at the frontline in the hospitals, with all the Government resources backing them and all Singaporeans playing their part with higher social discipline and social responsibility, I am confident that we can contain the disease.