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SINGAPORE: Nearly ten months after Singapore's health authorities raised the H1N1 flu alert, the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday announced that it has stepped down the colour code from Yellow to Green.
Singapore raised its flu alert level to Yellow on 28 April 2009 for the first time, and then two days later to Orange. MOH then revised it downwards to Yellow on 11 May 2009.
Now as the flu alert level is back to Green, MOH said its experts will continue to actively monitor the situation locally and around the world. And the ministry will be ready to step up appropriate precautionary and control measures, should the circumstance turn adversely.
MOH said the Influenza A (H1N1) virus continues to be the predominant flu strain circulating globally and in Singapore. But the nature of the infection has been mild and has so far shown no signs of increase in severity.
At the polyclinics, the weekly number of attendances for Acute Respiratory Infections has largely been below the epidemic level since the week of August 9-15 last year.
As for hospitals, there have been more than 1,600 admissions from complications related to the Influenza A (H1N1) infection since July last year. 100 were admitted to the intensive care unit and 20 people died.
Meanwhile, as part of continued vigilance and good patient care, acute hospitals will continue to adhere to visiting times and limit the number of visitors per patient, in order to limit cross infection in hospitals.
The public has been strongly urged to be vaccinated, especially if they are at higher risk of developing complications.
Writing in his blog, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan noted that the colour change will be particularly helpful to the patients in the nursing homes. He understands that some nursing homes have suspended visits by students although it was not an MOH requirement.
With the colour change, Mr Khaw encouraged these nursing homes to resume such visits as the patients always look forward to seeing the young, especially if their children have not been visiting them.
Mr Khaw also encouraged Singaporeans to visit their family members or friends who are in nursing homes during the Lunar New Year period, and to do so regularly even after the festivities are over.
- CNA/sc
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