Janil Puthucheary on managing 'exponential' surge in COVID-19 cases

The recent "exponential" rise in COVID-19 cases has impacted Singapore's healthcare capacities. Currently, about 15 per cent of hospital beds in the acute public hospitals are used for around 10 per cent of COVID-19 cases. Those who need oxygen support or ICU care account for two per cent of total cases. In the last three months, ICU bed occupancy has increased from 26 per cent to 53 per cent. The occupancy of isolation beds has risen from 58 per cent to 86 per cent, while that in community care facilities has gone up from 10 per cent to 35 per cent. Public hospital emergency departments have seen up to an eight-fold increase in the number of patients who have positive results using ART or PCR tests. Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary gave this update in reply to Parliamentary questions on Monday (Oct 4). He said the Government is taking steps to expand hospital and treatment resources to ensure that everyone who needs medical care will receive it. It is also closely monitoring the hospital manpower situation, given that close to 400 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19.