As more information on the coronavirus surfaces, Singapore will reassess and update its strategies to deal with the evolving situation, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said yesterday.
"We are not saying we are there yet. This is not our strategy today, which is still to contain the spread of the virus," he emphasised.Giving an update on the latest research, Mr Wong said it is now clear the transmission mechanism of the disease known as Covid-19 is different from the severe acute respiratory syndrome which struck in 2003, and more similar to the H1N1 influenza which struck in 2009.
He noted that the coronavirus is less severe than Sars. The mortality rate in China, and more so globally, is lower than it was for Sars. "It is not a mild illness at all, but certainly not of the severity of Sars," he said of Covid-19."It is less severe; it is more infectious than Sars; it is different from Sars. That is why because of the higher degree of infection, various experts have also projected that the disease may well spread at a much faster rate - closer, more akin to H1N1."
"It is a matter of time before you see a lot of people around the world getting the disease," he said. He also noted while Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke about a possible change in approach should the virus become more widespread,"we are not there yet". Mr Wong said there is no widespread community transmission of the virus here or elsewhere at this stage."All of us are doing everything we can to reduce the risk of further spread."
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