Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said, 'Originally, we thought the virus was highly contagious and deadly.' --PHOTO: ST
SINGAPORE will lower the H1N1 pandemic alert level from orange to yellow next Monday amid growing world consensus that the H1N1 virus is milder than originally feared.
The expected change will ease some measures put in place since the nation went into orange alert last Thursday.
SINGAPORE'S move to progressively step down from orange to yellow alert over the next five days is independent of the decisions made by the World Health Organisation (WHO), said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Wednesday.
He explained that 'experts' have taken into account two likely developments. Firstly, even if the WHO raises the alert level from Phase 5 to the highest level 6, the move is still applicable, provided the virus remains mild.
From Thursday, hospitals will relax its one-visitor restriction and cease temperature screenings at densely populated areas such as in buildings, schools, and public mass gatherings.
But the mandatory home quarantine for travellers returning from Mexico remains in effect, said the Health Ministry on Wednesday.
At a press briefing, the ministry said the step-down is consistent with Singapore's pandemic response plan, which measures infections by its transmissibility and severity.
'Originally, we thought the virus was highly contagious and deadly. Now, it appears more like seasonal flu,' Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told reporters.
Mr Khaw stressed, however, that every Singaporean ought to continue to take the disease seriously.
'The next outbreak may not be so kind. Let us use this crisis to up our personal hygiene standards. Vigilance is still important.'
So far, the virus has killed 30 people, infected over 1,500 and spread to 22 countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Wednesday.
In Singapore, all the 29 cases investigated by Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Communicable Disease Centre have been cleared of the virus.
Twelve home quarantine orders (HQOs) have been issued up till 2pm on Wednesday. Six were foreign residents and the rest Singaporeans. Two foreigners will end their quarantine on Wednesday night.
Travellers entering Singapore with a travel history to Mexico over the past seven days will be quarantined for a week on when they come here.
While under HQO, the person must stay at home throughout the quarantine period, monitor their temperature twice daily and check for flu-like symptoms. They should minimise contact with other family members and practise good personal hygiene. Those who develop symptoms will be referred to the CDC for a thorough assessment.
'However, as the situation is still evolving, we would need to constantly review and adjust our reponses, and be prepared to deal with changing threat,' said the Health Ministry.
