Daily cases of vaccinated seniors fall from 1,000 to 279

The number of vaccinated seniors who were infected has been falling each day from 1,000 cases at its peak early this month to 279 cases as at Tuesday.

But seniors are still a very vulnerable group, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung yesterday.

The fall is likely due to a combination of several factors.

A major one is the booster jabs they have been receiving, which is warding off infections, said Mr Ong, who was speaking at a press conference held by the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19.

As at Tuesday, more than 600,000 eligible people have received their booster shots, and another 96,000 have booked their appointments.

Another factor is that seniors are cutting back on their activities, Mr Ong said. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health urged everyone, especially the elderly and people with comorbidities who are more vulnerable to severe illnesses, to limit their social activities and go out only for essential activities.

This comes as the number of cases continues to rise, putting hospitals under significant pressure and strain.

In contrast to the vaccinated seniors who have been seeing falling infections, the number of infections among unvaccinated seniors aged 60 and above still continues to be high, Mr Ong said.

They account for two-thirds of the patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and those who have died, he added.

As at Tuesday, there are a total of 71 cases in the ICU, 54 of which are of seniors above 60 years old. Similarly, among the 338 cases who required oxygen support on Tuesday, 267 were seniors above 60.

"So over the past five days, the number of infections among this group averaged 127 a day, and for them the disease is not 98.6 per cent mild," said Mr Ong.

"For unvaccinated seniors in their 60s, our data shows one in four will require oxygen, ICU care or will succumb (to their illness). The risk goes up to one in three for those in their 70s, one in two for those in their 80s or older.

"Once an unvaccinated senior is on oxygen, more than one in five will go on to need ICU care or die."

Mr Ong added: "So I hope with the vaccination-differentiated measures implemented recently, we can bring down the number of infections (among) unvaccinated seniors."

Yesterday marked the first day in which rules barring unvaccinated individuals from entering malls and large stores kicked in after a one-week grace period.

Those who remain unvaccinated are also not allowed to dine in at hawker centres and coffee shops.

The number of Covid-19 cases among unvaccinated seniors aged 60 and above averages around 127 cases a day.

Once they test positive, these are the likely disease outcomes:

Of those in their 60s will require oxygen, ICU care, or will die

Of those in their 70s will require oxygen, ICU care, or will die

Of those in their 80s or older will require oxygen, ICU care, or will die

Of unvaccinated seniors who are on oxygen support will go on to need ICU care, or die.