Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said after his visiting staff at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on the first day of Chinese New Year hours (Jan 25), that it will enable Singapore to contain the Wuhan virus situation if everyone is working together.

“We need to work together, which is important. I’m sure we can control the situation with the government, the people, all of them working together in Singapore, “said Mr. Gan, who took part in lo hei, a festival of festivities on Saturday.

Three confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus were identified in Singapore on Friday with another three across the Johor Bahru causeway.

 

As Mr. Gan said, the Minister of Health will continue to monitor the situation, it will change preventive measures on the route.

HEALTHCARE WORKERS ADEQUATE PROTECTION

Mr. Gan answered that the Ministry has been working with clinics, hospitals and healthcare management to ensure adequate security equipment, asking questions about adequate protection for healthcare workers.

“Health care professionals are on the front lines, all of them are critical, and many of our health care professionals, including private practitioners, play a very important role in case identification. They’re the defense’s first line, “said Mr. Gan.

Martine Gan urged Singaporeans to show support and respect for the staff in healthcare, who risk their own safety to protect others, especially during the holidays. In the face of more cases, Mr. Gan asked whether the government should ramp up hospitals and patient holding areas.

Mr. Gan called upon the Chinese New Year to practice good hygienic while they mingle with friends and relatives.

Leo Yee Sin, NCID executive director, also emphasized that people who do not have the symptoms of wearing masks are not required, provided they are responsible and wear functional masks.

“The majority of viruses propagate by gout transmission… The only way to catch such gout is by a mask for surgery,” she said.