Covid-19 Cases Soar in Singapore, Be Wary of Overseas Travel

A spike in Covid-19 cases was reported in Singapore. Indonesian people are asked to strengthen health protocols.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Tourists are located in Merlion Park, Singapore, on Thursday (22/9/2022). With the relaxation of travel restrictions since April 2022 and the controlled Covid-19 pandemic, the Singapore Tourism Board estimates that it will receive 4-6 million visitors by the end of 2022.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Singapore government reported a spike in Covid-19 cases in the country. The increase almost doubled in a week. Regarding this condition, the Indonesian people are asked to strengthen health protocols again. This is especially true for people who travel to that country.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Mohammad Syahril said that the existence of new subvariants of Covid-19, namely variants KP.1 and KP.2, was one of the causes of the spike in cases in Singapore. This variant is a subvariant derived from the Omicron JN.1 virus variant.

”The Singapore government reports that the sublineage proportion (subvariants) is dominated by sublinegae KP.1 and KP.2. "There are no indications, either globally or locally in Singapore, that these two subvariants are more contagious or cause more serious illness than other variants," he said in a press release received in Jakarta, Thursday (23/5/2024).

The detected KP variant is not only circulating in Singapore. The variant has also been identified spreading in Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Also read: Why is Covid-19 Rising Again?

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the KP variant has not been found. As of May 2024, the Ministry of Health recorded the Covid-19 virus variants spreading in Indonesia, namely JN.1.1, JN.1, and JN.1.39.

ADHITYA RAMADHAN

Tourists in Singapore who wear masks to prevent contracting Covid-19 walk in the Merlion Park area, Monday (17/2/2020).

The official report from the Ministry of Health of Singapore shows that there has been an increase in Covid-19 cases reported in the past week. In the period of April 28 - May 4, 2024, there were 13,700 reported cases. The number increased in the period of May 5-11, 2024, reaching 25,900 cases.

The detected variants of KP not only circulate in Singapore. The variant has also been identified as spreading in Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the KP variant has not been found yet.

In Indonesia, the national Covid-19 weekly report from the Ministry of Health for the period of May 12-18, 2024, records 19 new confirmed cases, 44 cases in intensive care, and 153 cases in isolation. The number of newly confirmed positive cases increased by 11.76 percent compared to the previous week.

Syahril stated that even though an increase in Covid-19 cases has been reported, there is no urgency for travel restrictions from both within and outside the country. This includes travel to Singapore. The Covid-19 situation is still considered under control.

Also read: Indonesia Successfully Comes Out of the Shadow of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Even so, screening and prevention efforts remain strengthened at country entry points. Apart from that, Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) surveillance activities which assess symptoms of influenza-like illnesses are also carried out among travelers.

Health protocol

Syahril also urged people to continue practicing good health protocols. Habits such as washing hands with soap and water, wearing masks when in crowds, and practicing proper coughing and sneezing etiquette still need to be observed. Covid-19 vaccination also needs to be provided, especially for high-risk groups.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

A number of tourists take photos at Merlion Park, Singapore, Sunday (29/9/2020).

"The current circulating variants (KP.1 and KP.2) have a low level of transmission and there is no evidence of causing severe illness. However, we must still maintain our vigilance," said Syahril.

Separately, the Director of Postgraduate Studies at Yarsi University, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, said that an increase in Covid-19 cases could occur in society just like other infectious diseases. The public needs to realize that Covid-19 still exists.

The subvarian virus currently circulating is considered mild and has no significant impact on hospital-level care. A decrease in cases will be reported after the peak of the cases is reached.

Also read: Covid-19 is Back, Why Don't We Panic?

However, Indonesia is expected to remain vigilant. The government must continue to monitor developments in cases that occur at the global level. Strict Monitoring needs to be carried out to detect new variants and subvariants.

"Whether or not there is an increase in Covid-19 cases, we all need to consistently practice clean and healthy living behaviors and prioritize our health in our daily lives," said Tjandra.