SINGAPORE — Rising Covid-19 infections and deaths are testing Singapore’s long-term strategy of treating the coronavirus as endemic.

Health ministry data revealed that 82% have had their vaccines completed. However, a surge in Covid cases — the vast majority of which have no or mild symptoms — prompted the government to tighten social-distancing measuresThis week, start.

According to Ashley St. John (associate professor at Duke University-NUS Medical School), many of these cases were discovered because Singapore “does a lot for surveillance for Covid through testing.” However, the country will need to adapt its approach to the virus as it tries to survive.  

St. John said that “other things we’re doing, such as social ditancing can be helpful for a time to control these surges of the cases,” CNBC’s St. John stated.Street Signs Asia“Friday.

“But, we must really shift how we view this. From Covid’s containment strategy and elimination to living with the virus within our community. But what kinds of steps can be taken to make it less severe to those exposed to it?” she stated.

The health ministry of Singapore said that Thursday more than 28,000 Covid infectionsIn the past 28 days, they were found. The ministry said that 98.1% experienced mild to no symptoms and 0.1% succumbed.

According to the ministry, 1,360 patients were in hospital as of Thursday afternoon. Of these, 204 of them are severe cases that need oxygen supplementation while 34 others are admitted to the intensive care unit.

The country in Southeast Asia has recorded more than 96.500 Covid deaths and has also reported more Covid cases, according to health ministry data.

Last week, when the Health Ministry announced the most recent tightening Covid measures it stated that an increase in infection rates had been observed. “put a strain” on the health care system. Additionally, it was noted that even mild symptoms of the disease were common and many people sought out medical care at hospitals.  

The Singapore government has started to allow infected people with mild symptoms to recover at home if — among other criteria — they’re fully vaccinated. The protocol for home recovery protocols are still being developed and may be improved, it was acknowledged.

Over the course of the last month, both the government and the Covid measure have been tightened or eased several times. highly infectious delta variantThere are many spreads across the country.

According to opposition Singapore Democratic Party, this has caused the government to appear “hesitant” about changing away from the “zero Covid strategy.” SDP does not have a member of parliament.

CNBC’s Paul Tambyah told CNBC that “The government is moving away…from the zero Covid strategy in theory, but the actions seem a little hesitant.” Tambyah was chairman of SDP and an expert on infectious disease.Squawk Box Asia“Friday.

It has been a party. proposed a plan to exit the pandemicThis would include removing all restrictions and blanket closures from the contact tracing system and stopping testing of unvaccinated individuals asymptomatic of vaccination.

Tambyah also serves as president of Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

He stated that “Right now, one of our concerns is that many asymptomatic people are being tested and a lot more blanket closures are being performed. These are diversionary resources which should ideally be focused upon the sick.”