The Straits Times | Singapore’s mpox response plan: 21-day quarantine for confirmed cases
Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung outlined the nation's strategy to combat the spread of mpox during a press conference on Wednesday (Sept 4).
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NewsTranscript
00:00The virus has not spread to many countries yet, so we do not have full information on
00:10the characteristics of this virus, but we have good information on how it behaves, the
00:15key characteristics, which allow us to develop a response plan.
00:19So things can change as we understand the virus better, as the situation evolves.
00:26And so our plans may have to adapt over time, but as of now, I think we have quite a comprehensive
00:32plan.
00:33I would say, the bottom line is this, I think we were right to be worried about M-FLOG's
00:44Phase 1, WHO was right to have declared a PHERC, but we think this is likely to be a
00:55troublesome virus that we can manage.
00:58It will very unlikely lead to the kind of disruption that happened during COVID-19.
01:08Number one would be border measures.
01:12Since COVID, we have never gotten rid of electronic declaration when you arrive in Singapore.
01:17It's precisely for a situation like this.
01:21We have enhanced the electronic health declaration through the SG Arrival Card.
01:27Travellers now, for those who have recently travelled, you will notice we do ask very
01:31prominently, do you have rash?
01:33We have started that for some time.
01:36And to also declare other M-FLOG's related symptoms, as well as your travel history to
01:44affected areas.
01:46We have put in place temperature and visual screening for symptoms for persons arriving
01:51from higher risk areas, both at the air as well as the sea checkpoints.
01:58Symptomatic travellers, they will be assessed by doctors at the borders and if necessary,
02:03transferred to hospitals for further assessment and testing.
02:09Second area will be contact tracing and quarantine.
02:12M-FLOG's, as Mark has explained, has a fairly long incubation period, up to 21 days.
02:18And so cases may not be picked up at the borders, even if someone is infected.
02:22So chances are it will develop after they enter the border.
02:26So our clinics have been notified and will be on alert to spot such cases and immediately
02:34report to MOH whenever there is a detection and they see symptoms that they suspect might
02:40be M-FLOG's or M-FLOG's clade 1 in particular.
02:44Should they detect a case, existing contact tracing and quarantine protocols will kick in.
02:51All suspected M-FLOG's clade 1 cases will be conveyed to a vaccinated healthcare facility,
02:59likely a hospital as a start, for further assessment and testing.
03:04And if tested positive, these patients will be treated and isolated until they are no
03:09longer infectious.
03:11Then contact tracing will be triggered and conducted for all these confirmed cases of
03:17M-FLOG's National Environment Agency.
03:20We'll then oversee environmental cleaning and disinfect all the key areas that infected
03:27persons have been to in recent days.
03:30Quarantine will then also be activated.
03:33It will be in a vaccinated government quarantine facility.
03:37Duration will be set at 21 days for now because that is the incubation period that we know.
03:44But it starts from the day of exposure.
03:47So for the great majority of people quarantined, not likely they will serve the full 21 days.
03:56So it starts from the last day of exposure to the confirmed case.
04:00So persons under quarantine will be offered vaccination to reduce the risk of infection.
04:06Third area, migrant workers' dormitories.
04:10We have been working with the Ministry of Manpower to develop various contingency plans
04:14since COVID-19 pandemic.
04:17And some of the measures have been activated in the foreign workers' dormitory.
04:22And this includes, one, wastewater testing.
04:25This is being conducted at 120 dormitories currently.
04:30And also at the on-board centre, it can be a useful way to give us an early warning.
04:37Two, temperature and visual screening for newly arrived work permit holders at the on-board centre.
04:44And thirdly, triggering existing protocols, which will track, trace, isolate workers in
04:50the dormitories and to support workers in their recovery.
04:54We have also been working closely with MOE and ECTA to put in place contingency plans
05:00since the COVID-19 pandemic.
05:03Schools have actually quite effective existing protocols to manage outbreaks, such as a hand-foot-mouth
05:10disease.
05:11And they are relevant in countering MPOPS Phase 1.
05:16This includes ensuring good hygiene practices among the students and staff.
05:23Screening the students for symptoms.
05:27And if there is an infected case, the student will be isolated, the premises will be cleaned,
05:34contact tracing will be triggered, and if necessary, the class, the level, or the school
05:40may be temporarily closed to prevent further transmission.
05:43These are all actually in place to manage, say, hand-foot-mouth disease.
05:48And they will be relevant for MPOPS Phase 1 as well.
05:52As mentioned earlier, given the characteristics of MPOPS Clade 1, the most effective way to
05:57protect our children is to have a good response plan that will suppress the transmission of
06:03MPOPS Clade 1 through sensible measures, community measures, contact tracing, and isolation.
06:16Transmission through the air.
06:17This is a question that is uncertain.
06:19We cannot rule that out, but it is quite likely that it is not the primary mode of
06:25transmission.
06:26If that is the case, people who are well do not need to wear a mask.
06:31It is not necessary for MOH to impose a masking requirement on people who are well.
06:39However, should there be evidence of significant respiratory transmission, such as beyond a
06:46household into, say, public areas, then we need to re-evaluate this policy.
06:52And one step we can consider then is to require masking on public transport or indoor crowded
06:58spaces.
06:59But as of now, this is a question mark.
07:02I think more evidence will emerge in the coming weeks and months.
07:06Our current mask stockpiles and local manufacturing capabilities will assure us of adequate supply.