SG to provide US CDC with data after ‘unknown’ COVID level classification
MOH clarified the government knows Singapore’s COVID situation “very well.”
The Ministry of Health said it will provide testing data to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after the agency classified Singaore’s COVID situation level as "unknown".
During the COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce Press Conference, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the CDC was “not aware” of Singapore’s surveillance test numbers thus their latest travel issuance.
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) is engaging the US Embassy as well as the US CDC to provide them with the necessary data,” Ong said
“To be clear: we know our situation very well,” the minister added.
Ong said the ministry is sure that the incidence of COVID-19 in Singapore is currently “low” and “stable” given their testing data.
According to the minister, the government administers over 150,000 PCR tets every week, or over 21,000 per day.
“The positive rates for these tests are under 2 per cent,” he said.
“We also have 145 wastewater testing stations across the island, in housing estates, dormitories, nursing homes etc. Only a very small handful are registering the presence of COVID-19 viral fragments.” Ong added.
The health minister however warned that while community cases are not currently high, Omicron is already in Singapore.
“it is a matter of time before it starts to multiply quickly. We must be prepared for that,” Ong said.