Singapore Logs Sharp Increase of COVID-19 Cases; Epidemiologist Says New Variants Not as Severe as Delta

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Authorities in Singapore have recorded a sharp increase in COVID-19 in the city-state. Data compiled by the Singapore Ministry of Health noted that between May 5 and 11, 2024, at least 25,900 people were identified as COVID-19 positive, and 250 patients were hospitalized each day. 

Singapore's Ministry of Health explained that the spike in COVID-19 cases was due to the emergence of the KP.1 and KP.2 variants. Responding to this phenomenon, an epidemiologist from Griffith University of Australia, Dicky Budiman, said that a “chaos” situation could occur along with the rise of COVID-19 cases.

In a medical sense, “chaos” is attributed to loss of control and obstruction of health services. "When the infection comes at a larger wave, of course, there can be ‘chaos’ if it is not responded to with adequate mitigation," Dicky told Tempo, on Monday, May 20, 2024.

As citizens of a developed country, Dicky believed Singaporeans are quite aware of their health issues. This awareness, he said, will affect the quality of health services in Singapore. "With so many people going to the hospital, the capacity will certainly decrease and burden their limited health facilities. Not to mention, in Singapore, many elderly people have a higher potential for contracting COVID-19 than the younger generation," said Dicky.

Based on his research data, Dicky confirmed that a new derivative of COVID-19 had emerged. Derivative but dominant, these variants are called KP.1 and KP.2. 

"KP.1 and KP.2 are also contagious, but not as severe and terrifying as the Delta variant. The risk of complications due to long Covid is certain, but the ratio is only 1 in 10 patients," said Dicky,

ALIF IRHAM FAJRIADI

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