Abstract
A global response to the rapid spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is imperative in order to reduce mortality and morbidity as well as preventing a country’s health system from collapse. Singapore showed exceptional leadership in the containment of the spread of the virus, however through April 2020 the country experienced exponential growth in the number of infections, particularly migrant workers living in dormitories. The following historical case study provides an overview of Singapore’s country profile, their healthcare system and the country’s non pharmaceutical measures taken to mitigate and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the first few months of the pandemic. We explore the impact COVID-19 had on Singapore’s economy at that time and the implications of the resultant social and political disruptions. We conclude our study by using mathematical modelling to explore confirmed COVID-19 cases in Singapore’s local community and those living in dormitories and use this data to forecast the progression of the epidemic in Singapore given the non-pharmaceutical interventions in place at that time. Our results indicate the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore increased 3-fold the initial doubling rate of 22.5 days in the first 2 months of the outbreak to 6.7 days in the 5th month; We note a faster doubling rate of 4.9 days for those living in dormitories compared to a doubling rate of 13.5 days for the rest of the community.
Highlights
Hypothesized to have surfaced after a human consumed an animal source sold at the Wuhan wet markets, COVID-19 became a global pandemic infecting over 3.3 million people across six continents and claimed the lives of almost 240,000 (n = 238,730) people in the first five months [1]
Singapore reported their first case of COVID-19 on 23 January 2020
As of 1 May 2020, 17,101 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Singapore and a further 29,239 persons under quarantine (PUQ) orders, isolating themselves for 14 days at home (n = 2058), government facility (n = 4296), gazetted dorms (n = 4026), non-gazetted dorms (n = 15,365) or pending quarantine location (n = 3494)
Summary
Hypothesized to have surfaced after a human consumed an animal source sold at the Wuhan wet markets, COVID-19 became a global pandemic infecting over 3.3 million people across six continents and claimed the lives of almost 240,000 (n = 238,730) people in the first five months [1]. Has recommended countries to adopt social distancing and quarantine measures in order to contain the spread of the virus (which spreads through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes) [1]. Singapore reported their first case of COVID-19 on 23 January 2020.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International journal of environmental research and public health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
