COVID-19: Official Information and Useful Health Tips

[13177]

What name they want to call also not important. Most importantly now is to find a cure fast to this virus and put a stop to it.

[1fast1]

Good link to stay up to date:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

[Carbon82]

MOH: Additional Pre-emptive Measures to Reduce Risk of Community Transmission

1.          The Ministry of Health (MOH) is re-activating the Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) to focus our primary care efforts to better detect and manage COVID-19 infections. MOH has also observed that many of the local confirmed cases had continued to circulate in the community or gone to work when they were already ill. This is why MOH had earlier given guidance to doctors to provide medical certificates (MC) of five days for patients with respiratory symptoms so they could stay home to recover.

2.          Based on the COVID-19 cases in Singapore so far, the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) has observed that a significant number of them have mild symptoms in the initial phase of infection. Similar to influenza, these patients typically experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough. And similar to influenza, they can be infectious during this initial period of mild symptoms. The risk of their infecting others can be reduced with appropriate measures. 

3.            In fact, most patients with respiratory symptoms are not infected with COVID-19.But we must take extra precautions. It is therefore important that anyone with respiratory symptoms (such as fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose) seek medical treatment early, and stay home throughout their illness. We urge all individuals and employers to cooperate, and follow strictly the five-day MC regime that has been put in place. In addition, we will be taking further pre-emptive measures to reduce the risk of community transmission. 

Re-activation of Public Health Preparedness Clinics

4.           We currently have about 900 general practitioner (GP) clinics designated as PHPCs. They were activated previously to deal with haze and the H1N1 influenza pandemic. These preparedness clinics provide subsidised treatment, investigations and medications during outbreaks, and play an important role during public health outbreaks. 

5.           From 18 February, the preparedness clinics will be progressively activated to care for patients with respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose. Patients suspected to have pneumonia will be referred to the hospitals for further tests and care.

6.           The preparedness clinics will provide special subsidies for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Resident diagnosed with respiratory illnesses. Patients with respiratory symptoms can also go to the polyclinics, where the subsidies will also apply.(Please refer to the Annex for the subsidies.)

7.          PHPCs have been guided on the appropriate care protocols according to the assessed risk and diagnosis of each patient, and will be supplied with the necessary Personal Protection Equipment to carry out their role. Please refer to flugowhere.gov.sg for the updated list of PHPCs. Members of the public can also identify these preparedness clinics from the PHPC decal at these clinics. 

8.             The activation of PHPCs and polyclinics will allow us to enhance and tighten disease surveillance. We would be better able to detect the virus earlier, and reduce the risk of further transmission.

Extended medical certificates

9.           Healthcare professionals have been advised to provide medical certificates of five days for their patients with respiratory symptoms. Patients will be referred for further medical assessment and tests if they do not recover within five days. Should their symptoms persist or deteriorate, patients are advised to return to the same doctor to seek further treatment.

10.               Patients must recognise the importance of staying home when unwell. Mixing in large crowds, or continuing to go to work or school when ill, even with mild symptoms, will put others at risk.

Exercising good social responsibility

11.            With the enhanced detection and surveillance, we expect to see more confirmed COVID-19 cases in the coming days. The measures we are putting in place will allow us to intervene early in the infection. Activating the PHPCs is a proactive step to reduce the risk of further community spread of the virus. 

12.            These measures will only be effective if everyone plays their part, and exercises social responsibility. The most effective method to prevent transmission remains through good personal hygiene of regular hand washing with soap and water, and the use of hand sanitisers when soap and water are unavailable. We should avoid touching our face with our hands unnecessarily. Those who are unwell should see a doctor early and stay home to prevent further spread of their illness to others.

Annex - Special Subsidies for Patients with Respiratory Illnesses

[BabyBlade]

[Blueray]

 

[therock]

Interesting read

https://hobbitsma.blog/2020/02/14/part-2-the-perfect-communicable-disease-outbreak/

 

logistics is where real battles take place in war

Rommel, Napoleon etc all lost due to logistics

troops need re-sup and they need it soon  

Sure initially we were caught off guard when the demand for masks rapidly outgrew the supply but we better ramp things up soon ..

This war isn’t over and won’t be so soon. Hospitals are going into cohort mode now with split teams  

Pharmacies will soon offer free home delivery

Your outpatient clinic appointments will be stretched so make sure you have enough meds to last a long stretch  

It’s a long marathon run rather than a sprint  

university lectures are all going online 

Get the Zoom app it’s free and allow video conferencing 

 

[therock]

Some pointers to note on the N95 mask:

Nomenclature 
- the alphabet “N” means “non-oil-proof” 
- 95 means it can filter up to 95% of the most penetrative particulate size (MPPS)
- HEPA is 99.75% effective against MPPS
- there are also P100 masks in the market, where P means “oil-proof” and “100” means HEPA filter capability. This type of mask is typically used in manufacturing industries where the aerosols generated may be oil-based in nature, rendering the N95 masks useless

Colour
- healthcare professions typically use green or blue
- the colours do not mean one mask is more superior than the other
- it is meant to reduce anxiety when there is blood stain on the mask
- when blood is stained on white mask, it’s highly visible as red patch, and when patients see the stain, they become anxious
- when blood is stained on green or blue colour fabric, it turns black, and people won’t know if it’s blood or water stain, hence reducing the visual anxiety

8210, 8110S, 1870... 
- they are all N95 masks, and just represent different models of mask
- 8110s is meant for smaller face, say Asian women
- 8210 is typically referred to as “M” size
- Drager or 1870 model are typically individually packed and flattened
- one is not better than the other, and you just have to fit test to see which works best for you

Storage
- if after this episode, u want to stockpile, I recommend u stockpile individually-packed N95 mask that fit well on you
- 8210 and 8110s are typically cheaper, but their nose sponges fray after 1 to 2 years of storage, rendering them less useful and wasted

 

[inlinesix]

22 minutes ago, therock said:

Some pointers to note on the N95 mask:

Nomenclature 
- the alphabet “N” means “non-oil-proof” 
- 95 means it can filter up to 95% of the most penetrative particulate size (MPPS)
- HEPA is 99.75% effective against MPPS
- there are also P100 masks in the market, where P means “oil-proof” and “100” means HEPA filter capability. This type of mask is typically used in manufacturing industries where the aerosols generated may be oil-based in nature, rendering the N95 masks useless

Colour
- healthcare professions typically use green or blue
- the colours do not mean one mask is more superior than the other
- it is meant to reduce anxiety when there is blood stain on the mask
- when blood is stained on white mask, it’s highly visible as red patch, and when patients see the stain, they become anxious
- when blood is stained on green or blue colour fabric, it turns black, and people won’t know if it’s blood or water stain, hence reducing the visual anxiety

8210, 8110S, 1870... 
- they are all N95 masks, and just represent different models of mask
- 8110s is meant for smaller face, say Asian women
- 8210 is typically referred to as “M” size
- Drager or 1870 model are typically individually packed and flattened
- one is not better than the other, and you just have to fit test to see which works best for you

Storage
- if after this episode, u want to stockpile, I recommend u stockpile individually-packed N95 mask that fit well on you
- 8210 and 8110s are typically cheaper, but their nose sponges fray after 1 to 2 years of storage, rendering them less useful and wasted

 

I posted before that 3M N95 is split into 3 model:

1. 1860/1870: Medical use

2. 8210/8511: Contruction industry 

[therock]

Actually 8210 is commonly in hospital use .. 

 

[Blueray]

Coronavirus: Under S'pore's new Stay-Home Notice, all returning from China not allowed to leave home for 14 days

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/coronavirus-under-new-stay-home-notice-all-returning-from-china-not-allowed-to

[Blueray]

COVID-19 outbreak: What you need to know about the Public Health Preparedness Clinics

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-phpc-public-health-clinic-need-to-know-subsidies-where-12441664

[therock]

Many doctors have been approached by patients asking for authorisation of LOA or to be certified fit for work/school after their 14-day LOA. We have clarified that a doctor’s letter is not necessary for application of LOA support program. Similarly, individuals who have ended their 14-day LOA without developing any symptoms do not need any certification from a doctor before returning to their normal activities. If you receive such requests, please let MOH know which workplace or school had made the request, for us to clarify with them. You may also refer patients to the FAQs on MOH website (www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/faqs).
 

[1fast1]

On 2/15/2020 at 7:51 PM, therock said:

Some pointers to note on the N95 mask:

Nomenclature 
- the alphabet “N” means “non-oil-proof” 
- 95 means it can filter up to 95% of the most penetrative particulate size (MPPS)
- HEPA is 99.75% effective against MPPS
- there are also P100 masks in the market, where P means “oil-proof” and “100” means HEPA filter capability. This type of mask is typically used in manufacturing industries where the aerosols generated may be oil-based in nature, rendering the N95 masks useless

Colour
- healthcare professions typically use green or blue
- the colours do not mean one mask is more superior than the other
- it is meant to reduce anxiety when there is blood stain on the mask
- when blood is stained on white mask, it’s highly visible as red patch, and when patients see the stain, they become anxious
- when blood is stained on green or blue colour fabric, it turns black, and people won’t know if it’s blood or water stain, hence reducing the visual anxiety

8210, 8110S, 1870... 
- they are all N95 masks, and just represent different models of mask
- 8110s is meant for smaller face, say Asian women
- 8210 is typically referred to as “M” size
- Drager or 1870 model are typically individually packed and flattened
- one is not better than the other, and you just have to fit test to see which works best for you

Storage
- if after this episode, u want to stockpile, I recommend u stockpile individually-packed N95 mask that fit well on you
- 8210 and 8110s are typically cheaper, but their nose sponges fray after 1 to 2 years of storage, rendering them less useful and wasted

 

Small correction. HEPA is 99.9+ % efficient for particles of 0.3um diameter. The exact claimed efficiency ranges from 99.95 to 99.97 depending on the standard you're following (Eurotrash vs America Dua Kee). 

Actually, re-reading your post, you mentioned the MPPS, which may be smaller than 0.3um. I'm not sure if the HEPA standard actually addresses the MPPS directly but I would expect a lower filtration efficiency than claimed by standard so your value is plausible (but even smaller and electrostatic filtration starts becoming predominant, it's a U shaped filtration characteristic I believe). 

Edited February 19, 2020 by Turboflat4

[therock]

[Jman888]

https://wiki.sg/p/COVID-19:_Recovery_Patterns_in_Singapore_(2020)

quite informative if the numbers are correct, encouraging to see speed of recovery i believe largely to do with the tracing and healthcare system here.

[Wt_know]

recovery is getting better and better

just a few days mc  

[therock]

So if you are visiting a medical centre now, what should you wear?

Well, there's no need for any body armour, SBO, helmet rifle etc or the virus equivalent.

Again - yes... it's all about hygiene... keep your hands clean.

 

In fact, wear less, in case you need to get that BP measured, or someone has to examine your lungs. Less clothes to wear after the visit there anyway.

 

If you REALLY feel like it, wear that mask, whatever style or model, but if you keep touching it, there's no use, you can still get infected.

All frontline hospital staff will wear masks, wash their hands after every case and also use the sanitisers religiously. They also wash their uniforms and clothes. 

Now if you are going for any op, the air extractors in the operating rooms are comparable to the airline ventilation systems and in this case, it's good that they truly .... Suck... yep, suck big time and they will suck bugs out of the system. 

But the number of visitors is restricted and please.... be nice don't argue, and don't doctor hop. And if the visit takes longer, maybe it's because the manpower is down. 
All departments have to do some 'cohorting' now, i.e. some staff are sent down to A&E, or help in the infectious wards. 

And all leave has been cancelled, some even skip funerals of their friends because they don't want the others to feel awkward.. 

You don't have to hug them, but at least leave them to their own devices. 

The Balestier Shaw cinema was a favorite haunt of the SARS workers. It was surreal, you sat four or five seats apart, never spoke to one another, and what was on the screen was less important. Here, you are left alone, no one to persecute you, give you stares, and if you need to cry, to destress, no one saw your tears. 

Then at the end of the movie, you walked out, not talking much or at all to one another and into the sunlight, like total strangers, even if you worked together in the SARS wards / battlefield. 

Edited February 20, 2020 by therock

[therock]

Lysol sprays and sanitisers...

Remember it's all about contact, and the way to break the chain is by hand washing..

When there's no water, then wipes (70% alcohol) or sanitisers will be the substitute.. 

Conveyed in a humorous way..