Among the 558 confirmed cases in Singapore, 326 were imported. Out of these, 111 cases were young adults aged between 20 and 29, with more than half returning from the United Kingdom.
“The number of young people being infected reflects the demographics of people returning to Singapore as a result of the global situation, where a number of countries in Europe and North America are seeing widespread community transmission,” said Dean, Professor Teo Yik Ying.
Despite previous reports suggesting that senior citizens are more vulnerable to infections, Prof Teo stressed:
“COVID-19 is not a disease of the elderly. Children, as well as healthy adults, are also susceptible to it.”
With effect from 26 March, all residents returning from UK and US will have to serve out their 14-day stay-home notice at designated hotels. Anyone who breaches the notice will be fined a maximum of $10,000, jailed up to six months or both.
“It is likely that a small fraction of young people here will defy stay-home notices… and continue to go out. This is possibly because they do not appreciate the risk or feel that they are not at risk, or else are unable to tolerate ‘cabin fever’ being cooped up in their rooms for two weeks,” said Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Programme Leader (Infectious Diseases) and Co-Director of the Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation (LIGHT).
“This is why the penalties are set relatively high as a deterrence,” he said.
Additionally, with effect from 27 March (Friday), residents and long-term pass holders defying prevailing travel advisories will be charged unsubsidised rates for in-patient stay at public hospitals, if they are admitted for suspected COVID-19 and have onset of symptoms within 14 days upon their return.
This signals clear disapproval of unnecessary travel, commented Associate Professor Jeremy Lim, Co-Director of LIGHT.
“The main message is there are very real financial consequences to societally thoughtless behaviours,” he said.
The above-mentioned implementations are part of the latest series of tighter measures announced by the multi-ministry task force yesterday to curb COVID-19 spread.
Media coverage:
- Young adults now make up largest group of coronavirus patients in Singapore, The Straits Times, 25 March 2020
- Young adults now make up largest group of patients here, The Straits Times (Print), 25 March 2020
- Travellers must pay full rates for virus treatment, The New Paper, 25 March 2020