The Public Health Translational Team (PHTT) has been producing the weekly COVID-19 Science Reports since the beginning of the epidemic in Singapore.
It started when Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, Chief Health Scientist at the Ministry of Health (MOH), asked for the School’s help to collate relevant information on diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
The first report was delivered within four days, and more topics, such as clinical characteristics and social distancing measures, were added in the following weeks.
Prof Tan said the reports have been very useful for MOH’s work, as they provide up-to-date and rigorously curated information, all in one document.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Programme Leader (Infectious Diseases), who helps to vet the reports, said:
“It’s the first time that there is a dedicated group compiling and making sense of all the published scientific reports on treating, managing and controlling the spread of an outbreak virus, in this case SARS-CoV-2.”
“To our surprise, what started off as a simple, if urgent, request for a rapid scan of available information on diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics has gone on to reach audiences well beyond our original intent,” added Assoc Prof Hsu.
The reports have been downloaded over 11,000 times (as of 7 April) since they were published online.
Associate Professor Jason Yap, Director (Public Health Translation), said the reports have been shared directly with regional collaborators in academia and healthcare, and with the World Health Organization’s Science Division. They have also been brought to the attention of the 120 members of the American Association of Academic Health Centres International.
“The use and impact of the reports is hard to gauge because we do not have sight of what happens after the access, but so far we’ve been receiving appreciation and acknowledgements of their value,” said Assoc Prof Yap.
This COVID-19 resource from the School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, is an invaluable resource at this time https://t.co/HyTPwF8hrX to access continually updated documents.
COVID-19 – Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health https://t.co/HyTPwF8hrX— Santa J. Ono (@ubcprez) March 17, 2020
Behind the scenes
The nine-person team works hard to scan the available information and churn out the reports on a weekly basis. The team consists of (in the order of the photo above):
- Dr Sharon Tan, Research Associate (MPH ’19)
- Ms Yang Qian, Manager
- Assoc Prof Jason Yap, Director
- Ms Ruth Lewis, Research Associate
- Ms Rowena Yap, Research Assistant
- Mr Ng Xian Yi (Bob), Research Assistant
- Ms Jacinta Chen, Senior Manager
- Mr Tan Hao Yi, Research Assistant
- Dr Ian Ang, Senior Research Fellow
Assoc Prof Yap highlighted the speed of turnaround required for the reports. He said that on a recent Friday morning, Prof Tan asked the team for a report on lockdowns and social distancing for a discussion at MOH on Monday.
“The team started work that afternoon, dividing the tasks, gathering the data, synthesising the sections of the report, all separately from their homes. The full draft was sent to me on Sunday evening for the final review, and I sent in the report at 2am on Monday,” he said.
The reports may be accessed here.
Media coverage:
- NUS’ Covid-19 reports shared across the world, The Straits Times, 11 April 2020
- NUS’ Covid-19 reports shared across the world, The Straits Times (Print), 11 April 2020