COVID-19: Big Story panel discussion with Singapore’s top experts

On Monday, 9 March 2020, The Straits Times (ST) held a special edition of its Big Story panel discussion to focus on the COVID-19 outbreak and what lies ahead for Singapore.

Moderated by ST senior health correspondent Ms Salma Khalik, the panel comprised four experts:

  • Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, Singapore (MOH)
  • Professor Leo Yee Sin, Executive Director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, and Adjunct Professor at SSHSPH
  • Professor Tikki Pangestu, visiting professor at NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and former director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) research policy and cooperation department
  • Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Programme Leader (Infectious Diseases) and Co-Director (Leadership Institute for Global Health Transformation) at SSHSPH
The Straits Times' senior health correspondent Salma Khalik with Assoc Prof Hsu Li Yang, Assoc Prof Kenneth Mak, Prof Leo Yee Sin and Prof Tikki Pangestu. (ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG)
From left: ST senior health correspondent Salma Khalik with Assoc Prof Hsu Li Yang, Assoc Prof Kenneth Mak, Prof Leo Yee Sin and Prof Tikki Pangestu (ST photo: Kua Chee Siong)

“I think what is increasingly clear is that the epicentre of the epidemic — which is a pandemic in all but name — has spread away from China and has moved to other parts of the world,” said Assoc Prof Hsu, pointing to the spread of cases from Iran to the Middle East, and from Italy to other parts of Europe.

He said: “What we are likely to see is that more and more countries worldwide will have an increasing number of cases and they may in turn start exporting these cases overseas.

“So what it really means is that for those of us who are hoping that the epidemic will end by April or May, I think those hopes are going to be dashed and we have to be prepared for a much longer course for this epidemic.”

Referring to Singapore’s largest cluster that was traced to a dinner in Jurong, Assoc Prof Mak said that the patients had more than just that dinner in common. There were other social activities such as singing classes that the infected individuals had taken part in together.

He said while it was likely that some patients had been infected during the dinner, epidemiological and contact tracing found that others could have caught the disease when they gathered for other social activities.

The panellists stressed the importance of continued vigilance and personal hygiene in combatting the spread of the disease.

Prof Leo said, “If you are not feeling well, remove yourself, isolate yourself, seek treatment.”

Watch the discussion in full:

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