VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

photo : forbes

As Singapore reopens following a two-month “circuit breaker” period, its ability to control COVID-19 infections becomes critical. Contract tracing and testing is a big part of this. Members of the police and Singapore Armed Forces are now part of expanded contact tracing teams, adding that digital tools such as the SafeEntry system and TraceTogether app have allowed authorities to speed up the process. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Jun 9) said that he seek everyone’s understanding and cooperation. To help slow down the spread of the virus and save lives.

"We are also using technology to speed up contact tracing. We have implemented the safeentry digital check in checkout system and the tracetogether app on smartphones. With these enhancement we can now identify close contact faster, isolate them and prevent large cluster from forming. Beyond tracetogether and safeentry we are currently developing wearable bluetooth devices, these will work on their own without the need for a phone. You can conveniently wear or carrying them around as you go about your daily activities. I seek everyone’s understanding and cooperation, please use these important tools, they will help us slow down the spread of the virus and save lives" Minister Wong said. 

At the same time, Singapore is procuring more COVID-19 test kits, building more laboratory capacity, as well as recruiting and training more laboratory technicians and people to carry out swabs and take blood samples. In April, about 2,000 tests a day were done. Singapore is now able to conduct about 13,000 tests a day and is “on track” to reach 40,000 tests a day in the coming months.

"We’ve expanded our testing capacity hugely. We are procuring more tests kits, building more laboratory capacity and recruiting and training more laboratory technicians as well as personnel to carry out swab and take blood sample. In early april we are doing about 2000 test a day, now we are able to conduct about 13.000 test a day and we are on track to reach 40.000 test a day in the coming months" He explain

Minister Wong added that they can test higher-risk groups more extensively.  They can also do more surveillance testing in the community, including those with respiratory symptoms. This will give them a faster and more accurate sense of the number of cases circulating undetected. Singapore is also using serology tests to identify those who were previously infected but may have since recovered, and have developed antibodies that can help them fight the virus. Still, Singaporeans must be mentally prepared to see more new cases as human contact increases with the end of the circuit breaker//NK