Are Staycations Safe?
Daily Dose: Are Staycation safe?
Unsurprisingly, many Singaporeans have taken to Staycations for this year-end school holidays. With nowhere to go due to Covid19, many had decided to be a tourist in their own country. With Singapore low community cases, it would seem like a safe option compared to everywhere else in the world.
However, things told a turn when guests of Mandarin Orchard were informed of possible transmission within the hotel. This came as 13 cases of SHN were suspected to be infected during their stay at the hotel. To make things worse, the hotel was open to locals for a staycation as well. Staff were also tested and 3 came back with positive past infection.
This lead to the question, is Staycation safe?
Given the circumstances, we would give a hard pass to hotels with SHN guests. While we trust in the hotels to keep guests segregated, there are many other unknowns such as air circulation, possible contact with staff that would create doubts. Frankly, it would be better if hotels are designated for staycations should not have SNH guests. After all, for staycations, there will be families bringing their old folks as well as the younger ones. The former is at a greater risk group while the latter could be potential carriers as tests are usually not done for younger kids.
Bottom line, staycations are generally safe. However, like all other outings, just take precautions while you are having one.
1) 19 Covid19 Cases
No new local transmission.
19 cases are all imported. While imported cases are expected, there could be a fine line on the source of infection. The recent Mandarin Hotel cases highlighted this. As for local community cases, non are detected yet.
Source: MOH
2) 13 cases who served SHN at Mandarin Orchard Hotel may be infected while staying at the hotel
The reason: The majority of the 13 cases are unrelated and from 10 different countries but they are tested positive with the same strand.
Source: ST
3) 3 Mandarin Orchard staff found with past infection
Serological tests conducted on all staff found 3 to be positive. That effectively means that they were infected in the past. There is a possibility that it may be silently transmitted in the community with cases being asymptomatic and thus not detected. That is why we still cannot rest on laurels despite 0 local community cases reported in the past few days.
Source: ST
4) Singaporeans behaving as if we are in phase 3, malls filled up with pre-xmas crowd
It would not be surprising that some will secretly hold gatherings of more than 5 pax to celebrate over this festive period. Phase 3 will only start on Dec 28.
5) 6 people rescued, 100 Punggol condominium residents evacuated after fire
Waterwoods condominium was the site of a fiery blaze when the contents of a bedroom in a two story unit caught fire.
Source: Today
6) Rioting with a deadly weapon at Clark Quay: 5 arrested
Why are we seeing this almost every other week. Fights are becoming common in Singapore. Is there a fight club in town?
With the festive season around the corner. Expect to see more of such cases.
Source: Today
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