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Table 2 seven major prevention and control policies in Singapore

From: Policy disparities in response to COVID-19 between Singapore and China

SN

Date

Policy

Key elements

1

23-Jan

Setting up a Multi-Ministry Task Force

The preliminary plan of the Multi-Ministry Task Force, drawn up after the 2003 SARS outbreak, was launched on 23 January 2020 to coordinate among departments and provide strategic and political guidance during the public health crisis.

2

29-Jan

NCID screening center opened

The National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), a 330-bed purpose built infectious disease management facility with integrated clinical, laboratory and epidemiological functions, enhanced Singapore’s infrastructure for outbreak management.

3

1-Feb

Border control measures

Singapore was stepping up border control measures to prevent importation of cases and forward local transmission, from temperature and health screening of incoming travellers to entry restrictions of travellers in countries with epidemic outbreak.

4

4-Feb

Social and community measures

The social and community measures was focused on social responsibility while life continued as usual with precautions, including public education, the use of masks, monitoring employees’ temperature and health regularly and so on.

5

5-Feb

Expanding SARS-CoV-2 testingcapacities

RT-PCR laboratory testing capability was expanded from the National Public Health Laboratory to all public hospitals in Singapore, allowing more than 8000 tests to be performed daily.

6

7-Feb

Surveillance measures

Every COVID-19 case and close contact was tracked as closely as possible through several complementary detection methods.

7

14-Feb

PHPCs launched

A network of > 800 Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) that provide subsidized care and extended medical leave of up to 5 days was activated to enhance management of respiratory infections in the primary care setting.