Through state media Straits Times, the Singapore government revealed that they are in “urgent” need to transfer coronavirus patients out to the newly constructed makeshift hospital at Singapore Expo, from public hospitals due to insufficient hospital beds:
“The bid to free up capacity at public hospitals has become more urgent as efforts made to ring-fence the fast growing number of coronavirus clusters becomes more challenging.”
According to the government, the National Centre for Infectious Diseases is now full and they started transferring an undisclosed number, termed as “more patients”, out to private hospitals yesterday.
The state media confirmed that the government is rushing construction at the Singapore Expo as the place will be used by as soon as tomorrow:
“The Straits Times understands that there are plans to move a small number of patients to the Singapore Expo halls as soon as Friday. One hall will be for those in recovery, while another is earmarked for patients with a mild case of the disease.”
There are now 1,211 infected patients in hospitals, with the daily increase surpassing discharged numbers. 142 new cases were discovered yesterday but only 29 cases were discharged. This shows that Singapore’s worst is yet to come and the country is still far from ending the lockdown.