With the latest surge of Covid-19 cases in the country due to the Omicron variant, the Ministry of Health (MOH) adds a new Covid-19 Treatment Facility for children and their families. Learn more about it here.
In this article, you'll read:
- New Covid-19 Treatment Facility in Singapore Expo
- High-tech features and family rooms in the new CTF
A new Covid-19 treatment facility (CTF) was opened last February 14 at the Singapore Expo.
In a recent Facebook post, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the new facility is already open and has started its operations yesterday.
"I think it comes in at a very useful time when we are facing quite a steep Omicron wave," said Ong.
The new CTF was built for the purpose of providing care to the most vulnerable group in the community - the children and the elderly.
"As the Omicron variant is more likely to infect children than the Delta variant, this new facility will complement our hospitals in providing care to paediatric patients should they need to be hospitalised. The best defence is still to get our children vaccinated," he wrote in his post.
The hybrid facility, which is located in Hall 9 of Singapore Expo has about 600 new beds for children and their caregivers, as well as 224 new beds for elderly Covid-19 patients.
It also has a mix of hospital beds and twin-sharing rooms which can be converted into a family room.
"The fact that there are now family rooms, that is important because Omicron tend to affect children and we are seeing more children being hospitalized." said the health minister. "They are experiencing not severe symptoms, but to have a place where they can move in with a caregiver and recover peacefully and uneventfully, I think is important." he added.
According to Straits Times, children aged five to 11 currently have the highest rate of Covid-19 infection here, with a rate of about 67 per 100,000 population. Singaporeans ages 12 to 19 have the next highest infection rate, at about 55 per 100,000.
The family room featured in Minister Ong’s post showed beds, cutlery, toys and colouring materials for children. According to a spokesman for the new facility, the family rooms will allow parents or caregivers to stay in the adjoining unit while accompanying the children undergoing quarantine. There is also a spacious exercise area right beside the family rooms.
Automated features in the new facility
In the post, the health minister also showed the different features of the new Covid facility for children and the elderly, which are very advanced and helpful in preventing transmission of the virus and ensuring the safety of all patients and their caregivers.
"What is special about this hall is I see a lot of automation. A lot of technology are being deployed," said the Ong.
Included in this list of new features are TEMI telepresent to provide teleconsultation for patients ("TEMI robots are also deployed at this hybrid CTF. Doctors and nurses can conduct teleconsultations with patients via the screen," wrote Ong), a delivery bot used for collecting and delivering linens, disinfection robots and an advanced air disinfection system.
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Biggest facility in Singapore
In his post, the minister wrote that Singapore has made good progress in ramping up capacity to accommodate Covid-19 positive patients. With the new facility, Singapore now has about 4,500 CTF beds.
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The Singapore Expo, which can house more than 2,500 beds, is the largest CTF in the country at the moment.
Singapore has reported 9,082 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday, February 14. According to the Ministry of Health website, 1,132 persons are currently hospitalized in Singapore due to Covid-19.