S1E35: Why Singapore's Covid-19 circuit breaker measures cannot be lifted so early: Health Check Ep 35

Health Check Ep 35: Why Singapore's Covid-19 circuit breaker measures cannot be lifted so early 14:06 mins Synopsis: This is a fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays by The Straits Times. For the latest state of Singapore's health in its Covid-19 fight, ST senior correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang. He is the infectious diseases programme leader at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Singapore has extended its circuit breaker period to June 1, and has seen its coronavirus cases shoot past the 10,000-mark as of April 22, after recording about 500 in March. He talks us through the following points: 1. What is the extent of the spread in the foreign worker dormitories? How does that ratio compare with the spread in the local community? (1:42) 2. Singapore could continue to see a high number of cases emerging from the dormitories for the next few weeks, but is there a silver lining? (2:45) 3. Why it is important to control the outbreak in the migrant worker communities before there are considerations to lift circuit breaker restrictions (5:13) 4. What is the difference between asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases? (8:31) 5. When is the viral load highest? (9:13) 6. What's the difference between a PCR test and a serology test? Why we cannot just use any serology test available out there (11.32) Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]) and Ernest Luis Edited by: Adam Azlee Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv  SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #healthcheckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.