SINGAPORE MINISTRY OF HEALTH ISSUES PUBLIC HEALTH TRAVEL ADVISORY IN RESPONSE TO CASES OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS IN CHINA

In view of the novel coronavirus situation in Wuhan and other parts of China, the Ministry of Health (MOH) advises travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Wuhan. MOH also reminds the public to continue to exercise caution and attention to personal hygiene when travelling to the rest of China.

2.         Travellers should adopt the following precautions at all times:

·        Avoid contact with live animals including poultry and birds, and consumption of raw and undercooked meats;

·        Avoid crowded places and close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness;

·        Observe good personal hygiene;

·        Practise frequent hand washing with soap (e.g. before handling food or eating, after going to toilet, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing);

·        Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or runny nose;

·        Cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin immediately; and

·        Seek medical attention promptly if you are feeling unwell.

3.         All travellers should monitor their health closely for 2 weeks upon return to Singapore and seek medical attention promptly if they feel unwell, and also inform their doctor of their travel history. If they have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose), they should wear a mask and call the clinic ahead of the visit.

4.         Given the evolving situation and ongoing investigations in China, Singapore residents who need to travel to the affected areas are advised to regularly check MOH’s website (www.moh.gov.sg) for updates. Travellers to China are also advised to stay vigilant, monitor developments and heed the advice of the local Chinese authorities while in China. 

5.         MOH has put in place precautionary measures to reduce the risk of importation of the virus to Singapore. The definition of suspect cases from 22 January 2020 include persons with:

(i) pneumonia and travel history to China within 14 days before onset of symptoms; or

(ii) acute respiratory infection who had been to any hospital in China, within 14 days before onset of symptoms.

These cases will be isolated in hospital as a precautionary measure to prevent transmission.

6.         From 22 January 2020, temperature screening at Changi Airport has also been expanded to all inbound travellers on flights arriving from China, and suspect cases meeting the expanded definition above will be referred to hospitals for further assessment. Health Advisory Notices are  issued to all travellers arriving at Changi Airport from China, and health advisory posters are displayed  at land and sea checkpoints.

7.         MOH has also reminded doctors and healthcare workers to be vigilant, and maintain strict infection control and prevention measures.

8.         To date, there have been no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus reported in Singapore. However, given the high volume of international travel to Singapore, we expect to see more suspect cases, and  imported cases. Once a case is confirmed, contact tracing will be initiated, and we will implement strict isolation, quarantine, and infection control and prevention measures to prevent further transmission.

Link to MOH website - https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/moh-issues-public-health-travel-advisory-in-response-to-cases-of-novel-coronavirus-in-china

新加坡卫生部关于应对中国新型冠状病毒肺炎的旅游警告

2020年1月22日 

鉴于近期中国武汉等地出现了新型冠状病毒肺炎，卫生部建议游客非必要情况不要去武汉，并提醒在中国其他地区的游客也要保持警惕，注意个人卫生。

1. 游客应采取以下防控措施：

• 避免接触活物，包括禽类和鸟类，不食用生的和未熟肉；

• 避免接触有不适症状的人；

• 做好个人卫生；

• 经常用香皂洗手 (例如：接触食物或吃东西前，如厕后，以及咳嗽或打喷嚏后手上沾有呼吸道分泌物的情况下);

• 如您有呼吸道症状，例如咳嗽或流鼻涕，请佩戴口罩；

• 咳嗽或打喷嚏时用纸巾捂住口鼻，并立即将纸巾丢到垃圾桶；

• 如有不适请立即就医。

1. 所有游客返回新加坡后应对身体状况密切观察两周，如有不适应立即就医并告知医生自己的行程史。如有发烧或呼吸系统症状（例如咳嗽、流鼻涕），应佩戴口罩并在就医前打电话给医疗机构进行咨询。

2. 鉴于中国不断发展的形势和正在进行的调查，建议需要前往发生疫情地区的新加坡公民定期查看卫生部网站 (www.moh.gov.sg) [http://www.moh.gov.sg)了解最新情况。前往中国的游客在华期间应保持警惕，关注事态发展，并留心听取中国当地政府的建议]了解最新情况。前往中国的游客在华期间应保持警惕，关注事态发展，并留心听取中国当地政府的建议。

3. 卫生部已采取预防措施，以减小病毒输入新加坡的风险。从2020年1月22日起，疑似病例的定义包括以下情况：

1.   肺炎且发病前14天内有中国旅行史， 或者

(ii)  发病前14天内有急性呼吸道感染并曾在中国任何医院就诊。

作为防止疾病传播的预防措施，这些病例将在医院进行隔离。

1. 从2020年1月22日起，所有从中国抵达新加坡的乘客都必须在樟宜机场入境时接受体温检测。符合以上扩大可疑病例定义范围的乘客将被送往医院进行进一步检查评估。所有从中国抵达樟宜机场的乘客都会收到相关健康告示提醒。另外，陆海口岸也张贴了健康告示海报。

2. 新加坡卫生部还提醒医护人员保持警惕，严控感染，并采取预防措施。

3. 迄今为止，新加坡还没有新型冠状病毒的确诊病例。然而，鉴于前往新加坡的国际旅客流量很大，我们预计会看到更多的疑似病例和输入型病例。一旦确诊病例，将启动接触者追踪程序，我们将实施严格的隔离、检疫以及感染控制和预防措施，以防止进一步传播。

卫生部网站链接 - https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/moh-issues-public-health-travel-advisory-in-response-to-cases-of-novel-coronavirus-in-china