6月24日，新加坡衛生部通報初步統計：今天新增確診23例，累計6萬2493例。新增病例當中，境外輸入9起，本土病例14起，皆爲本地社區病例，客工宿舍病例無新增；在14起本土病例當中，12起是有關聯病例，其中11人在隔離狀態下確診，1人是在當局積極檢測中被發現的；另有2起爲暫無關聯病例。衛生部將在今晚公布詳情。
（本文作者爲新加坡抗疫跨部門工作小組聯合主席：貿工部長顔金勇、財政部長黃循財、衛生部長王乙康） 新加坡正努力不懈對抗冠病疫情，尤其要將令人擔憂的德爾塔（Delta）變種毒株控制下來。這種毒株的傳染力高，要將我國每天感染冠病的人數降低至零有一定的困難。與其追求零確診，我們選擇采取積極的篩檢策略，擴大追蹤範圍，找出與冠病病患有過密切接觸的人士，並將他們隔離開來，同時每天爲數以萬計的人進行檢測。這麽做的目的，就是要把形成大型感染群的風險降到最低。 疫情幾時會結束？會怎樣結束？ 但冠病疫情暴發至今已有18個月，人們都已對抗疫感到心力交瘁。大家都在問：疫情幾時會結束？會怎樣結束？ 壞消息是：冠病可能會一直存留在我們的周圍；但好消息是：與冠病共處，並如常生活，是可能的。也就是說，冠病很可能會成爲地方性流行病。這意味著冠病會繼續變異，並在社區內存活下來。 流感就是一種地方性流行病。每年都會有許多人感染流感病毒，但絕大多數患者無須住院，也不須服藥或只須服用少量的藥物就會康複。不過，也有一小部分的患者會染上重病，尤其是年長者及並發症患者。他們當中，有些甚至會病逝。 在人口衆多的國家，因流感而住院的人數相當龐大。以美國爲例，每年就有數十萬人因流感而住院，其中有數以萬計的人因此而死亡。 但是，因爲感染流感後患上重病的可能性非常低，人們就與流感共存。即使在流感季節，他們也只采取簡單的預防措施，或每年接種流感疫苗，隨後繼續日常活動。 至于冠病，我們也可以朝同樣的結果邁進。雖然我們無法完全消除冠病病毒，但可以采取各種措施，大幅減低冠病的威脅，讓它成爲像流感、手足口症及水痘那樣的疾病，以便繼續日常生活。 在未來的幾個月裏，這將是我們的首要任務。爲此，我們已有廣泛的計劃。 一、接種疫苗 我們的第一步就是接種疫苗。李顯龍總理在今年5月31日的全國廣播演講中表示，我們的目標是到了7月初，讓本地三分之二的居民接種至少第一劑疫苗。我們正朝著這個目標穩步邁進。在疫苗供應充足的前提下，我們的第二個目標是在國慶日前後，讓本地至少三分之二的居民完成兩劑疫苗接種。
我們也正在和疫苗制造商合作，希望能讓疫苗提前抵達新加坡，並加快我國人口接種疫苗的速度。 臨床數據清楚證明，疫苗在降低感染冠病和病毒傳染的風險方面非常有效。即使染病，疫苗也能預防患者出現嚴重症狀。 在以色列，未接種疫苗者的染病率比已接種疫苗者高30倍，住院率相比起來也高10倍。 在新加坡，有120多人接種兩劑疫苗後仍感染冠病，當中包括65歲以上但不住在醫院或療養院的年長者，他們都沒有出現任何症狀，或僅出現輕微症狀。相比之下，未接種疫苗的冠病患者當中，約有8%出現嚴重症狀。 未來，我們可能讓國人接種追加劑，以讓大家能繼續獲得高度保護，同時也能預防新變種毒株對現有疫苗産生抵抗力。因此，我們可能必須實行一項能夠持續多年的全面疫苗接種計劃。 
（圖源：王乙康臉書） 早期的證據顯示，接種疫苗能幫助我們遏制冠病疫情傳播。以色列的經驗再次證明了這一點。該國已有60%的人口接種了冠病疫苗，是目前全球冠病疫苗接種率最高的國家。 在以色列完成疫苗接種的各年齡層人口中，每10萬人中每日有0.3人入院，死亡率則爲0.1人。 相比之下，美國在2018年至2019年的流感季節裏，每10萬人中每日有0.4人因流感入院，死亡率則爲0.03人。若遇上像2017年至2018年的嚴重流感季節，每10萬人中每日就有0.67人因流感入院，死亡率也增加至0.05人。 基本上，以色列由于全國疫苗接種率較高，成功地將冠病在當地的臨床結局，改善到接近美國季節性流感的水平，這樣的成果令人感到鼓舞。 二、快捷檢測確保生活如常 第二，我們必須繼續進行冠病檢測和篩查工作，但重點將有所改變。我們仍須加強邊境防疫措施，以更有效地檢測病毒攜帶者，特別是帶有須關切變種病毒（variants of concern）的人士。 
（圖源：黃循財臉書） 在社區防疫措施方面，檢測工作不再只是爲了篩檢和隔離冠病接觸者，而是要確保大型活動、社交聚會和出國行程能夠安全地進行，以及降低病毒的傳播風險，以保護社區的健康，特別是免疫力較弱並需要額外照顧的群體。 我們不能只靠聚合酶鏈式反應（PCR）檢測，因爲它會引起一些不適，並需要幾個小時才能提供檢測結果。我們要改善檢測過程，讓它更快速、更簡易。因此，我們已在綜合診療所和私人診所推出抗原快速檢測（ART）服務，同時也爲雇主和業主提供自助檢測儀，讓員工和租戶自行進行檢測。此外，公衆也可到零售藥房購買ART自助檢測儀。 
（圖源：王乙康臉書） 我們也將陸續推出更快速的檢測方式，讓人們無須進行拭子檢測，而能在一兩分鍾內得知檢測結果，例如呼吸檢測。屆時，我們的機場、海港、辦公樓、購物商場、醫院及各個學府，都可使用這些檢測方式爲員工和訪客進行檢測。 此外，我們還可通過廢水檢測方式來檢測病毒。這能幫助我們及早發現在客工宿舍、旅舍及組屋的潛在感染風險。 三、積極改善治療方法 第三，全球各地的科學家正積極研究冠病的治療方法。如今，我們已經掌握了一系列有效的治療方法，我國也因此成爲全球冠病死亡率最低的國家之一。 冠病疫情暴發18個月後，我們已經找出多種藥劑，不但可以有效治療危重病患，還可以協助他們更快康複、減緩病情惡化的速度，並降低其嚴重性和死亡的風險。 衛生部會密切留意冠病藥物的研發情況，以確保我國在這方面供應充足。我們的醫學研究人員也積極參與有關冠病最新療法的研究工作。 
（圖源：黃循財臉書） 人人有責 最後，我們是否能與冠病共存，也取決于國人是否接受冠病最終將成爲地方性流行病，以及我們所有人的行爲。 如果大家都保持良好的個人衛生習慣，就能減低受感染的概率。倘若大家都爲彼此著想，在身體不適時遠離人群，就能減少病毒的傳播。 要是大家都能共同肩負責任，例如員工生病時都留在家裏，以維護同事的健康，雇主也不因此而責怪他們，我們的社會就會安全得多。 
新常態可能就是這樣
有了長期的疫苗接種計劃、更簡易、更全面的檢測、更有效的治療方法，再加上大家都負起社會責任，這可能意味著在不久的將來，當有人患上冠病時，我們的應對措施就可能會與現在大不相同。
?（新加坡衛生部長王乙康與新加坡演藝圈阿姐鄭惠玉拍防疫視頻，以上圖源：王乙康臉書） 新常態可能會是這樣的： 輕症病患不住院 首先，病患可以在家中康複，因爲接種了疫苗的人一般只會出現輕微的症狀。由于病患身邊的人也都接種了疫苗，傳播風險也會減低，所以我們也不會太擔心醫療系統不堪重負。 不大規模追蹤密接者 第二，每當我們發現有人受感染時，也許不必大規模追蹤密切接觸者，以及將人們隔離開來。人們可以定期使用各種快速簡易的方式自行檢測。如果檢測結果呈陽性，他們可以通過PCR檢測加以確認，然後自我隔離。 只監測重症情況 第三，我們將不再著重監測每天的患病人數，而是把焦點放在有多少人患重病、有多少人在加護病房留醫、有多少人須接受插管治療等方面的數據。這就和我們現在監測流感的方式一樣。 恢複大型活動 第四，我們可以逐步放寬安全管理措施，恢複大型的聚會和活動，如國慶慶典或新年倒數活動。各企業也能確信，它們的運作不會受到幹擾。 
（圖源：陳振聲臉書） 開放邊境
第五，我們將可以再次出國旅遊，至少能去那些同樣已將疫情控制下來、冠病成爲地方性常態的國家。我們將相互承認對方的疫苗接種證書。旅客也可以在出境前接受檢測，抵境時的冠病檢測結果若是陰性，就無須隔離，尤其是已經接種疫苗的旅客。
（拍攝于疫情前，圖源：樟宜機場） 每一場疫情終將告一段落 抗疫之路雖然仍充滿變數，但我們還是擬定計劃，配合疫苗接種率相關的各個目標，逐步邁向新常態。同時，我們仍須采取必要的預防和安全措施，減少感染病例和住院人數。 曆史告訴我們，每一場疫情終將告一段落。我們必須竭盡所能，利用所有的資源和創造力，盡快朝最終的理想狀態邁進。要遏制冠病，需要科學和人類的智慧；要盡早達到這個目標，我們更須要保持團結，以大局爲重。戰勝疫情，你我責無旁貸。 以下爲英文原文：
向上滑動閱覽
Living normally, with Covid-19
We are continuing with our efforts to control the worrisome Delta variant of Covid-19. Given its high transmissibility, it will be hard to bring infections down to zero. Instead, we are adopting an aggressive ring-fencing strategy-casting a wide net to isolate contacts of infected persons, and testing tens of thousands every day. The aim is to minimise the risk of large clusters forming.
But it has been 18 months since the pandemic started, and our people are battle-weary. All are asking: When and how will the pandemic end?
Endemic Covid-19
The bad news is that Covid-19 may never go away. The good news is that it is possible to live normally with it in our midst. This means Covid-19 will very likely become endemic. But what does that mean?
It means that the virus will continue to mutate, and thereby survive in our community. One example of such an endemic disease is influenza. Every year, many people catch the flu. The overwhelming majority recover without needing to be hospitalised, and with little or no medication. But a minority, especially the elderly and those with co-morbidities, can get very ill, and some succumb.
In a large country, the number hospitalised from influenza can be huge. For example, in the United States, hundreds of thousands are hospitalised every year because of the flu, and tens of thousands die.
But because the chances of falling very ill from influenza are so low, people live with it. They carry on with their daily activities even during the flu season, taking simple precautions or getting an annual flu jab.
We can work towards a similar outcome for Covid-19. We can’t eradicate it, but we can turn the pandemic into something much less threatening, like influenza, hand, foot and mouth disease, or chicken pox, and get on with our lives.
Doing so will be our priority in the coming months. We already have a broad plan.
Vaccination is key
First, vaccination. During his broadcast on May 31, the Prime Minister said we aimed to have two-thirds of our population take at least their first dose by early July. We are on track to achieve that target. Our next milestone will be to have at least two-thirds of our population fully vaccinated with two doses around National Day, supply permitting.
We are working to bring forward the delivery of vaccines and to speed up the process.
The evidence is clear: Vaccines are highly effective in reducing the risk of infection as well as transmission. Even if you are infected, vaccines will help prevent severe Covid-19 symptoms.
Israel’s experience shows that the infection rate among vaccinated persons is 30 times less than that of the unvaccinated. The hospitalisation rate for the vaccinated is also lower by 10 times.
In Singapore, of the 120 plus fully vaccinated individuals who were nevertheless infected with Covid-19, including some aged above 65 and were not resident at hospitals or nursing homes – all had either no or mild symptoms. In contrast, about 8 percent of the unvaccinated developed serious symptoms.
To sustain a high level of protection, and to defend against new mutant strains resistant to current vaccines, booster shots may be needed in the future. We may have to sustain a comprehensive, multi-year vaccination programme.
Early evidence suggests that with vaccination, we can tame Covid-19. Again, the experience of Israel – which has vaccinated
60 per cent of its population, the highest vaccination rate in the world currently is pertinent.
Across all age groups, the hospitalisation rate due to Covid-19 in Israel among those fully vaccinated is 0.3 per 100,000 persons daily, and the mortality rate is 0.1 per 100,000 persons.
In comparison, in 2018/19, the hospitalisation and mortality rates for influenza in the US were 0.4 and 0.03 per 100,000 persons daily, respectively. In a severe flu season, like in 2017/18, the rates were 0.67 and 0.05, respectively.
Essentially with a high rate of vaccination, Israel has brought the clinical outcomes of Covid-19 close to that of seasonal influenza in the US. These are very promising outcomes.
Testing will be easier
Second, testing and surveillance will still be needed, but the focus will be different. We would still need rigorous testing at our borders to identify any person carrying the virus, especially variants of concern.
Domestically, testing will be less of a tool for ring-fencing and quarantining people exposed to infected persons. Instead, it would be to ensure that events, social activities and overseas trips can take place safely; as well as to reduce transmission risks, especially to those who are vulnerable to infections.
We cannot rely only on the polymerase chainreaction (PCR) test, which can be uncomfortable and takes many hours to produce results. We need to make Covid-19 testing fast and easy. We have rolled out antigen rapid tests, including self-tests, to polyclinics, private clinics, employers, premises owners and pharmacies.
There are even faster test kits in the pipeline, such as breathalysers, that take about one to two minutes to produce the results and do not involve swabbing. In time, the airport, seaport, office buildings, malls, hospitals and educational institutions can use these kits to screen staff and visitors.
There is also waste water testing, which is useful to find out if there are hidden infections in dormitories, hostels or housing estates.
Treatments will improve
Third, scientists around the world are working on treatments for Covid-19. Today, we already have a range of effective treatments, which is one reason why Singapore’s Covid-19 mortality rate is among the lowest in the world.
Eighteen months after the pandemic started, we now have many therapeutic agents that are effective in treating the critically ill, quickening recovery, and reducing disease progression, severity and mortality. The Ministry of Health tracks these developments closely, ensuring that we have adequate supplies of these drugs. Our medical researchers actively participate in the development of new treatments.
Social responsibility remains critical
Finally, whether we can live with Covid-19 depends also on Singaporeans’ acceptance that Covid-19 will be endemic and our collective behaviour.
If all of us practise good personal hygiene, we are less likely to be infected. If all of us are considerate to one another, staying away from crowds when we feel unwell, we will reduce transmission. I fall of us shoulder the burden together – workers keeping their colleagues safe by staying at home when ill, and employers not faulting them – our society will be so much safer.
Towards a new normal
With vaccination, testing, treatment and social responsibility, it may mean that in the near future, when someone gets Covid-19, our response can be very different from now.
The new norm can perhaps look like this:
First, an infected person can recover at home, because with vaccination the symptoms will be mostly mild. With others around the infected person also vaccinated, the risk of transmission will be low. We will worry less about the healthcare system being overwhelmed.
Second, there may not be a need to conduct massive contact tracing and quarantining of people each time we discover an infection. People can get themselves tested regularly using a variety of fast and easy tests. If positive, they can confirm with a PCR test and then isolate themselves.
Third, instead of monitoring Covid-19 infection numbers every day, we will focus on the outcomes: how many fall very sick, how many in the intensive care unit, how many need to be intubated for oxygen, and so on. This is like how we now monitor influenza.
Fourth, we can progressively ease our safe management rules and resume large gatherings as well at major events, like the National Day Parade or New Year Countdown. Businesses will have certainty thattheir operations will not be disrupted.
Fifth, we will be able to travel again, at least to countries that have also controlled the virus and turned it into an endemic norm. We will recognise each other’s vaccination certificates. Travellers, especially those vaccinated, can get themselves tested before departure and be exempted from quarantine with a negative test upon arrival.
We are drawing up a road map to transit to thisnew normal, in tandem with the achievement of our vaccination milestones, though we know the battle against Covid-19 will continue to be fraught with uncertainty.
In the meantime, we still need to take the necessary precautions and safeguards, to keep infections and hospitalisations at bay.
History has shown that every pandemic will run its course. We must harness all our energy, resources and creativity to transit as quickly as we can to the desired end-state. Science and human ingenuity will eventually prevail over Covid-19. Cohesion and social consciousness will get us there faster. We must all do our part.