MOH: Downgrade to Yellow Alert by 11 May

MOH has only upgraded to Orange alert just before Labour Day. If the disease remains status quo, it seems that MOH will downgrade the alert back to yellow on 11 May 2009. Hurray for that! Just recently, my colleagues were just discussing if the Orange alert is just a knee jerk kiasuism syndrome. But, you know what they say... It's better to be safe, than to be sorry.

The downgrade to Yellow alert, according to MOH:

• Stringent border controls will still be maintained, with temperature screening at air, land and sea checkpoints. Home Quarantine Orders (HQO) will still apply to persons with a travel history to Mexico in the past seven days.
  
  
• At healthcare institutions, the current tighter restrictions will continue to be in place for the time being, especially in high risk areas such as A & E and ICU.
  
  
• Lift temperature screening requirements and screening for flu-like symptoms and travel history at work places, schools, buildings and events.

Globally, the following countries have been affected as of 6 May 2009:

• Mexico
• United States
• Canada
• Spain
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• New Zealand
• Israel
• Costa Rica
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Netherlands
• Denmark
• Portugal
• El Salvador
• France
• Ireland
• Italy
• Columbia
• Hong Kong
• Republic of Korea

It seems that there is also a private Singapore Swine Flu website setup to track the spread of the disease. I find it quite accurate. I came across some other Swine Flu websites that are inaccurate. How did I know? The dead giveaway was when it listed Singapore as one of the countries being affected. You can find the Singapore Swine Flu website here.

Hopefully it'll be downgraded to Yellow next Monday. The taking of temperature is so troublesome.