COVID-19 Infections Acquired by Patients from Within Hospitals and Nursing Homes

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Health with regard to the cases of COVID-19 infections acquired by patients from within hospitals and nursing homes from April to September 2022 (a) what proportions of transmissions occurred from (i) patient to patient, (ii) healthcare worker to patient and (iii) other means; and (b) what is the basis of these conclusions or estimates.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: As we move towards living with COVID-19, we have ceased mandatory testing of admissions and staff surveillance testing since March 2022 and comprehensive contact tracing efforts since April 2022. Without epidemiological investigations for each case, we are not able to tell where individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in hospitals and nursing homes were infected. Nevertheless, through infection prevention and control measures, our healthcare institutions reduce the risk of patient-to-patient or staff-to-patient transmission as much as possible.