Number of and Outcomes for COVID-19 Patients Eligible for Home Recovery Programme and Rate of Infection to Their Family Members
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the management of COVID-19 protocols, specifically accommodations for the medically ineligible and infection risks within households and workplaces. Associate Professor Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about provisions for unvaccinated individuals, while Mr Yip Hon Weng and Ms Foo Mee Har asked about transmission rates. Additionally, Ms He Ting Ru sought information on support for informal carers and alternative care arrangements for patients on the Home Recovery Programme. Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung addressed these queries by referring to a consolidated response provided on 1 November 2021 regarding updated COVID-19 protocols. This comprehensive response further detailed policies on vaccination for children and addressed delays in response times by government COVID-19 teams.
Transcript
55 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Health with new announcements that further restrict the movements of those who are unvaccinated, what accommodations are being made for those who are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to medical reasons.
56 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health (a) with regard to close contacts of COVID-19-positive cases who are issued with a Health Risk Warning, what is the percentage of these close contacts that became COVID-19-positive; and (b) how do these figures compare based on their vaccination status.
57 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has undertaken a study on the number or percentage of people infected with COVID-19 and eligible for home-based recovery who rely on informal carers at home; (b) what guidance or support is provided to informal carers in this situation to ensure care can still be provided during the period of isolation; and (c) whether the Government provides alternative care arrangements for those infected with COVID-19 and, if so, what are these.
58 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the probability of contracting COVID-19 from close contacts with COVID-19-positive family members on the Home Recovery Programme; and (b) how does this contrast with those who become infected at their workplace.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: I thank the Members for their questions. I have addressed them in my reply to Question Nos 77 to 85 for oral answer on the Order Paper for 1 November 2021. [Please refer to "Updated Protocols for COVID-19 Patients, Vaccination for Children and Delays in Response Time by Government COVID-19 Teams", Official Report, 1 November 2021, Vol 95, Issue 41, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer Not Answered by End of Question Time section.]