Previous 12 months was robust for healthcare staff, coping with three Covid-19 waves: Ong Ye Kung

SINGAPORE – For Singaporeans, 2022 was when life principally returned to normalcy however this was not so for healthcare staff. They needed to deal with multiple waves of Covid-19 infections, mentioned Well being Minister Ong Ye Kung on Sunday.

“It was a really troublesome 12 months for the healthcare sector,” he informed reporters at Sengkang Common Hospital the place he visited healthcare staff on the primary day of Chinese language New Yr.

He mentioned: “Trying again ultimately 12 months… our society (turned) extra resilient in direction of Covid-19. And I believe Singaporeans can discover and really feel that life went again to regular.

“However for healthcare staff, it was probably the most troublesome 12 months; they needed to undergo three an infection waves.”

The three waves that hit the Republic concerned sub-variants of the extremely transmissible Omicron pressure, with the primary BA.2 wave peaking in March.

This was adopted by the unfold of the BA.5 sub-variant in June and July, then XBB in October and November.

After making his rounds on the numerous wards to supply healthcare staff and sufferers festive needs and mandarin oranges, Mr Ong expressed his gratitude to all healthcare staff.

“Thanks, particularly for the final 12 months, for all that you’ve accomplished,” he mentioned.

Previous to his arrival at Sengkang Common Hospital, Mr Ong was at Changi Airport Terminal 3 with Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Transport in addition to Sustainability and the Setting Amy, handing out reward baggage to point-to-point and taxi drivers, in addition to airport employees.

They had been joined by leaders from affiliated associations of the Nationwide Trades Union Congress – the Nationwide Taxi Affiliation (NTA) and Nationwide Non-public Rent Autos Affiliation (NPHVA).