Comic Relief: The Covid-19 Chronicles

​The Covid-19 Chronicles project, which shares timely reminders and useful information with the public for the past five months, was conceptualised in February 2020 when Prof Chong Yap Seng, Dean, NUSMed, attended a meeting with Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. Prof Dale Fisher, who lectures on infectious diseases at NUSMed and chairs the World Health Organisation’s alert and response system, was appointed as a spokesman to help ensure that information is communicated accurately and efficiently.

久坐危害健康 少坐多动胜于短暂运动 (Prolonged sitting has a negative impact on one’s health - sit less and move more instead of short exercises)

​Dr Yeo Tee Joo, Consultant at the Department of Cardiology, NUHCS, highlighted that many recent studies involving large populations has outlined the dangers of prolonged sitting and sedentary behaviour.  He mentioned the longer the duration of continuous sitting, or the more time spent sitting in total, the higher the risk of death. The risks of many chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer, is associated with prolonged sitting.  

Another coronavirus will hit humans within a decade

​At the Covid-19: Biomedical Insights Into An Evolving Epidemic webinar organised by NUSMed, A/Prof Alex Cook, Vice-Dean of Research at SSHSPH, said that the only way to know the actual number of people infected with coronavirus globally is through serology tests to find out who has the antibodies against Covid-19. He also said that the higher number of community cases in Singapore may not really reflect a higher rate of infection, but could be because since more testing is done now, more people are being picked up.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 07 July 2020, Page 2

Shared care for more patients with stable chronic conditions

In Covid-19 times, it is an option for patients with stable chronic conditions who may not want to go to a hospital to have a shared care arrangement between a hospital specialist and a family physician. The Straits Times featured the example of Mr Chua Kee Huat, 70, who is part of such an arrangement with his specialist, Dr Anita Lim, senior consultant at NUH’s Division of Rheumatology and a family physician at Frontier Family Medicine Clinic. With shared care, the specialist can handle the more challenging aspects of the illness, while the family physician will monitor the patient and manage his other medical problems.
 
Ms Joanne Yap, executive director of the NUHS Regional Health System Office, said: “We have hope that the Covid-19 pandemic may drive changes in patient preferences for safety and convenience over choice of a specialist setting only. We intend to ride on the expediency of Covid-19 to expand the number of conditions managed through the shared care programme and to involve more specialists in NUHS-managed hospitals.”
 
NTFGH came on board the shared care programme at the end of last year, and AH will start to enrol patients for the programme from this month, Ms Yap added. Last year, NUHS enrolled 188 new shared programme cases, exceeding the set target of 170. This year, it has raised its target to 200, given its expansion plans ahead.

如何处理冷冻食物? (How should you handle frozen food?)

​Dr Louisa Sun, Associate Consultant of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Programme at Alexandra Hospital and Ms Lynette Goh, Principal Dietitian of the National University Polyclinics commented on the importance on handling frozen food properly to avoid bacterial infection. Among the tips shared with readers were avoiding refreezing defrosted food and using an ice pack or cooler bag if the trip from the supermarket to home takes longer than 30 minutes.

Experts warn against letting guard down as community cases inch up

​Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean of SSHSPH, urged that people need to be vigilant and cautious. He stressed that the country is still very much in the midst of an outbreak and remains in Dorscon orange – signifying a disease situation with moderate to high public health impact. A/Prof Alex Cook, Vice-Dean of Research, SSHSPH, said Singapore is in good position to handle any short-term resurgence in cases, given the low number of Covid-19 patients now in needing critical care. He added that ongoing vigilance is, however, required as it does not look like the epidemic is going away anytime soon. Prof Dale Fisher, Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Disease, NUH, expressed concern about the crowding, and lack of social distancing that he has seen first-hand. He cautioned that there will be an increase in risk before an increase in cases so people need to see that the freedom to go out is a privilege, and that can be taken away again.

NUS invents tent to protect docs when treating infected patient

​A clear plastic tent that can be placed over a patient while medical procedures are carried out will offer greater protection to healthcare workers against Covid-19.

NUS invents tent to protect docs when treating infected patient

​A clear plastic tent that can be placed over a patient while medical procedures are carried out will offer greater protection to healthcare workers against Covid-19

Reusable, foldable and sterilisable ‘shield’ developed by NUS-NUH team provides additional protection for healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients

Why S’pore has relatively low Covid-19 death rate

​Patients with Covid-19 are faringfar better in Singapore than in most places in the world, with 26 deaths out of more than 42,000 infected.

不痛不痒，还是别低估皮肤癌 (Skin cancer cannot be underestimated even if there is no pain or itch)

​Dr Sue Ann Ho Ju Ee, Consultant in Dermatology at NUH, contributed an article to share about skin cancer and highlighted that it is one of the ten most common cancers in Singapore. 

App to tackle fatty liver

​When IT director Alvin Pang’s doctor told him in August 2017 he was obese and had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after a check-up, he was puzzled. He had not heard of the term before

Set realistic goals to lose weight

​The first line of treatment for people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is usually weight loss through a combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet.

NUS professor to lead global body on infectious diseases

​Prof Paul Tambyah, Professor of Medicine at NUSMed and Senior Consultant in Infectious Diseases in NUH, will be leading the International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID) in 2022 as its president. He will support incumbent ISID president, Prof Alison Holmes, in running the organisation until he takes over its leadership as the society’s first Singaporean president.

• TODAY Online, 18 June 2020

专家破解捐血迷思 (Health experts debunked blood donation myths)

​刚过去的星期天（6月14日）是“世界捐血日”。本地每年大约有接近三万名病患需要安全及稳定的血液供应才能生存。受访医疗专家强调，捐血属于必要项目，并希望解开常见迷思，消除人们对捐血的疑虑，鼓励更多人在疫情期间也捐血。