This Twitter thread lists what the Singapore government is doing to contain the Covid-19 outbreak

Whether you’re a fan of the ruling government or not, you can't deny the relative success Singapore has had in combatting the effects of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. 

While other countries scramble to reduce infections and fatalities in a global pandemic that has taken over 7,000 lives, the steps that Singapore took in response to the outbreak has quietly but dramatically caused a drop in the country’s ranking by the number of cases recorded. The city-state is no longer in the top echelons of the list like it was just a mere month ago.

That would have a lot to do with all the things that the Singapore government has done (and done well) since the emergence of Covid-19 cases here. Adlin Zainal, a digital marketing manager currently creating content for a medical blog, has done the research — the results of which she shared on Twitter. 

In an enlightening Twitter thread, Adlin highlighted what’s being done in Singapore, including free testing for Covid-19, subsidised medical treatment for respiratory illnesses, travel advisories, daily WhatsApp updates by the government, and bonuses for workers on the frontlines of the battle against the outbreak. 

2/ Singapore has activated the Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) scheme, which activates hundreds of clinics around the country to subsidize medical treatment for respiratory illnesses. This is to encourage people with symptoms to go see a doctor. https://t.co/2sWxAENr86

— Adlin Zainal ? (@adzventurer) March 13, 2020

11/ Travellers to Singapore with symptoms (fever etc.) will have to be tested, regardless of travel history. In fact, SG has developed a swab kit that can test for a result in 3 hours and is more than 99% accurate. https://t.co/JuxBJIIq7w

— Adlin Zainal ? (@adzventurer) March 13, 2020

14/ The Prime Minister has so far delivered two addresses on TV updating the public on the COVID-19 situation in the country, which has been widely praised as effective risk communication. https://t.co/Zpqsp1nf6a

— Adlin Zainal ? (@adzventurer) March 13, 2020

Adlin also shared personal experiences with some of the measures put in place, including temperature checks and movement tracking. 

16/ I went to the polyclinic two weeks ago. They took my temperature and asked me if I had any symptoms (cough, etc.) If you are symptomatic, EVEN if it's just a cough, you will have to see a doctor at a different, separate area.

— Adlin Zainal ? (@adzventurer) March 13, 2020

It’s a fascinating look at the development of Singapore’s controls on the outbreak, which has already been hailed as exemplary by the World Health Organisation as well as a glowing feature on WIRED. 

After SARS and H1N1, Singapore built a robust system for tracking and containing epidemics. #Covid19 has tested whether that system can actually help them "flatten the curve," and save lives.

So far, it has: https://t.co/UFDNgG8GgI

— WIRED (@WIRED) March 17, 2020

“On every lift I ride, there’s a notice saying what I have to do. Everywhere you walk there’s information… There’s a confidence in that information, in the government and what they’re saying, and there’s an expectation you should follow it,” noted Martin Hibberd, the Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who’s currently based here. 

Then there're the widely-praised responses made by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to some tough questions on CNBC.

The coronavirus crisis is a global “acid test” of healthcare systems, quality of governance and social capital, says Singapore Minister Vivian Balakrishnan @VivianBala of @MFAsg. Countries should remain “eternally vigilant” and be prepared for the long haul, he tells @CNBCi. pic.twitter.com/T4KHfTcrdL

— CNBC International (@CNBCi) March 11, 2020

ilyas@asiaone.com