How The PAP Government Handled The Sars Crisis

SARS first reached Singapore in late February 2003. Singapore was removed from the World Health Organization's list of SARS-affected areas on 31 May.

Impact on the economy:

Visitor arrivals and hotel occupancy rates plunged.
Revenues at retail shops and restaurants dived.
Taxi drivers reported fewer passengers, stock prices fell, more people lost their jobs.
During the April-June quarter, when the full impact was felt, the economy contracted sharply by 4.2% year-on-year.

Key responses: 

1. Prevention and control within community

Early detection and isolation of suspected and probable cases:
Educating the public on symptoms and how Sars spread.
Urging people to seek early treatment.
Thermometers distributed to more than 1 million households. Temperature checks at schools and workplaces.
GPs, polyclinics and hospitals given all the necessary information to help them identify cases.
Suspected/probable cases quickly isolated in TTSH or CDC (Communicable Disease Centre).
Contract tracing to quarantine all individuals in contact with identified cases.
A dedicated private ambulance service commissioned to transport suspected and probable cases to TTSH in order to prevent spread through taxis and other public transport system.

2. Prevention and Control Within Hospitals

TTSH and CDC designated as facilities for isolating and treating suspected and probable SARS cases.
Temperature check of all visitors and their personal details taken down to facilitate contact tracing.
Number of visitors restricted, even barring them completely at one stage.

3. Prevention of Imported Cases

All airlines operating flights to Singapore were required to screen passengers at their check-in counters.
Those who appeared unwell would need to obtain a doctor's certification in order to board the flight to Singapore.
Incoming travellers were required to complete a health declaration card and subjected to temperature checks upon arrival.
In addition to visual checks by on-site nurses, thermal imaging scanners were deployed at air, sea and land checkpoints to help pick out those with a high temperature.
Passengers arriving from SARS-affected areas were also handed health advisory cards providing information on SARS symptoms and how to seek help if they become ill with such symptoms.