Singaporean PM Tests Positive for Covid After Work Trip in Africa

VIVA – The Prime Minister (PM) of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong stated on Monday that he tested positive for Covid-19 for the first time after returning home from work trips in Africa and Asia. Due to his age, the 71-year-old stated he has been prescribed the Paxlovid antiviral medication. 

“I tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time this morning. I am generally feeling ok, but my doctors have advised me to self-isolate until I am asymptomatic," Lee said on Facebook, where he posted a photo of a positive antigen rapid test.

As information, Lee was on an official visit to South Africa from May 14 to 16, and Kenya from May 17 to 19. He also attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia from May 10 to 11. 

Lee said his last COVID-19 booster vaccine was in November. He urged his fellow citizens to keep their vaccinations up to date to reduce the risk of severe illness.

"My most recent COVID-19 vaccine booster was in November. Please keep your vaccinations up to date, as this reduces the risk of severe illness. As COVID-19 remains endemic in Singapore, we must continue to keep ourselves safe and healthy," he wrote. 

With this, he also urged Singaporeans to keep their vaccinations up to date to reduce the risk of severe illness.

However previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency.

"Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare the end of the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice. It is therefore with great expectations that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated. 

The announcement was made after WHO's independent emergency committee held its 15th meeting on the COVID-19 crisis where they agreed that the crisis no longer required the organization's highest level of vigilance.