Make more Covid-19 calculations public to allay fears, uncertainty

FRIDAY brought a literal insight into the calculations of the government's multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19, as Health Minister Ong Ye Kung laid out what this exponential phase of cases may mean.

The figures serve not just to prepare the public for high case numbers, but also - importantly - to signal the taskforce's own expectations.

Based on the experiences of countries in Europe, Singapore may see four or five ten-day "doubling cycles" of cases before the wave peaks, said Mr Ong, the taskforce co-chair. Daily cases are in the midst of a third doubling from 400 to 800. With two more cycles, infections could rise to 1,600, and then to 3,200.