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Disease Outbreak Response System Condition

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Disease crisis management plan in Singapore
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The Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) is a disease crisis management plan in Singapore. The system is colour-coded reflecting the disease situation in Singapore. Beside showing the disease situation, it also outline the impact on the general public and what the general public should do.

History

In 2003, after the SARS outbreak in Singapore, the Ministry of Health created the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan which included DORSCON. DORSCON was first used during the 2009 swine flu pandemic in Singapore. The plan was further updated after the swine flu pandemic is over.

In 2013, then-Health Minister Gan Kim Yong announced a revised DORSCON framework. The framework now considers disease severity in addition to the spread of diseases in Singapore, thereby indicating the overall public health impact in Singapore. In addition to that, control measures are no longer hard-wired to each phase but are modular for MOH's continually assessment of the risks, hence making the framework more flexible with four colour alerts instead of five. This allows the framework to be used for both mild and severe diseases.

In 2023, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced plans to replace the colour-coded DORSCON framework with a 4-tiered public health situational framework.

DORSCON levels

Level Nature of Disease Disease Impact on Daily Life Advice to Public
Green Disease is mild or disease is severe but does not spread easily from person to person. MERS, H7N9 Minimal disruption, e.g. border screening, travel advice.
  • Be socially responsible: if you are sick, stay home
  • Maintain good personal hygiene
  • Look out for health advisories
Yellow Disease is severe and spreads easily from person to person but is occurring outside Singapore or disease is spreading in Singapore but is typically mild, i.e. only slightly more severe than seasonal influenza. Can be more severe in vulnerable groups or being contained.
 H1N1 Minimal disruption, e.g. additional measures at border and/or healthcare settings expected, higher work and school absenteeism likely.
  • Be socially responsible: if you are sick, stay home
  • Maintain good personal hygiene
  • Look out for health advisories
Orange Disease is severe and spreads easily from person to person, but disease has not spread widely in Singapore and is being contained. SARS, COVID-19 Moderate disruption, e.g. quarantine, temperature screening, visitor restrictions at hospitals.
  • Be socially responsible: if you are sick, stay home
  • Maintain good personal hygiene
  • Look out for health advisories
  • Comply with control measures
Red Disease is severe and is spreading widely. Major disruption, e.g. school closures, work from home orders, significant number of deaths.
  • Be socially responsible: if you are sick, stay home
  • Maintain good personal hygiene
  • Look out for health advisories
  • Comply with control measures
  • Practise social distancing: avoid crowded areas

Status change

  • 28 April 2009, Raised from Green to Yellow.
  • 30 April 2009: Raised from Yellow to Orange.
  • 11 May 2009: Reduced from Orange to Yellow.
  • 12 February 2010: Reduced from Yellow to Green.
  • 22 January 2020: Raised from Green to Yellow.
  • 7 February 2020: Raised from Yellow to Orange.
  • 26 April 2022: Reduced from Orange to Yellow.
  • 13 February 2023: Reduced from Yellow to Green.

References

  1. ^ "DORSCON: What you need to know about the framework that guides Singapore's pandemic response". CNA. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Being Prepared for a Pandemic". MOH. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Pandemic Preparedness in Singapore: Lessons Drawn From SARS (2003) and H1N1 (2009)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 September 2021.
  4. "Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health, at the 9th National Security Conference 2013, on 25th Oct 2013". MOH. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  5. Kok, Xing Hui (25 October 2013). "Singapore revises outbreak response system". Today. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  6. "Singapore to replace DORSCON colour coding with 4-tiered situational framework". CNA. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Coronavirus outbreak: Singapore raises DORSCON level to Orange; schools to suspend inter-school, external activities". CNA. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  8. ^ Tay, Joanne; Ng, Yeuk Fan; Cutter, Jeffery L.; James, Lyn (April 2010). "Influenza A (H1N1-2009) pandemic in Singapore--public health control measures implemented and lessons learnt". Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. 39 (4): 313–312. doi:10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.V39N4p313. ISSN 0304-4602. PMID 20473458. S2CID 30804044.
  9. "Reverting to Green Alert Status for Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic". Ministry of Health (Singapore). 12 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  10. "Opening Remarks by Senior Minister of State Dr Lam Pin Min at The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Aviation Resilience and Health Workshop". MOT. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  11. "COVID: No more group-size limits, safe distancing in Singapore, as DORSCON level lowered to yellow". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  12. cue (9 February 2023). "Masks no longer required on public transport from Feb 13 as Singapore moves to Dorscon green | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
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