introduction COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSIVE CONCLUSION AND DECISIVE AND UNITED

The World Health sharply (-74% in May). Singapore initially did not negatively as draconian, their The government responded Since the SARS crisis, Singapore has continuously respond fast enough. Early effectiveness prevailed flexibly as the crisis unfolded. Organization (WHO) issued Many flights were cancelled. public communications and they were later A taskforce was first set up to strengthened its pandemic defenses. It was thus a global SARS alert on 12 The normally bustling seemed over-reassuring. Some adapted internationally. understand the situation. The ready in 2009 and 2013 for the H1N1 virus and doctors and hospital staff were The second was Infectious Diseases Act was March 2003. Singapore airport became deserted. complacent, contributing to communication. then invoked and amended Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus declared a national crisis An already recessionary the virus’ spread to hospitals. The government took a cautious so that several of the control respectively. Through its experiences and the efforts The first affected hospital and honest approach that measures could be put in place. on 6 April. Worldwide, SARS economy was hence battered. and patients could have been was timely, transparent, and When it became clear this was of many across the city, Singapore now stands isolated earlier. It took a month thorough. They: the most severe health crisis infected 8000 people and It was a health, economic, after the first SARS alert to form – acknowledged the public’s Singapore had ever faced, an at a much higher level of readiness against killed 800 in 26 countries. psychological and social crisis the high level inter-ministry fears and uncertainties; Inter-Ministerial Committee was infectious diseases. taskforce. – explained worst-case formed. Comprising ministers In Singapore, 238 were all at once as the city came scenarios and advised the public across key ministries, the infected with 33 dead. to a standstill. Once the severity became clear, not to let their guard down Committee resolved cross- the crisis was tackled swiftly on (even after Singapore was off the Ministry issues and tackled the SARS spread rapidly. Government, businesses three fronts. watchlist); social and economic impact. The first was medical and health – provided steps the public Organizations and individuals Little was known about it and people worked together related. As the most susceptible could take to protect also rallied together. Television and its countermeasures. to overcome it. Within group, hospital staff all had themselves; networks started a special to don personal protective – mobilized voluntary bodies to public education channel. CREDITS AND LINKS It was lethal. Fear escalated. three months, on 30 May, gear. Their temperatures were assist; Scientists deciphered the virus monitored (fever was one of – gave frequent updates on and developed a diagnostic kit. Lai, Allen Yuhung and Tan, Seck, Impact of Disasters and Disaster Risk Management in Singapore: A Case People stayed home. Public Singapore was taken off the Study of Singapore Experience in Fighting the SARS Epidemic (November 20, 2012). Lee Kuan Yew School SARS’ symptoms). Incoming cases and measures; Engineers built temperature of Public Policy Research Paper No. 12-18. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2188192 or http:// places, malls and eateries WHO watchlist. The lessons hospital patients with fever – encouraged everyone to lead scanning machines. Neighbors dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2188192 emptied. Public transport use and measures improved symptoms were separated at normal lives with the adoption delivered food and groceries first contact. A hospital was of necessary precautions; to those under quarantine. Lanard, Jody (2004). Singapore’s SARS Outbreak Communications at the WHO Expert Consultation on dipped. Healthcare workers Singapore’s pandemic designated the SARS hospital – apologized for mistakes made. Hospitals, community Outbreak Communications. 21 Sep 2004. (http://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/overseasmission/pretoria/ to isolate the cases. In the These efforts built trust and organizations and companies press_statements_speeches/2004/200410/press_200410.html) (accessed 16 Jan 2014) were initially shunned defenses and were also city at large, temperature confidence, and 80% of a set up video conference facilities by some. Tourist arrivals fell adapted globally. screening was made mandatory survey’s respondents felt for isolated patients to see and 1. As fear Ministry of Health. Speech by Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong, at Tan Tock Seng Hospital “Remembering in schools, enforced with the official information was talk with their families. Many escalated, SARS: 10 Years On”. 20 March 2013. (http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/ speeches_d/2013/speech-by-minister-for-health-gan-kim-yong--at-tan-tock-seng-hos.html) (accessed thermal scanners at airports accurate, clear, sufficient and healthcare workers volunteered public spaces 15 Jan 2014) and seaports, and encouraged trustworthy. to work on SARS cases. Others were severely in workplaces. The military The third was economic. The demonstrated support for these affected and Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. Prime Minister’s May Day Message 2003. Singapore was mobilized to establish a Government provided SARS workers including starting a people stayed Government Press Release. (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:zQNr025BqXcJ:ht nationwide contact tracing and economic relief packages Courage Fund to help and honor home tps://gpxsvr3.np.edu.sg/apps5/lib/reference/refenq.nsf/0/8bafeea05e4180a148256fdb000481f5/%24FILE/ system. Suspected SARS cases to help affected businesses them. GCTMayDay2003.doc+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=sg) (accessed 17 Jan 2014) were put on home quarantine and sectors. Businesses were or daily telephone surveillance; encouraged to consider short Mui Hoong, Chua (2004), A Defining Moment – How Singapore Beat SARS. Institute of Policy Studies. erring on the side of caution, term cost cutting measures Prime Minister’s Office. Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 10th Anniversary of SARS over 12000 contacts were put such as shorter work weeks, Commemoration Event. (31 May 2013) (http://www.pmo.gov.sg/content/pmosite/mediacentre/ on them. While several of these temporary lay-offs, skills speechesninterviews/primeminister/2013/May/speech-by-prime-minister-lee-hsien-loong-at-the-10th- pioneering control measures upgrading and training. anniversary.html#.UtiVtdK1Zj4) (accessed 15 Jan 2014) were initially perceived 8,000 people infected Straits Times (2013), All Ready for Next Virus Outbreak. 01 Jun 2013. (http://www.straitstimes.com/the- and 800 deaths big-story/sars-10th-anniversary/story/all-ready-next-virus-outbreak-20130601) (accessed 15 Jan 2014) worldwide Straits Times (2003), Sars Communication: What Singapore is Doing Right. Jody Lanard and Peter 238 Sandman. 06 May 2003. (http://www.psandman.com/articles/sars-2.htm) (accessed 16 Jan 2014) Straits Times (2013), Sars in Singapore: Timeline. 16 Mar 2013. (http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/ people sars-10th-anniversary/story/sars-singapore-timeline-20130316) (accessed 15 Jan 2014) infected in Singapore Tan, Chorh-Chuan. SARS in Singapore – Key Lessons From an Epidemic. Annual Academy of Medicine and 33 deaths 1 Singapore. May 2006, Vol 35 No. 5. SINGAPORE 2. As the most susceptible 02 group, all hospital staff had to don SINGAPORE, personal Fighting SARS protective gear Republic of Singapore (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

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3. Hospitals Singapore now stands were at a much higher level thoroughly of readiness against cleaned and infectious diseases disinfected

Singapore 5. The public rallied behind the healthcare workers, and showed their support in COORDINATES 3 myriad ways 1°17’N 103°50’E AREA 4. Temperature 274 sq mi screening was POPULATION implemented 5,312,400 across the city, often with the DENSITY help of thermal 18,943/sq mi scanners GDP total developed by $327.557 billion engineers in GDP per capita response to the $61,046 crisis 5

In collaboration with MIT

SOURCES

4 Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore