My fellow thing importance we have faced the new coronavirus situation for about two weeks now the ministerial Taskforce advised by DPMS Pink Speaker has been leading the government's response to this outbreak. They've been dealing with new developments every day and holding regular press briefings to keep Singaporeans informed every step of the way today, I want to speak to you directly to explain. and what may lies ahead We went through sauce 17 years ago, so we are much better prepared to deal with the new virus this time practically we have stockpiled adequate supplies of masks and personal protective equipment. PPE We have expanded and upgraded our medical facilities, including the New National Center for Infectious Diseases. we have more advanced research capabilities to study the virus we have more well trained doctors and nurses to deal with this situation we are physiologically better prepared to Singapore is no how to expect and how to react most importantly having overcome hours once we know that we can pull through this too The new coronavirus is similar to sauce, but with two important differences first, the new virus is more infectious than sauce. Therefore, it's harder to stop it from spreading second. The new virus is much less dangerous than size about 10 percent of those who caught sauce died with a new virus outside of. Province The mortality rate is so far only zero point two percent in comparison, Seasonal influenza has a death rate of zero point one percent so in terms of mortality the new virus is much closer to influenza, then sauce. But the situation is still evolving every day brings new developments and we have to respond promptly and dynamically. so far most of our cases have either been imported from China or can be traced to important cases when we discover them with isolated the patients done contact racing and quarantine their core close contacts this has contain the spread and help stamp out several local clusters but in the last few days we have seen some cases which cannot be traced to the source of infection these words Because it showed that the virus is probably already circulating in our own population. And this is why we raised the dose contour orange yesterday and are stepping up measures. Do thing mingling in schools, we are tightening up access to our hospitals. We are taking extra precautions at large public events. I have already postponed my Chinese New Year Astana Garden Party for grassroots leaders, which was to be held tomorrow. we have raised doston to orange before you may not even remember by this was in two thousand and nine for the each one and one swine flu so there is no reason to panic we are not looking down the city or confining everybody to stay at home we have ample supplies there's no need to stock up with instant noodles or ten food or toilet paper as some people yesterday whatever the situation we can each do our part one observe personal hygiene wash your hands often avoid touching your eyes or face unnecessarily to take your own temperature twice daily and three if you are not well please avoid crowded places and see a doctor immediately these simple steps don't take much but if we all do them they will go a long way towards containing the spread of the virus Right now we are continuing to do contact tracing and to quarantine close contacts What I expect to see more cases with no known contacts in the coming days if the numbers keep growing at some point, we will have to reconsider our strategy. if the virus is wide spread its few tile to try to trace every contact if we still hospitalize and isolate every suspect case a hospitals will be over home at that point provided the fertility rate stays low like flu we should shift our approach encourage those who only have mile symptoms to their family And rest at home instead of going to the hospital and let hospitals and health care workers focus on the most vulnerable patients. the elderly young children and those with medical complications. we are not at that point yet it may or may not happen but we are thinking ahead and anticipating the next few steps and I am sharing these possibilities with you so that we all mentally prepared for what may come I I am am confident confident of of the the medical medical outcome outcome of of this this outbreak outbreak most most thing thing opponents opponents should should remain remain well well and and of of those those who who get get in in most most should should expect expect to to recover recover among among those those who who have have been been hospitalized hospitalized so so far far most most our our stable stable or or improving improving several several have have already already recovered recovered and and been been discharge discharge although although few few remain remain in in critical critical condition condition The real test is to our social cohesion and psychological resilience fear and anxiety are natural human reactions. We all want to protect ourselves and our families from what is still a new and unknown disease, but fear can do more harm than the virus itself. It can make us panic or do things which make matters worse like. room is online hoarding face masks or food or blaming particular groups for the outbreak instead we should take courage and see through this stressful time together That is, in fact what many Singaporeans are doing. Grassroots leaders and team Nila volunteers have stepped forward to help distribute masks to households University students are delivering food daily to school mates confined to their dorms on leave of absence, health care workers on the front line treating patients in hospitals and clinics and helping them get well again. Business federations unions, public transport workers. Are going the extra mile to maintain services take care of workers and keep Singapore running They are inspirations to all of us. This is what it means to be Singaporean. This is who we are. Let us stay United and resolute in this new Corona virus outbreak take sensible precautions help one another stay calm and carry on with our lives.