Table 2 Strategies employed during the second wave of COVID-19 infections

Patient demographic

• Surge in number of COVID-19 cases among foreign workers

• Inadequate physical distancing in crowded dormitories

• Purpose-built community isolation facilities to relieve access block in hospitals

• Swab and hold - patients are only discharged after a negative swab test result

Disease presentation

• Asymptomatic carriers or patients with mild symptoms

• Reliable identification of high risk patients using traditional triage tools

• Tightened triage criteria

• Enhanced pneumonia surveillance

Healthcare resources

• Significant surge in patient admissions

• Disruption to global supply chains

• Shortage in medical supplies, e.g. commonly used drugs in resuscitation room or ICUs

• Guidance provided by ED critical care workgroup on alternative options