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Communicable Diseases Agency

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2

Last updated on 11 October 2026

Overview

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

In December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases was detected in Wuhan, China. The pathogen involved was identified as a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), and the disease was named COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) from 30 January 2020 to 5 May 2023.

Disease epidemiology

In Singapore, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on 23 January 2020. Like other countries, Singapore has experienced multiple waves of infection (i.e. Alpha, Delta, and Omicron) since the start of the pandemic.

Pathogen

SARS-CoV-2

Transmission

COVID-19 primarily transmits through inhalation or direct deposition of infectious respiratory particles (IRPs) from coughs, sneezes or speech. It can also spread via contact transmission when IRPs settle on surfaces or transfer through contact (e.g. handshake) before reaching the mouth, nose or eyes.

Incubation period: Varies across variants from 0 to 14 days, with more recent variants such as Omicron having a shorter range from 0 to 8 days.

Infectious period: From 2 days before the onset of symptoms until 7 days after onset. The infectious period is affected by factors such as immune system, disease severity, and prior infections.

Clinical features

The signs and symptoms of a COVID-19 infection range from mild respiratory symptoms to severe illnesses such as pneumonia.

Infection is mild in the majority of people, and up to 1 in 3 infected persons are asymptomatic.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

  • Fever and chills

  • Sore throat

  • Cough

  • Nasal congestion, rhinorrhoea

  • Headache

  • Anosmia

  • Ageusia

  • Fatigue

  • Myalgia

  • Nausea

  • Diarrhoea

In severe cases, COVID-19 can manifest as pneumonia with shortness of breath and chest pain.

Severe complications include:

  • Respiratory failure

  • Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

  • Thromboembolism

  • Cardiovascular complications

  • Encephalopathy

  • Inflammatory complications (e.g. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome)

“Long COVID” or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)

"Long COVID" or PASC is a general reference to new or persistent symptoms experienced by some persons 4 weeks or more after a COVID-19 infection with no alternate diagnosis.

Such persistent symptoms are more commonly seen after severe COVID-19 and among unvaccinated persons. Most symptoms, such as cough and fatigue, resolve on their own over time. However, persons with more severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, may require further medical assessment and care, and are advised to seek medical attention. There is no single response to address these persistent symptoms and treating physicians would be best placed to assess and advise patients on their management and recovery, and on the resumption of daily activities. As necessary, these persons will be referred for further care and support services based on their condition and medical needs.

Risk factors

Individuals at greater risk of severe disease or complications when infected include:

  • Seniors aged 60 years and above

  • Pregnant women

  • Persons who are immunocompromised or have concurrent medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart, or lung disease

Diagnosis

Detection of COVID-19 virus in respiratory samples through rapid SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests (antigen-based) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Treatment and management

COVID-19 is usually mild and self-limiting. Supportive care and symptomatic treatment, such as treatment with antipyretics, plenty of fluids, and adequate bed rest are usually sufficient in the management of acute symptoms of COVID-19.

Oral antivirals and immunomodulatory agents may be prescribed for patients at high-risk of severe COVID-19.

For patients who develop severe illness (i.e. requiring oxygen supplementation), SARS-CoV-2-specific therapies can be beneficial.

Precaution, prevention and control

Prevention and control strategies for SARS-CoV-2 focus on reducing transmission of infectious respiratory particles (IRPs) through appropriate respiratory protection, good ventilation, and environmental hygiene.

Patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should wear a surgical mask and be isolated when feasible. Good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette should continue to be reinforced for both healthcare workers and the public.

Contact management

No specific management of contacts is required.

Vaccination

Vaccination is an effective measure against severe COVID-19 disease, especially for individuals at increased risk of severe infection. These individuals are recommended to remain updated with their vaccination based on the prevailing recommendations.

There are currently two COVID-19 vaccines available for use in Singapore:

  • Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty (mRNA vaccine)

  • Moderna/Spikevax (mRNA vaccine)

Who should receive the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) and National Adult Immunisation Schedules (NAIS), COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for:

  • Individuals aged 60 years and above;

  • Medically vulnerable individuals aged 6 months and above; and

  • Residents of aged care facilities.

Healthcare workers and individuals living or working with medically vulnerable individuals are also encouraged to consider receiving the vaccine. Others aged 6 months and above who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can continue to do so. Individuals may consider consulting their doctor to understand more about the benefits of the vaccine for their specific situation.

Unvaccinated individuals who are receiving COVID-19 vaccination should receive:

  • Ages 6 months to 4 years: Two vaccine doses, eight weeks apart; and

  • Ages 5 years and older: One vaccine dose

Vaccinated individuals aged 6 months and above who are receiving an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccination should receive it at an interval of around one year (and at least five months) from the last vaccine dose.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccine, please refer here.

Notification

COVID-19 is not a legally notifiable disease in Singapore.

Note: While single cases are not notifiable, medical practitioners should report events of public health significance (e.g. cluster of infectious diseases in the community). Please refer to the Infectious Disease Notification (opens in new tab) for more information.

Resources

Please refer to the Weekly Infectious Diseases Bulletin for the latest COVID-19 statistics in Singapore.

For more information on COVID-19, please refer to the WHO (opens in new tab) website.

Click here (opens in new tab) for the latest WHO update on the COVID-19 situation.

Click here (opens in new tab) for more information on national COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.

For general travel advisory, please refer to Health Advice for Travellers.