What You Should Know About The DORSCON Colour Code And The Current Disease Situation

With the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, you might be wondering exactly how severe the situation is. Well, the Ministry of Health’s DORSCON framework will tell you all you need to know. DORSCON, which stands for Disease Outbreak Response System Condition, is a colour-coded framework established to keep the public informed about the current disease situation and its impact on Singapore.

Here’s what the various DORSCON colours mean:

1. Green

Nature of disease: Disease is mild OR Disease is severe but does not spread easily from person to person (eg. MERS, H7N9)

Impact on daily life: Minimal disruption (eg. Border screening, travel advice)

Advice to public: Be socially responsible (eg. Stay home if you are sick), maintain good personal hygiene, look out for health advisories

2. Yellow

Nature of disease: Disease is severe and spreads easily from person to person but is occurring outside Singapore OR Disease is spreading in Singapore but is:

(a) Typically mild (ie. Only slightly more severe than seasonal influenza) but could be severe in vulnerable groups (eg. H1N1 pandemic)

OR

(b) Being contained

Impact on daily life: Minimal disruption (eg. Additional measures at border and/or healthcare settings expected, higher work and school absenteeism likely)

Advice to public: Be socially responsible (eg. Stay home if you are sick), maintain good personal hygiene, look out for health advisories

3. Orange

Nature of disease: Disease is severe AND spreads easily from person to person, but disease has not spread widely in Singapore and is being contained (eg. SARS experience in Singapore)

Impact on daily life: Moderate disruption (eg. Quarantine, temperature screening, visitor restrictions at hospitals)

Advice to public: In addition to advice covered under Green to Yellow codes, comply with control measures implemented by the Ministry of Health.

4. Red

Nature of disease: Disease is severe AND is spreading widely

Impact on daily life: Major disruption (eg. School closures, work from home orders, significant number of deaths)

Advice to public: In addition to advice covered under Green to Orange codes, practise social distancing and avoid crowded areas.

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