• Military medicine · Dec 2022

    Management of SARS-CoV-2 in the Military and Lessons for Future Pandemics.

    • Terence Yi-Song Liew, Benjamin Zhi Qiang Seah, Choon Guan Chua, and Benjamin Boon Chuan Tan.
    • Headquarters Republic of Singapore Air Force Medical Service, 492 Airport Road, 539945, Singapore.
    • Mil Med. 2022 Dec 5; 187 (9): e1530e1537e1530-e1537.

    IntroductionThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has resulted in devastating consequences, with high death tolls and significant impact on global health, geopolitics, and socioeconomic aspects of society among others. Militaries around the world have been affected in many ways, in terms of force attrition and disruption to operations.Materials And MethodsThe Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) had formulated multiple strategies and executed several contingency plans to respond swiftly and effectively to the pandemic. Measures taken by the RSAF included leveraging pandemic drawer plans, continuous medical intelligence gathering on SARS-CoV-2 characteristics, conducting rapid disease testing and contact tracing, formulating a risk assessment matrix for personnel based overseas, enforcing safe management measures and mask-wearing, and ensuring that critical medical functions were sustained.ResultsThis article summarizes important lessons learnt that may be applied to future pandemics, including the importance of threat assessment, pandemic preparedness, adopting a tiered defense strategy, widespread testing, expeditious contact tracing and isolation, effective communication, and re-defining the new norms for post-pandemic recovery.ConclusionThe military remains essential to every country's defense and security. However, its unique construct and nature of operations may render it susceptible to uncontained viral transmission. To minimize manpower attrition and maximize force health in the face of a devastating pandemic, well-thought and tailored management measures must be implemented.© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2021. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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