7-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, announced on Wednesday that he is finally free from COVID-19, six days after testing positive for the disease once again.
Mr Lee initially tested positive for COVID-19 on May 22. He stated on May 28 that he had tested negative and would resume his duties, only to test positive again on June 1 due to what was described as a “COVID rebound.”
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Mr Lee expressed his delight at being COVID-free and mentioned having lunch with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife, Ibu Iriana. They enjoyed a local favourite, chicken rice, which the President is known to enjoy. President Widodo is currently in Singapore to speak at the Ecosperity Conference, an annual event focused on sustainable development organized by Temasek.
Delighted to be finally COVID free so I could catch up with Indonesian President @jokowi and his wife Ibu Iriana, over a chicken rice lunch today. He is here in Singapore to speak at the #Ecosperity Conference, organised by @temasek. – LHL https://t.co/BRqZjfMzho pic.twitter.com/qzsl5YVijx
— leehsienloong (@leehsienloong) June 7, 2023
On June 1, Prime Minister Lee, who is 71 years old, shared that his doctors advised him to isolate until he tests negative using an antigen rapid test. The doctors attributed his positive test result six days ago to a “COVID rebound,” which occurs in 5 to 10 percent of cases.
Prime Minister Lee had initially tested positive for the virus after returning from visits to South Africa and Kenya on May 22. Due to his age, he was prescribed the antiviral medication Paxlovid, and his most recent vaccine booster was in November.
In May last year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory regarding the potential for COVID-19 recurrence, also known as COVID rebound. The CDC noted that a temporary return of symptoms may occur as part of the natural course of the disease in some individuals, regardless of treatment with Paxlovid or vaccination status. A COVID rebound typically manifests within two to eight days after initial recovery and is characterized by the recurrence of symptoms or a positive viral test following a negative result, as explained by the CDC.
