If you see Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel in protective wear, you don't need to panic.

SCDF paramedics will wear protective outfits for every 995 call, not just potential novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases.

There have been a lot of videos floating around showing SCDF paramedics in protective outfits carrying out patients.

Here is an example.

These posts are usually accompanied by a "XX place kena already" or something of that nature.

However while the personnel are indeed wearing protective outfits, and there is a patient involved, it by no means is confirmation that this is a coronavirus case.

See, SCDF paramedics are wearing these personal protective equipment (PPE) for all calls during this outbreak.

PPE was also worn during SARS and H1N1.

Here are the protective equipment that SCDF paramedics don whenever they answer emergency calls:

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministries of Home Affairs and Health, Amrin Amin, confirmed this at the SCDF's Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Enforcement Statistics Release press conference today (Feb. 12).

A SCDF spokesperson informed the media that there have been 219 calls of suspected Covid-19 cases conveyed by SCDF since the outbreak.

Image from Lewis Tay and Rexanne Yap.