Singapore (VNA) - Singapore should be able torelax restrictions on social gatherings after June 13, said Prime Minister LeeHsien Loong on May 31.
This is provided the COVID-19 situation continues toimprove and the number of community cases falls further, he added.
In a speech broadcast live to the nation, the PM notedthat the number of new cases reported daily has fallen since Singapore went onheightened alert with stricter measures to combat the spread of the virus.
Lee said that the country is “in a much betterposition today”, compared to a year ago when it had its first big outbreak ofinfections. This is because it has built up testing and contacttracing capabilities, while its vaccination programme is also “well advanced”.
But new variants have emerged, and will continue to doso, he said, and a more infectious virus means Singapore will have to “raise(its) game” to keep the pandemic under control.
Specifically, Singapore will have to step up testing,contract tracing and vaccinations, he said.
Testing must be done “faster, and more liberally andextensively”, Lee said, adding that Singapore will be shifting its approach totesting.
Painting a picture of the new normal, the PM said hedoes not expect COVID-19 to disappear. It will remain with humankind, andbecome endemic. The virus will continue to circulate in pockets of the globalpopulation for years to come.
This means small outbreaks of COVID-19 will occur inSingapore from time to time too, he said.
“Our aim must be to keep the community as a wholesafe, while accepting that some people may get infected every now and then.Just as we do with the common flu or dengue fever, which we now manage throughpublic health measures and personal precautions,” Lee was cited by CNA assaying.
Living with the COVID-19 virus also means notcompletely closing Singapore’s borders, he affirmed./.
This is provided the COVID-19 situation continues toimprove and the number of community cases falls further, he added.
In a speech broadcast live to the nation, the PM notedthat the number of new cases reported daily has fallen since Singapore went onheightened alert with stricter measures to combat the spread of the virus.
Lee said that the country is “in a much betterposition today”, compared to a year ago when it had its first big outbreak ofinfections. This is because it has built up testing and contacttracing capabilities, while its vaccination programme is also “well advanced”.
But new variants have emerged, and will continue to doso, he said, and a more infectious virus means Singapore will have to “raise(its) game” to keep the pandemic under control.
Specifically, Singapore will have to step up testing,contract tracing and vaccinations, he said.
Testing must be done “faster, and more liberally andextensively”, Lee said, adding that Singapore will be shifting its approach totesting.
Painting a picture of the new normal, the PM said hedoes not expect COVID-19 to disappear. It will remain with humankind, andbecome endemic. The virus will continue to circulate in pockets of the globalpopulation for years to come.
This means small outbreaks of COVID-19 will occur inSingapore from time to time too, he said.
“Our aim must be to keep the community as a wholesafe, while accepting that some people may get infected every now and then.Just as we do with the common flu or dengue fever, which we now manage throughpublic health measures and personal precautions,” Lee was cited by CNA assaying.
Living with the COVID-19 virus also means notcompletely closing Singapore’s borders, he affirmed./.
VNA