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SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 49 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (September 2), including three in the community and three imported infections.
Among the community cases, one is from Singapore and two are job pass holders, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said in its preliminary daily update.
All imported cases had received a stay-at-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.
Singapore’s case count is 56,901.
More details about the cases will be released tonight, the Health Ministry said.
DONE WELL IN FIGHTING COVID-19, BUT YOU NEED TO LEARN FROM MISTAKES: PM LEE
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke in Parliament about Singapore’s fight against COVID-19 and the future challenges for the country after the pandemic.
READ: Singapore has done well in fighting COVID-19, but must learn from mistakes: PM Lee
In its fight against COVID-19, Lee said Singapore has done well and stabilized the situation, but that it must learn from its mistakes and do better next time.
“Judging from the health outcomes, we’ve done well, so far,” Lee said, noting that Singapore’s death rate from COVID-19 is one of the lowest in the world, with new infections dropping to “just a handful” per day. and fewer than 100 patients remain in the hospital.
But Lee said Singapore’s response to COVID-19 “was not without flaws,” adding that the pandemic has tested every government in the world and that no country has been perfect.
“In hindsight, we certainly would have done some things differently,” he said.
The Prime Minister wished the Government had known about asymptomatic cases earlier and had quarantined all Singaporeans returning from abroad, rather than just those from selected countries.
He also said that the government would have recommended everyone to wear face masks earlier than it did.
Mr. Lee also noted that Singapore faces greater challenges in a post-COVID-19 world, and that an open mind is needed to build and improve the existing social safety net system.
The Prime Minister said such measures “are there to protect the vulnerable in our society and ensure that everyone has full access to opportunities to improve our lives.”
“We must identify pragmatic solutions that will make a real and sustainable difference, and give people a justified assurance that when they need help, they will get the help that is relevant to them,” he added. “And it should not create new problems in the process, for example, eroding our spirit of self-reliance.”
Mr. Lee noted that a “permanent imperative” would be to keep the programs fiscally sustainable.
Singapore’s social safety nets must be paid for from current income “as a matter of principle,” he said.
“We must not use what we have inherited, or mortgage the future of our children.”
READ: An open mind is needed to improve social safety nets as greater challenges lie ahead for Singapore in the post-COVD-19 world: PM Lee
SINGAPORE AND BRUNEI AGREE ON THE GREEN LANE
On Tuesday, the foreign ministries of Singapore and Brunei announced a reciprocal green lane that would allow their residents to travel between the two countries for essential business and official purposes.
READ: Singapore and Brunei agree on a ‘green lane’ for official and business travel
“Both sides agreed to an agreement to allow the safe resumption of the transboundary movement of a limited number of people, with the necessary safeguards to ensure that the public health concerns of both parties are addressed,” the ministries said.
Applications began Tuesday.
Singapore said last month that some travelers entering the country from Brunei and New Zealand will not be required to provide a stay-at-home notice. Instead, they will take a COVID-19 test upon arrival.
Singapore is working on green lane travel arrangements with several countries. It is in talks to resume essential business travel with Japan, with officials tasked with finalizing a deal in early September.
He has also said that he will begin discussions on a reciprocal green lane with Indonesia.
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