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SINGAPORE – In the coming weeks, the multidisciplinary working group will release more details on when Singapore will enter the third stage of its phased reopening, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Monday (October 5).
This roadmap will include the expected timeline for moving to phase three, changes to current regulations on the size of group meetings and participation in mass events, Heng told parliament.
He was giving a ministerial statement on an overview of the progress of Singapore’s fight against Covid-19, its fiscal position, and strategies for the country to emerge stronger from this crisis.
Phase two of Singapore’s reopening was supposed to last for several months even as more measures are lifted, while phase three is the “new normal” until a vaccine or treatment for Covid-19 is found.
“In our fight against Covid-19, we are currently in a stable position, but we must remain vigilant. Amid the uncertainties, we are adapting to living with the virus,” said Heng, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Finance Minister.
To reopen even more safely in the coming months, Singapore is adopting a four-front strategy to put itself in the best position to fight Covid-19, he said.
These four areas are: ensuring early access to effective vaccines, improving testing capabilities, promptly following up on contacts and isolating infected people, and adhering to safe management measures.
Despite uncertainties about the global pandemic, such as how successful other countries are in containing it while opening their economies, there is hope that Singapore can overcome this crisis, he said.
On vaccines, Singapore is working very actively to ensure early access to safe and effective vaccines, whenever they are available.
Mr Heng noted that Singapore is one of the first to support the Global Covid-19 Vaccine Access Center, accelerating development and production and equitable access to potential Covid-19 vaccines.
Singapore is seeking to procure Covid-19 vaccines with several pharmaceutical companies, supporting local efforts to develop one and increasing local vaccine manufacturing capacity, he said.
In terms of testing, the country has also multiplied polymerase chain reaction testing and is close to its goal of being able to perform 40,000 lab tests a day.
“We are also evaluating new test technologies that are less invasive and can produce test results more quickly. This improved test capability will help us to safely resume more activities sooner,” added Mr. Heng.
As for contact tracing and isolating infected people, he said doing it quickly was key to limiting the spread of the virus.
“Our contact tracing teams are doing an excellent job and are using digital tools well. The TraceTogether app, along with tokens that are distributed nationwide and the SafeEntry program, allow contact tracing to be fast and easy. coverage needed to quickly contain viral transmission.. “
Safe management measures must also continue to be observed. “Keeping infections low in the community is the key to reopening our economy safely,” she added.
Read the highlights of DPM Heng Swee Keat’s ministerial statement on Singapore’s strategies to emerge stronger from the Covid-19 crisis.
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