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SINGAPORE: People should be prepared for a Phase 3 that could last for a “prolonged period” of a year or more, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Wednesday (November 4).
This is even as the multi-ministerial working group addressing COVID-19 has established a roadmap that could see the country enter the third phase of its reopening later this year.
Gan, who is co-chairing the task force, said in Parliament that Phase 3 would not be a return to the pre-pandemic status quo. Instead, it will be a “new normal” that will last until the rest of the world has the virus under control or until an effective treatment or vaccine is developed.
“In this context, we must implement the measures and equip ourselves with the tools that will allow us to stay safe, as we allow greater flexibility to live, work and even celebrate major life events,” he said.
The minister was responding to a question from the Tampines GRC Member of Parliament, Cheng Li Hui, who had asked about the criteria considered when considering the maximum number of people allowed for events such as weddings.
Such factors include the frequency of such activities, the potential risk of specific types of events, as well as whether additional security measures can be effectively implemented to mitigate these risks, Mr. Gan said.
READ: COVID-19: Social gatherings of up to 8 people can be allowed in Phase 3, says Gan Kim Yong
The analysis shows that the probability of transmission of the coronavirus tends to be high in social settings, he noted.
“In Singapore, we saw large groups forming because of the SAFRA Jurong dinner and the Mei Hwan Drive condo family reunion that took place during Chinese New Year. We tend to lower our guard when we are among family and friends, ”he said.
The risk of eating together is also higher due to the need to remove masks when eating and drinking, adding that this is multiplied many times over if this involves different groups of people, he said.
“Therefore, we have taken a cautious approach when expanding the size of the groups,” he said, explaining the rationale for considering allowing eight people in such meetings, compared to the current five.
“Taking banquet tables as an example, many used to sit around 10 people before COVID-19. So eight people is roughly the maximum these tables can take and they allow for additional distancing compared to the past, ”said Mr. Gan.
READ: The nightlife industry is a ‘higher risk’ environment, activities unlikely to resume even at the beginning of Phase 3: Lawrence Wong
Although gatherings of any size pose a risk of spreading COVID-19, refusing social gatherings for long periods is neither sustainable nor desirable, the minister said, adding that a balance must be struck.
“So allowing gatherings of up to eight people in Phase 3 strikes a careful balance between maintaining a safe distancing and allowing larger groups to come together,” he said.
Higher capacity limits can be allowed in environments where secure management measures can be effectively enforced to mitigate risks, and where interactions between different groups can be managed, he added.
“KEY ENABLERS”
Pre-event COVID-19 testing is a “key enabler” that could allow more activities to resume at potentially higher capacity limits, Gan said.
“We are testing the use of pre-event testing to allow higher risk activities, including weddings, to safely escalate, by reducing the likelihood of a COVID-19 case being present at the event, thereby reducing risk. of transmission”.
Alternative test kits, such as rapid antigen tests, which can give fairly accurate results in half an hour, are being used for a shorter turnaround time for tests before events, he noted.
However, these are not as accurate as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, Mr. Gan said, adding that the PCR test remains the “definitive test” for confirming COVID cases. -19.
“As such, while pre-event testing helps reduce the likelihood of a positive COVID case at the event, it cannot completely eliminate it, and safe handling measures will still need to be observed at the event,” he said.
Mr. Gan also noted the strengthening of contact tracing capabilities through the progressive deployment of TraceTogether’s exclusive SafeEntry as another “key enabler.”
READ: COVID-19: Singapore to pilot pre-event rapid tests from mid-October so more events can safely resume
“This is to speed up contact tracing efforts in the event that someone you have been in close contact with at the event becomes a COVID-19 case, and to allow us to provide early medical care if they become infected,” he said.
The Government will continue to work with companies to ensure compliance with safe management measures. Safe distancing ambassadors and law enforcement officers will continue to advise members of the public on safe distancing measures and will take enforcement action when necessary, he said.
“We must establish the proper spirit throughout society and ensure that we all remain committed to maintaining the discipline that will keep us all safe, even if we advance to Phase 3. In fact, even more so if we advance to Phase 3 ,” he said.
The goal of Phase 3 is to achieve a “steady state of permitted economic and social activities” until an effective vaccine or treatment is widely available, Mr. Gan said.
“If we can implement more facilitators and risk mitigation measures that allow further reopening and expansion of activities, we will do so,” he said, adding that specific measures will be taken in case conditions worsen.
“We must not lower our guard and be lax in adhering to safe management measures, as doing so could result in a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, wasting all our sacrifices so far,” Gan said.
While Singapore is now in a much better position to handle any potential spike in cases than it was earlier this year, the country should not be complacent, he said.
“If there is an increase in cases, we must respond quickly and decisively. We cannot rule out the need to re-impose measures or introduce new measures to keep the virus under control, ”he said.
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