[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s economy will not restart at once, but will have to open up “step by step” even after “breaker” measures are relaxed, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Thursday (April 30) in your May Day message.
Three weeks after a breaker period that lasted until June 1, new cases of COVID-19 in the community have shown signs of falling.
Ad
“We now have about 10 to 15 new community cases per day,” said Lee.
On Thursday, Singapore reported 528 new infections, with most being migrant workers living in dormitories. Six new cases are Singaporean or permanent residents.
READ: Don’t ‘Drop Workers’: Businesses and Workers Should Have a Long-Term Vision, Prime Minister Lee Says in May Day Message
READ: Singapore COVID-19 cases cross 16,000 mark, with 528 new cases reported
Ad
Mr. Lee said that Singapore will gradually restart its economy after it reduces the number of new COVID-19 cases, but this “will not be easy.”
“We need to step up testing for COVID-19 and speed up follow-up on contacts. And we must proceed with caution, with safeguards, so that infections do not flare up again, ”he said.
“Some industries will open earlier than others and recover sooner,” he said. These include sectors critical to maintaining the domestic economy and those that keep Singapore connected to the world and to global supply chains.
“Other sectors will have to wait, especially those that draw crowds or involve close contact with other people, such as entertainment venues and large-scale sporting events,” Lee said. “We must keep all of these different industries intact, ready to resume business when conditions allow.”
HELPING SIA THROUGH THE COVID-19 CRISIS
He warned that the tourism and aviation industries will take much longer to recover, because international travel will continue to be restricted as long as COVID-19 remains a problem worldwide.
READ: Singapore’s aviation and tourism recovery will be very slow after COVID-19, but long-term prospects remain bright
But the government “will spare no effort” to help national airline Singapore Airlines (SIA) overcome this crisis.
“SIA has always flown the flag of Singapore around the world and we are proud of it. We will spare no effort so that you can do it again, ”he said.
The airline, which is facing the biggest crisis in its history, has reduced passenger capacity by 96 percent, asked pilots to take unpaid vacations and cut their executives’ pay. It has also provided support in the fight against COVID-19, helping to fly essential supplies and mounting evacuation flights to bring Singaporeans home. The ground cabin crew is now assisting in hospitals and as safe distance ambassadors in trains, markets, and shopping malls.
“Everyone is doing their part to help the company survive,” said Lee.
READ: COVID-19: Safe drift on planes could be ‘new normal’, raising ticket prices, analysts say
The aviation sector is not the only industry in trouble, as many workers see wage cuts and companies suffer losses during the pandemic.
“This is inevitable, but I encourage both employers and workers to take a longer-term view,” said Lee. “Workers must accept wage sacrifices to keep companies going, and employers must do everything possible to keep their workers.”
The Prime Minister also thanked all workers, including migrant workers, and said he is especially grateful to those who work in essential services, including health workers, teachers, front-line officials of the public service, cleaners and those in security, transportation and transportation services.
“You have all made sacrifices and exceeded duty, your families have also been by your side, supporting them,” he said. “To all of you, I want to thank you very much.”
CHECK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
