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SINGAPORE: Singapore could enter Phase 3 before the end of the year “if all the stars are aligned,” Education Minister Lawrence Wong said on Tuesday (November 10).
Responding to a question at a multi-ministerial working group press conference on when Singapore could enter Phase 3, Mr. Wong said timing “will depend” on people doing their part.
In particular, he said, Singapore needs to see increased participation in the TraceTogether program, as well as continued cooperation and compliance with all safe distancing measures in place.
“So if all the stars are aligned, we could get into Phase 3 before the end of the year,” Wong said.
“There is still some time left before the end of the year. I don’t know if all the stars can align, but we continue to monitor and will give you updates if so.”
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As Singapore gradually moves into Phase 3, you can also expect the number of its COVID-19 cases in the community to increase, Mr. Wong said.
With the resumption of more activities, community cases may increase “maybe into the lower teens, maybe even in their 20s, or more in their 30s,” Mr. Wong said.
“We have to be mentally prepared for that and be ready to make sure that even if local cases in the community increase, they don’t form large groups that are out of control. The key to doing that is increasing our testing capabilities, which we are doing and now we are making testing more accessible to everyone, ”he added.
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While a case in the community currently “may not have much of a chance” of causing a large cluster of COVID-19, there will be “a lot more” activities in the community when Singapore enters Phase 3.
“People dining in groups of eight, larger weddings, places of worship with larger gatherings, events with a larger number of people gathered. With all these activities in Phase 3, the risks of cluster formation will increase. It is inevitable, as we have seen in countries around the world ”.
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In addition to strengthening testing capabilities, contact tracing capabilities should also be strengthened by expanding SafeEntry and TraceTogether, he added.
“If we all cooperate and do our part, we can confidently move towards Phase 3. And even in Phase 3, make sure that the reopening of our borders and the resumption of activities do not result in the formation of large classes, because everyone does. We do not want to have to go through another circuit breaker. “
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