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SINGAPORE – Singapore can go ahead with Phase Three of its reopening only if three key conditions are met, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said on Tuesday (November 10).
“There may be a possibility that we can do it before the end of the year. Otherwise, we will move to January or sometime early next year,” he added.
“It’s more important that we get it right than rushing into Phase Three and ending up with bad consequences down the road.”
Wong was speaking at a press conference of the multi-ministerial working group on Covid-19.
Singaporeans have been waiting for further easing of restrictions, as it has been nearly five months since the country moved into Phase Two of its phasing reopening, following an eight-week circuit breaker closure earlier this year.
Furthermore, the task force, at a press conference on October 20, raised the possibility of Singapore moving to Phase Three before the end of this year if it could meet various conditions.
But on Tuesday, Wong, who is co-chairing the task force, emphasized that this would be possible only if everyone does their part because with more events allowed, the risk of an increase in coronavirus cases is higher.
“We should be prepared to expect that the number of community cases will increase perhaps to adolescence, perhaps even to 20 or more than 30,” he added.
“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 clumps that are out of control,” he said while explaining the three key conditions. that need to be fulfilled.
First, the TraceTogether program should have a participation rate of around 70 percent, up from the current rate of less than 50 percent.
It plays a key role in contact tracing efforts which, in and of themselves, are important for Singapore to reopen safely.
TraceTogether tokens are being distributed across the island, but there’s no need to collect a token, Wong notes as he urges people to download the TraceTogether app on their smartphones.
“The faster you download the app, the faster we’ll get to a higher engagement rate, the better the stars can be aligned. So consider downloading the app if you haven’t already.”
Second, there must be a general sense of compliance with the safe management measures.
“We need Singaporeans to take today’s measures seriously because if the people are not even responsible enough to defend them, then going into further relaxation will be very risky.”
Authorities will assess this condition through safe distancing ambassadors, who will continue to monitor the situation on the ground in places like restaurants and parks, he said.
Finally, Singapore’s testing capabilities should be sufficient, an area in which the country is “doing well,” he added.
“We have the testing capabilities in place, so we just need contact tracing, TraceTogether, to be active. We need secure management compliance compliance to be there as well, and then with all three indicators showing the green light, be in a position to enter Phase Three.
“Exactly when that happens, we keep an open mind, we will monitor it very carefully,” he said.
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