Ong Ye Kung and S Iswaran spoke in Parliament today on our response to the current COVID-19 situation, and how we are restoring air connectivity in a safe and orderly manner. All inbound travellers to Singapore are still required to be fully vaccinated, or else have a negative pre-departure test. Most importantly, our local population has a very high vaccination rate. I strongly encourage everyone to keep your vaccination status up-to-date, meaning getting a booster shot 5 to 12 months from your last dose, and especially the latest bivalent vaccine. We are monitoring the COVID-19 numbers closely, in light of the year-end travel season and China’s recent re-opening and infection wave. We are ready to adjust our measures if needed, but we do not want to go back to lockdowns and tight restrictions unless absolutely necessary. We must strike a balance that protects our healthcare system against a surge in severe cases, but at the same time lets us carry on living our lives as normally as possible. We will welcome Chinese New Year in less than two weeks. I hope you will continue to exercise social responsibility and stay safe. If the situation continues to stabilise, we can look forward to lifting the remaining restrictions and establishing post-pandemic normalcy.
All these must thanks to our late MM LEE. Whom had guided and pass all his most valuable knowledge well enough to our youngest 2G to 3G and so on to our ministers on how to run SG. I sincerely, hope that PAP will still holds the batton of SG and maintain MM LEE legacy. Otherwise, “And even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I will get up.” (quoted from his rally speech @ the Fullerton hotel).
Jane Iyer
1y
With the greatest of respect, other countries have imposed temporary protection measures on people arriving from high risk places throughout the pandemic, Singapore was on such a footing at one point. Clearly the rapid opening up of China - which has not handled the pandemic well - is a big threat. Of course the number of cases from there has been low to date becos so few people are travelling from there. Imposing testing for a period when it’s unclear exactly what the risk is (the WHO has said the stats are not reliable) does NOT equate to an anti Chinese sentiment, just a realistic approach to the situation. I hope the decisions on this are made in the usual pragmatic & intelligent way that Singapore favours.
Dr Sijin He
1y
The previous COVID-19 policy made by the Chinese government is to require travellers from all over the world, regardless of nationality, to have pre-departure COVID-19 tests. We may criticise this policy as too strict. But basically, it adheres to the government's people-oriented values to maximumly guarantee the well-being of residents in China. As stated underneath, "severe cases can originate from anywhere". It's common sense. However, some governments pick up China from "anywhere" and ONLY require travellers from China to have pre-departure COVID-19 tests, which seems to be lacking scientific spirit or even be discriminative. According to Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stated by the United Nations, these travellers should have their freedom from discrimination. And unfortunately, these governments are member states of the UN. Therefore, it is really appreciated that Singapore protects the basic human rights of travellers from China at this very moment.
Lisa L.
1y
I have visited Singapore twice in the past three months. When I landed in Singapore, I felt very relaxed and warm welcome everywhere. Singapore is a country understand respect and human rights. Your leadership in particular respecting all cultures with fairness sets the benchmark for many political leaders. Thank you for not discriminating Chinese visitors.
Keeping booster shots updated, Sir, is no guarantee of a strengthened immune system. Proactive and constantly alert health self-protection and precautionary measures are, still and always, essential, vital, and critical. Perhaps non-negotiable, under any condition. To most folks, the virus is an unseen enemy. And in a sense, a booster is a misnomer. It is really subjecting further the immune system to even more vulnerability and assumes a mininum standard of personal health status, which the majority of the population in all likelihood do not meet. No one should bring their guard down in such conditions, especially for political reasons. With your kind indulgence, Sir.
Sorry. I totally disagree with the theory of origins here. PCR tests are definitely a necessity for travelers from China as SARS more than ten years ago, plus COVID, caused deadly viruses. Lets not be too happy too fast just because money is needed to boost the economy. We don’t need another lockdown for three years once again.
Nishant S.
1y
While I do appreciate your openness, taking precautions does not reflect any anti-country sentiment. We can not afford at any cost going back to the world in 2020 when all this started. Prevention is better for every country and its people.
Maya Javier
1y
This is worrying but okay
Thank you PM for your visionary strategies
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1yI couldn't agree more. Singapore's careful and calibrated move have helped us become a positive role model to countries managing the Covid crisis.