Breaking News: Singapore to enter Phase 3 on Dec 28
Singapore will enter phase three of its reopening in two weeks, on Dec 28. This announcement came from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during a live address today, Monday (Dec 14).
The permitted group size for social gatherings will go up from five to eight. Capacity limits in public places such as malls, attractions and places of worship will increase.
More details on the reopening will be released shortly. A press conference chaired by the multi-ministerial task force tackling the crisis will be held immediately after the live address.
In the live address, PM Lee expressed his gratitude to Singaporeans who complied law to keep the virus under control.
“We stayed united, kept up our guard, and did not allow ourselves to become complacent over time,” he said. “With everyone’s full support, our enhanced safeguards worked, and we could gradually ease our restrictions. And we can be proud of how far we have come.”
“Phase three means that Singapore will end the year with some good news”, he added.
Much has changed in Singapore since Jan this year.
The Prime Minister noted that it has nearly been a full year since Singapore’s first Covid-19 case on Jan 23.
However, much has changed within the last few months. Singapore’s new infections were more than 1000 a day in March and April. Now, the detection of new infections and local transmissions are down to zero on most days.
“Now, supermarket shelves are full, the school year has been kept intact, and life is more normal than it was during the two-month circuit breaker period”, he said.
“It took a tremendous effort, and some good luck for Singapore to bring things under control”, Mr Lee added.
Singapore’s tough measures worked, and Singaporeans showed resilience and took them in their stride. “Our economy took a big hit, but we did not let it crash. Despite the global economic dislocation, most of our workers kept their jobs. Now, the country’s defences against Covid-19 are much stronger”, Mr Lee said.
Singapore has steadily built up its testing procedures and capacities. Rostered routine testing of higher-risk groups and rapid antigen tests at larger gatherings and events are a norm now.
Tracing capabilities have expanded with the use of the SafeEntry and TraceTogether programmes.
The video of PM Lee’s announcement and the following press conference by the ministerial task force can be viewed here.