GEIS-新闻详情

Singapore on the way to living with Covid-19, but must overcome roadblocks: Gan Kim Yong

2021-07-20 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - The nation is still en route to living with endemic Covid-19, but must be prepared to make adjustments along the way, Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said at a virtual press conference on Tuesday (July 20).

Mr Gan, who is co-chairman of the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19, was responding to a question on whether it is still too early to talk about an "endemic era" for the coronavirus.

The reporter who raised the question also highlighted the fact that the authorities had said on multiple occasions that Singapore must learn to live with the virus, but had also made numerous changes to the restrictions within a short period of time.

In response, Mr Gan said: "I think we are on an expressway towards the final objective of endemic Covid-19. But along the way, there will be bumps, and sometimes you may have roadblocks, you may have obstacles, and you may need to make a detour.

"But eventually, when we overcome the roadblocks, we will come back to the expressway and continue the journey."

He said the need remained to be flexible and respond quickly as the situation evolved in order to keep it under control.

"So I think we need to continue to plan ahead for our endemic road map, but at the same time, be prepared to make adjustments along the way in response to the evolving situation," he said.

Earlier in the press conference, he had also said Singapore still needs to keep infections under control to protect people who are not vaccinated, especially the elderly.

"Once we have slowed down the new clusters and hit higher vaccination rates, we will be able to continue with our reopening journey," he added.

His fellow co-chairman, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, also said Singapore is on the journey to a Covid-19-resilient economy and society.

"I know it may not feel like it, and we seem to move forward and backward a bit, one step back, three steps forward, two steps back, but the fact is we are on it," he said.

It is because Singapore is already on this journey that there is no need to resort to a circuit breaker, where most activities come to a halt, to tackle the recent surge in cases.

"We need not look back at closing down manufacturing, closing down offices, closing down construction activities. We've put that behind us with effective measures," he said.

The task force said it would provide additional support for businesses that are affected by the new restrictions, and that details are currently being discussed.