Faster, more extensive testing, contact-tracing and vaccinations will help Singapore tackle Covid-19: PM Lee

THE new and more infectious variants of the Covid-19 virus mean Singapore must continue to adjust its strategies to keep the pandemic under control, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday.

In a televised speech, he outlined three areas that need to be ramped up and done more quickly - more liberal and extensive testing for the virus, a faster and wider contact-tracing process, and pressing on with the nationwide effort to vaccinate as many people as possible.

On the testing front, he said more and different kinds of tests are coming on stream. These includes breathalyser tests that take only a minute and are being used at the Causeway and the airport. Do-it-yourself tests will soon be sold over the counter at pharmacies, he added.

"These alternatives to PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests help us detect and isolate persons quickly when they are most infectious. This will be a big help in slowing down the spread of Covid-19," he said, adding that the authorities must respond by testing more widely as the virus mutates to become more transmissible.

Mr Lee said the approach to testing is undergoing a shift, where routine and regular testing will be done for people who appear well, in normal work or social or community settings, to make these places safe.

"Extensive testing will give us confidence to resume larger-scale events or gatherings... Therefore, you should expect routine, large-scale, fast and simple testing to be part of our new normal," said the prime minister.

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Turning to the move towards faster and more effective contact-tracing, Mr Lee said the current system can be improved by casting the net wider to identify and quarantine close contacts of an infected case.

In future, a first-degree contact will be isolated and tested for the virus. His or her household members will be notified to isolate themselves immediately - without waiting to see if the first-degree contact tests positive.

"If later, the first-degree contact tests negative, we can safely release his household members from isolation. But if the first-degree contact tests positive, we will have saved precious time by isolating his household members earlier. This more aggressive approach will help us to shut down clusters more quickly," said Mr Lee.

As for vaccinations, Mr Lee had some good news for the nation as he announced that there will be faster vaccine deliveries over the next two months. This will enable the government to boost the vaccination programme and offer the vaccine to everyone, "even sooner than we expected".

With those 40 and above currently eligible for the shots, Mr Lee said the next group in the queue are students. Bookings will open on June 1 with priority given to the graduating cohorts for the 'O', 'N' and 'A' Level examinations, as well as special-needs students. The other students aged 12 and above will follow after, including those in the institutes of higher learning.

Mr Lee said young adults aged 39 and younger will have their turn from around the middle of June, with the Singaporeans in this group given a two-week priority window to book their appointments first.

As of Monday, close to 40 per cent of residents have taken at least one dose of the vaccine; Mr Lee said the next target is to have two-thirds getting at least the first shot by early-July, provided supplies arrive as planned.

"Everyone who is eligible for a vaccination and wants one should be able to get at least their first jab by National Day (on Aug 9). Whether you are old or young, please come forward to be vaccinated once it is your turn," he said.

"With the more-infectious virus strains, we need as many people as possible to be vaccinated, in order to reach herd immunity, or get close to it. This is the way to make everyone safe and resume more normal activities."

Read more: 

• Singapore can ease curbs after June 13, if situation improves and community cases fall: PM Lee

• Pandemic will subside one day - but Covid-19 will become endemic: PM Lee