Living with Covid endemic in Singapore

MINISTERS Gan Kim Yong, Lawrence Wong and Ong Ye Kung painted this scenario of the new endemic norm in Singapore. 

• An infected person can recover at home as symptoms will be mostly mild with vaccination. Risk of transmission will be low as others will also be vaccinated. There’ll be less worry about healthcare system being overwhelmed.  
• No need for massive contact tracing, quarantining with each new infection. Those with positive results from regular fast and easy tests can confirm with a PCR test and then isolate themselves.  
• Instead of daily infection numbers, the focus will be on outcomes: How many fall very sick, how many in ICU, how many need to be intubated, and so on, like how we monitor influenza.  
• Progressively, safe management rules to be eased and large gatherings allowed at major events, like the National Day Parade. Businesses will have certainty that their operations will not be disrupted.  
• Travel will restart, at least to countries that have also controlled the virus and turned it into an endemic norm. Singapore will recognise each other's vaccination certificates. Travellers, especially those vaccinated, can get themselves tested before departure and be exempted from quarantine with a negative test upon arrival.

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