Singapore delays plans to 'reset' Covid-19 rules as cases cross 20,000 mark for 2 days

Sharon See

Published Thu, Feb 24, 2022 · 04:39 AM

SINGAPORE'S plans to streamline its Covid-19 restrictions will be postponed owing to a surge in daily cases that have exceeded 20,000 for 2 straight days, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday (Feb 24).

Safe management measures (SMM) were meant to be distilled into 5 core parameters - group sizes, mask-wearing, workplace requirements, safe distancing and capacity limits - in phases on Feb 25 and Mar 4, the Covid-19 multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) announced last Wednesday.

The streamlining exercise would have seen safe-distancing rules scrapped, while households would have been able to receive 5 visitors at any one time, instead of 5 per day.

In a statement, MOH said: "Given the current surge in daily cases, and the extensive work involved in going through the detailed rules across different settings, the MTF has reviewed the matter and has decided to consolidate and streamline the SMMs in one go instead."

For now, the current rules will stay, MOH said, adding that it will announce the revised effective date shortly.

In announcing the streamlining of SMMs, taskforce co-chair and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong had said this "reset" would allow the authorities to react more nimbly, easing and tightening along the parameters where needed.

The Republic, which is in the midst of an Omicron wave, reported a record 26,032 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, while Wednesday saw 20,312 cases. While most cases have been mild, healthcare providers are still under significant pressure, with many patients going to hospitals and clinics, asking to be tested and documented officially.

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