'Circuit-breaker' to pre-empt escalating infections: PM Lee

Singapore

WITH the number of Covid-19 infections in Singapore escalating in recent weeks, it was time for the country to make a "decisive move" to prevent the situation from worsening, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a "live" address to the nation on Friday.

"Looking at the trend, I am worried that unless we take further steps, things will gradually get worse, or another big cluster may push things over the edge," he said in his speech beamed from the Istana, just hours after Singapore announced its fifth virus-related death.

He announced that the government will put in place "significantly stricter measures" for four weeks - the length of two incubation cycles - to act as a "circuit-breaker".

"It will help reduce the risk of a big outbreak occurring and it should also help to gradually bring our numbers down. This, in turn, will then allow us to relax some of the measures," said Mr Lee.

Among the unprecedented set of measures are the shutting of most workplaces islandwide except for essential services like supermarkets, hospitals and clinics, and businesses in key economic sectors.

All schools and institutes of higher learning will move to full home-based learning from April 8, for four weeks. Pre-school and student care services will also be shut, but would provide limited services for children of parents who have to continue working.

Mr Lee called on people to stay home as much as possible, and to avoid socialising with people outside of one's household.

He acknowledged that these tightened measures will impact workers and businesses severely in what was already a very difficult time for them.

The government will help those affected, said Mr Lee. He revealed that Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will be in Parliament on Monday to give details of additional support for households and businesses, over and above what was provided in Budget 2020 in February and the Resilience Budget last week.

There will be new legislation to require landlords to pass on their property tax rebates in full to their tenants, as well as a new law to allow businesses and individuals to defer certain contractual obligations - such as paying rent or repaying loans - for an initial period of six months.

During his 25-minute address, in which he also spoke in Mandarin and Malay, Mr Lee said the government had changed its stance on the use of face masks and would no longer discourage people from donning one even if they are well.

There is now evidence that an infected person could show no symptoms of the virus, and yet still pass the bug to others, said Mr Lee.

This was why the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reviewing its position on the use of face masks.

Mr Lee said that reusable masks will be given to all residents with registered home addresses, starting this Sunday.

Since the virus outbreak began more than two months ago, people have been advised to don a mask only if they were not feeling well and to protect others from their germs.

Mr Lee added that Singapore also did not have community spread of the virus then, so it was "very unlikely" for a person to meet someone with Covid-19 outside, much less be infected by them.

Noting that the situation has changed, he said there are some cases in the community going undetected, "although probably still not that many".

"Wearing a mask may help to protect others, in case you have the virus but don't know it. "This is so that you keep your droplets to yourself. It can also protect yourself a little better, especially if you are elderly, or vulnerable because of pre-existing conditions," he said.

Even as the Covid-19 situation in Singapore "remains under control", Mr Lee cautioned that the next few weeks would be pivotal for the country as it tries to contain the spread of the virus.

He said that even after the stepped-up measures are in place, the number of cases here "will quite likely" still go up in the next few days.

These could be people who have already been infected earlier, but have either not yet displayed symptoms or gone to see a doctor.

It is possible to bring the number of infections down and get into a more sustainable position within a few weeks if everyone puts in the effort, he said.

Mr Lee paid tribute to Singapore's healthcare workers - including nurses, doctors, contract tracers - who have been working tirelessly for the past two months.

"Now we are all enlisted to join them on the frontline. It will be a long fight. But if any country can see this through, it is Singapore," he said.

"We have the resources. We have the determination. We are united. By helping one another through this, we will prevail, and emerge stronger."