Focus on transmission risks to unvaccinated and elderly could help justify curbs

EVEN as Covid-19 curbs on social gathering sizes have been extended, Singapore is moving ahead with Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) and the expansion of the community visit programme for migrant workers.

At first glance, this might seem contradictory. But the choice to expand the latter two schemes is clearly grounded in empirics: they have not resulted in increased spread so far, and the risks remain low.

When it comes to community safe management measures, however, the evidence has been less clear. The public frustration that greeted the Oct 20 news of prolonged curbs is thus understandable.