Looking towards a quiet - but no less festive - Chinese New Year

WITH Singapore having reached a delicate moment in both its Covid-19 situation and its gradual economic pick-up, social responsibility during the Chinese New Year (CNY) festive season will be crucial if the country is to stay on the route to recovery.

At the end of 2020, the pandemic situation was seen as sufficiently under control for Singapore to move into the third and final phase of reopening. But a spate of local cases in January - including unlinked ones which resulted in the formation of community clusters - has prompted a return to greater caution.

Last week, the government announced a tightening of measures ahead of CNY, noting "increased transmission risks in the community" during the celebrations. Households may receive no more than eight visitors per day, and visitors should limit themselves to visiting at most two other households per day.