Opening borders and living with Covid-19 as a new normal in Singapore

EARLY moves to shut borders have been key for many Covid-19 success stories in keeping infection rates safely low. But such lockdowns come at a cost to economies and societies, and are unsustainable in the long run for an interconnected world.

As the world enters the second year of Covid-19 restrictions, countries face mounting pressure over how they will handle the next phase of the pandemic, which is unlikely to go away anytime soon. With vaccination campaigns in the United States and Europe in full swing, many countries there are looking to open up for the summer holidays. In Hong Kong, authorities are offering to exempt fully vaccinated bankers from compulsory quarantine, easing the travel restrictions to and from Asia's financial hub as coronavirus cases ebb.

Singapore too must draw up its road map for the next phase, or risk lasting damage to the economy and its people. The challenge is balancing the safety offered by curbs, against their costs. The latest heightened restrictions have taken a toll on businesses which were just starting to "normalise" a year after Singapore emerged from the first circuit breaker last June. While the government has unveiled S$800 million in fresh aid for firms and individuals, armchair critics have been quick to point to dire needs elsewhere, including addressing why an 88-year-old has to work as a cleaner.

For now, the priority is to get as many people vaccinated as possible. The latest measures have been fairly successful so far in stemming the viral spread, with the number of daily cases falling, and especially keeping under control the number of unlinked community cases. Of those infected, only one out of 93 vaccinated patients required more intensive medical care and supplemental oxygen. This individual had prior health issues. As for those unvaccinated, 8 per cent needed supplemental oxygen.

Public health experts have long warned that the Covid-19 virus is unlikely to be completely eradicated. Thus, Singapore needs a long-term strategy on how to co-exist with the virus and its mutations. It is not impossible. Polio, measles and mumps are infectious diseases that used to cause widespread infections in communities, but are today not major health challenges thanks to early vaccinations at birth.

Logically then, Singapore's long-term game plan should see Covid-19 vaccinations being included as part of national immunisation, with regular booster shots to protect against new variants. Of course, some will still get infected despite inoculation. But the data so far shows that those with vaccinations have milder flu-like symptoms, or are even asymptomatic. Moreover, while the new variant is more transmissible, it appears less deadly.

It is time that Singapore prepares to live with Covid-19 as if it is a bad flu. It is with this eventuality in mind that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled the three-pronged approach this week: fast, frequent and extensive Covid-19 testing; faster and wider contact tracing; and an accelerated national vaccination programme that prioritises first-dose inoculations.

With bottlenecks holding up vaccine distributions in poorer nations, the resumption of international travel will continue to create risk pockets of transmission. As a global hub, Singapore must be prepared for that. Only then can it convince business that it is able to balance the health and safety of all, including visitors, when it opens up.