Singapore to enter Phase 3 on Dec 28, Covid-19 vaccine to arrive by year-end

SINGAPORE (Dec 15): Singapore will enter Phase 3 of reopening of its economy and social activities on Dec 28 and expects the first shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to arrive by the end of this month.

These were announced by the republic's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (pictured) in his live address on the latest Covid-19 situation in the Island City here yesterday.

“Now, our defence against Covid-19 is much stronger. We have steadily built up our testing capacity and procedures. We have also beefed up our contact-tracing capability.

Because of these efforts, “we are now ready to progress to Phase 3,” said Lee.

Singapore, which implemented an eight-week 'circuit breaker' from April 7 to curb the pandemic, has entered its Phase 2 of reopening of its economy and social activities on June 19, after being in Phase 1 for only about two weeks.

According to Lee, under Phase 3, Singapore will ease capacity limits in public places, and at places of worship by allowing groups of up to eight people to congregate compared to the current maximum of five.

However, the prime minister reminded that even as Singapore entered Phase 3, “the battle is far from won.”

“The COVID-19 virus has not been eradicated. There is a long way to go,” he said.

Lee noted that around the world, the pandemic is still raging and international borders remain largely closed.

“Thus, our only option is to re-open our borders in a controlled and safe way,” he said.

Singapore reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan 23 and the current infection tally stood at 58,325.

Meanwhile, Lee said that the republic’s Health Sciences Authority has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for pandemic use.

“We also expect other vaccines to arrive in Singapore in the coming months. If all goes according to plan, we will have enough vaccines for everyone in Singapore by the third quarter of 2021,” said Lee.

The prime minister informed that the republic’s Ministry of Health has set up a committee of doctors and experts to recommend a vaccination strategy.

Lee said the government has accepted the recommendations which call for, among others, the first priority to be given to those who are at greatest risk namely healthcare workers and frontline personnel, as well as the elderly and the vulnerable.

Thereafter, the committee proposes to progressively vaccinate the rest of the population and to cover everyone who wants a vaccination by the end of next year.

 “I have personal confidence in our experts.  My colleagues and I, including the older ones, will be getting ourselves vaccinated early. This is to show you, especially seniors like me, that we believe the vaccine is safe.

“We have decided to make vaccination free for all Singaporeans, and for all long-term residents who are currently here,” he said.

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