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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong confirmed that for now, there will be no extension to the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) that began on May 16 and is scheduled to last until June 13.

Nor will P2HA be "upgraded" to a full Circuit Breaker. PM Lee stated that the existing measures have succeeded in bringing down the number of cases.

Addressing the nation in a live speech on May 31, PM Lee said:

"Because of your support, the number of daily cases has come down. Barring another super-spreader or big cluster, we should be on track to bring this outbreak under control. We will know for sure in another week or so."

He urged Singaporeans to keep up the good work, work from home if possible, go out only if it's important, and to see a doctor immediately if one feels unwell, even those already vaccinated. He added:

"If our situation continues to improve, and the number of community cases falls further, we should be able to relax the restrictions after the 13th of June."

Beef up Singapore's Covid-19 containment efforts

But that doesn't mean Singapore is going to rest on its laurels.

PM Lee also announced further steps taken to beef up the Covid-19 response and ensure that the newer, more infectious variants can be contained. Singapore's testing, tracing and vaccination processes will be augmented.

Testing

Fast testing is imperative to prevent the disease from spreading widely.

PM Lee announced that anyone visiting a GP or polyclinic with an acute respiratory infection will receive an Antigen Rapid Test (ART), as well as a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.

While the ART is less sensitive than the PCR, it is also cheaper and easier to administer, with a faster response time.

People who test positive with the ART will be immediately isolated, and the PCR test will confirm the diagnosis later. This will help to reduce the chances of infection.

PM Lee also announced that DIY tests will be available for purchase at pharmacies, and with alternatives such as breathalyser tests, routine testing can be carried out at places like malls, offices and restaurants.

People whose occupations involve regular contact with others, such as fitness instructors, physiotherapists and teachers, could all be tested regularly.

The idea is to change the approach to testing, from those appearing ill to those who are visibly well.

Large-scale testing could also help to ensure that large-scale events, such as a concert or a wedding reception, can proceed.

PM Lee said, "therefore, you should expect routine, large-scale, fast and simple testing to be part of our new normal."

Tracing

Contact tracing will also be enhanced, helped by tools like TraceTogether and SafeEntry.

The immediate household members of a close contact of a Covid-19 case will also be ordered to isolate themselves immediately, without waiting to see if the first degree contact tests positive.

The more aggressive approach will help to prevent clusters from growing bigger.

Vaccination

PM Lee also announced the ramping up of Singapore's vaccination efforts, helped by the confirmation of faster vaccine deliveries over the next two months from suppliers.

So far, nearly 4 out of 10 residents have received at least a first dose of the vaccine.

Recently, the Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) announced a shift in strategy, to prioritise first dose vaccinations.

In other words, the priority is to get as many shots in arms as fast as possible, instead of fully vaccinating a smaller segment of the population.

This approach provides the maximum number of people with good protection, instead of a good number of people with maximum protection, PM Lee said.

Students will be the next group slated for vaccination, with registrations open from June 1 onwards. Priority will be given to those taking their O-, N- and A-Level examinations, as well as special needs students.

After the students comes Singaporeans aged 39 and below, beginning around mid-June.

PM Lee said that everyone who wants a vaccine should be able to get their first shot by National Day (August 9).

To make the process even more convenient for the remaining elderly who have not booked their slot, PM Lee also announced that those above 60 can walk into any vaccination centre and get vaccinated on the spot.

Endemic

PM Lee said that while the global pandemic will one day subside, it may be that Covid-19 cannot be eradicated completely.

In that case, it will become endemic and circulate among small groups of people for years to come, and there may be small outbreaks among the population in Singapore.

The virus can be managed through vaccination and testing, and even though some will be infected from time to time, pre-pandemic events like religious services and entertainment with crowds can resume.

He urged Singaporeans to keep up their efforts for the next two weeks of P2HA, and thanked us for our cooperation and support.

Top image from MCI.