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The decision to tighten Covid-19 measures amid the surge in cases in the Jurong Fishery Port was "the right judgement call", according to Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (July 27).

Wong, who is also the co-chair of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce, said that the situation in Singapore would have been "far worse" if the taskforce did not swiftly move to implement heightened measures.

KTV cluster struck with no warning

Wong was responding to a number of questions from various Members of Parliament (MPs), who were questioning the decision to move back to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures last week.

He said that situation is currently highly fluid and very uncertain, citing how Covid-19 case numbers were in the single digits in early July, and that it was consistently falling.

"July 11, zero cases for the first time in quite a long while. Any risk dashboard would tell you things are okay, and we would be able to move forward to open confidently. Then, what struck? We had the KTV cluster. No warning, no early indicator, but it struck us," said Wong.

However, based on the assessment of the KTV cluster then, Wong explained that the taskforce felt that it was still possible to continue reopening, albeit at a slower pace.

This was when the taskforce implemented the enhanced rules on dining out, which restricted dining in at hawker centres and food courts to two people, and a five-person limit for those who are vaccinated and dining in at other F&B establishments.

Wong then noted that the emergence of the Jurong Fishery Port cluster, which was "much, much more serious", with Covid-19 cases already spreading through the community via markets and hawker centres, and still growing.

With the heightened risk of "exponential spread", and inadequate vaccination coverage at the time, the taskforce then decided to return to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).

"I think if you look at the facts today, I'm fully convinced that was the right judgement call," he said.

MPs should do their part and explain to their residents

As Wong laid out the number of Covid-19 cases linked to both the KTV cluster and the Jurong Fishery Port cluster, he began speaking in a more animated fashion.

"If we had not done the heightened alert, the outcomes would have been far worse. Remember, we still have 200,000 seniors above 60 who are not vaccinated. Are we prepared to live with an outcome where many of them fall sick, or even succumb to the illness?" asked Wong.

Wong acknowledged that the public is "frustrated" at the new measures, but he said that implementing them was a very difficult decision.

"The minute I announce something, I get it in my inbox already. I fully understand, but I hope members in this House understand too," he said.

Wong also pleaded with his fellow parliamentarians to understand this "difficult but necessary decision", and expressed his wish that they will explain this thoroughly to their residents, gradually raising his voice as he spoke.

"We have tried very hard to explain to all of you, in the hope that you too understand what an important, difficult, but necessary decision this has to be, so that you too can do your part as responsible Members of Parliament.

In a crisis and pandemic like this, to explain to your residents, to your constituents. Who, yes I understand, are frustrated and upset. Explain why we had to do this. Difficult, but necessary. "

Top image via YouTube/MCI.