Measures to be Tightened Only as a Last Resort, Says Health Minister
SINGAPORE: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has stated that the country plans to ride through the Omicron wave with the current COVID-19 measures in place, tightening restrictions only when the healthcare system faces significant strain. Addressing Parliament on Monday (Jan 10), Ong emphasised that enhanced rules would be a “last resort” should the situation demand it.
The minister reassured that the existing guidelines, such as limiting group sizes to five, would remain throughout the Chinese New Year period. Reflecting on the previous Delta variant wave, Ong warned against prematurely relaxing measures, noting that such an approach would have been a mistake.
With the Omicron variant’s higher transmissibility, Singapore can expect a much larger infection wave than the Delta surge. Ong predicted a potential rise to 10,000-15,000 cases daily, compared to 3,000 during the Delta wave. However, he pointed out that global studies have shown Omicron causes less severe illness, with fewer hospitalisations and emergency care needed. Singapore’s experience aligns with this, with 4,322 recorded Omicron cases so far, and none requiring ICU care.
While the outlook is more optimistic compared to Delta, Ong cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions, as each country’s situation differs. He stressed the need to balance vaccinations, healthcare capacity, and safe management measures, adapting to the evolving pandemic landscape. Social restrictions will not be lifted entirely, nor will the healthcare system be put under extreme pressure without careful consideration.
Singapore’s vaccination rates continue to rise, with over 90% of eligible individuals vaccinated and 46% having received their booster shots. Healthcare infrastructure has also been bolstered, with increased ICU capacity and a rise in trained medical personnel.
Despite the challenges, Ong expressed confidence in Singapore’s preparedness, noting that once the Omicron wave subsides, the nation will be a step closer to managing COVID-19 as part of everyday life.
