Lawrence Wong: COVID-19 Task Force Will Update About New Measures After KTV Cluster

It seems as if the coronavirus is always watching and listening, ready to strike again whenever it gives us the illusion that it’s slowly going away.

We’ve already learnt our lesson not to mention “travel bubbles” anymore, for bad things happen when news of one appears yet again.

Unfortunately, this year, the coronavirus continues to play push-and-pull games with us, unleashing its might on new clusters that pop up at rather unfortunate timings.

It’s the reason why Singapore had to go back to Heightened Alert a few months ago.

You may even be reading this while at lunch with your other four friends right now, following the much anticipated relaxed measures that allow groups of five people to dine-in at eateries.

However, the new KTV cluster that everyone and their mothers have been enraged about may just change this current upward trajectory that we were so sure of.

Lawrence Wong’s Facebook Update

The question remains in everyone’s minds – what will this new KTV cluster mean for Singapore’s journey in fighting the pandemic, and will the measures be tightened again?

Mr Lawrence Wong, our Minister of Finance who also happens to be on the COVID-19 Ministerial Task Force (MTF), took to Facebook on 15 July to share his sentiments on the matter.

“I know many are feeling disappointed and frustrated about the recent Covid-19 cases at KTVs. I feel the same,” he started the post off with.

This follows Health Minister Ong Ye Kung’s statement that he too, felt that the emergence of these cases were “troubling and disappointing”.

Mr Wong said that such cases showed the importance of every citizen’s personal responsibility in a crisis like this one.

“No man is an island,” he wrote.

Not even if you think you’re immune in a private KTV room.

Think of it as a ripple effect – even if one frog jumps into a pond, it may just be one ripple that will result from him, but eventually, the entire pond will be full of it, affecting all the other frogs.

So whatever choice we make wouldn’t just affect ourselves in this pandemic, but also the larger community, he added.

Additional Measures To Be Updated Soon

Mr Wong said that the relevant authorities have been working “round the clock” to contain the cases and keep Singapore safe.

The MTF has also been discussing possible steps to take, and he promised that there will be an update given on any additional measures soon, addressing Singaporeans’ concerns.

“Meanwhile I strongly urge anyone who has been to these pivoted KTV lounges to do the right thing – get yourself tested, and isolate yourself,” he added.

As many Singaporeans have also been lamenting that a majority of citizens have been following safe distancing measures, only to be ruined by these KTV-goers, Mr Wong said that they “continue to take heart” that people have been responsible.

This only serves as a reminder for us all to ensure our personal interests don’t end up causing worse problems for the community.

Singapore’s goal is to treat the disease into an endemic one, so here’s hoping that we can reach that stage soon enough with everyone’s cooperation.

Featured Image: Facebook (Lawrence Wong)