Experts Say Phase 3 Unlikely to Happen in 2020 As There Aren’t Enough TraceTogether Users

Have you downloaded the TraceTogether app or collected a TraceTogether token?

If you haven’t, you are the reason why Singapore isn’t entering the highly-anticipated Phase 3 in 2020.

Previously, the Singapore government announced that there are three conditions needed to enter Phase 3:

1. TraceTogether participation rate of 70%
2. Compliance with safe management measures
3. Singapore’s testing capabilities

At the end of Nov 2020, it was announced that TraceTogether now has 2.9 million users, about 50% of Singapore’s population.

Another million or so is needed for Singapore to hit 70%, and according to experts, it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to do so by the time 2020 ends in 3 weeks time.

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Experts Say Phase 3 Unlikely to Happen in 2020 As There Aren’t Enough TraceTogether Users

The main stumbling block for Singapore entering Phase 3, experts say, is the takeup rate of TraceTogether.

Associate Professor Alex Cook from NUS’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health says that this the TraceTogether takeup rate could hold Singapore back from advancing.

He also pointed out that having TraceTogether to improve contact tracing is to “counter” the easing of rules.

Professor Teo Yik Ying, also from NUS’s SSHSPH agreed with his view and said that the takeup of TraceTogether is “lagging”.

“At present, it appears we will not be moving to phase three by the end of the year as it appears that token distribution has not achieved a complete coverage of the entire population.”

The TraceTogether app has experienced issues such as draining too much battery from users, which led to everyone wanting the TraceTogether token which was originally made for people who do not have access to smartphones.

This means that not everyone will be able to get one now, although a minister has previously assured that everyone who wants a TraceTogether token, regardless of age or smartphone accessibility, will be able to get one.

That’s the TraceTogether portion, you say, but what about the remaining two conditions.

According to said experts, it seems that we’re doing well in those two areas.

Enhanced Testing Capabilities

If you’ve been reading the news recently, you’ll know that Singapore not only has the ability to handle current testing requirements but has extended the programme even further.

The most recent extension saw them testing stallholders and delivery personnel from wholesale centres.

In fact, the screening at Tekka Centre uncovered two Covid-19 cases, likely to be past infections.

Since 26 Nov 2020, eight local transmission cases have been uncovered with one who was revealed to have dined with 12 other family members, breaching Covid-19 rules.

Nonetheless, experts think that it wouldn’t escalate beyond a small second generation cluster since Singapore’s contact tracing and testing capabilities will help curb the infection rates.

Professor Cook also spoke about the Tekka Centre cases and is reasonably confident that these are isolated cases, showing that Singapore’s current infection control measures are effective.

He also agrees with testing people in “customer-facing” roles as they stand a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 from customers.

Professor Dale Fisher, a senior consultant in NUH’s infectious diseases division, pointed out that Singapore has a “multifaceted” approach to testing:

• Testing those with Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) and their close contacts
• testing of people in dormitories and high-risk sectors
• frontline workers

The fact that Singapore is extending our testing to the local communities for assurance is a “luxury” the rest of the world doesn’t have.

Obeying Covid-19 Measures

As for compliance with the rules, Professor Teo is of the opinion that a majority of people in Singapore are obeying the safe management measures set in place.

While there are some breaches like the Genma Steakhouse incident (their apology made netizens even angrier), the community case who dined with 12 others and the alleged Deepavali celebration with 30 people at Tekka Centre, the public seems to be obeying rules like safe distancing, mask-wearing and gathering in groups of less than five, the professor said.

Professor Cook also pointed out that the government’s firm action with regards to these cases shows its commitment to Covid-19 measures.

Singapore’s Overall Performance

All in all, Professor Cook believes that Singapore’s been doing quite well in handling Covid-19.

We’ve kept our deaths low, and he pointed out that if the US was shrunk to the size of Singapore, they’ll still have 4,500 deaths in terms of performance.

Other than testing capabilities, he said that healthcare workers in Singapore are well-taken care of, government policies that were implemented are “well-thought-out and evidence-based”, and people are generally keeping to the rules.

He added that he is of the belief that Singapore is ready to enter Phase 3. In fact, he added, Singapore should enter Phase 3 soon before people lose their motivation to follow the rules.

In other words, if you have not downloaded the TraceTogether app or collected the TraceTogether token, you could be one of the reasons why people in Singapore still has to gather in groups of lesser than 5.

Featured Image: Ascannio / Shutterstock.com