Minister Explains Why S’pore is Going for More Measures Instead of a 2-Week Lockdown

By
Siti Hawa
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Authorities all over the world are resorting to different measures in order to clamp down on the coronavirus outbreak.

But there’s one similar aim at the top of everyone’s mind which is to stop the spread of the virus.

Some governments have resorted to throwing their country of millions into lockdown as part of drastic measures to prevent further spread.

Did you know that at this point in time, around 1/3 of the world’s population is on lockdown?

For Singapore, it’s a little bit different:

Minister Explains Why S’pore is Going for More Measures Instead of a 2-Week Lockdown

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong has a thing or two to say about the coronavirus outbreak.

First and foremost, there is no “magic solution” to the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore.

Instead, he believes that “a series of brakes” are needed to handle the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Wong was asked at a press conference why Singapore has not resorted to a lockdown.

He replied, “there is a view, I think, that people sometimes say, ‘why don’t you just … don’t have to wait, just go for the drastic measures now, go for the so-called lockdown today, do it for two weeks then life can go back to normal’.

“There is no such magic solution as a two-week lockdown and then we are free from the virus. It will not happen.”

He also said that although Singapore could implement more “drastic measures”, it would not “eradicate the virus”.

“It will still be with us, and we will still have to continue with this set of measures, like what we are today, for maybe months,” said Mr Wong.

Lest you’re unaware, Mr Wong co-chairs the multi-ministerial task force spearheading the fight against the coronavirus.

Virus Is Here To Stay

He emphasises that the virus is here to stay.

“We are in this for the long haul. We have to prepare that we have to deal with this situation for quite a long period of time.”

Singapore will be “exposed continuously to recurring waves of infection from around the world” and local transmission within the country that will continue.

“(It) is not just one month, two months, but potentially all the way until the end of the year and beyond,” Mr Wong said.

“So, we have to find measures that can control, slow down the virus and do so in a way that is sustainable, not just for two weeks, two months, but all the way through to the end of the year.”

Measures

Some of these measures include safe-distancing and stay-home notices for all travellers.

Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo said that regulations will be reviewed to make sure that employers are doing everything that they possibly can to encourage workers to telecommute, rather than report at the office.

“There is no magic two-week solution to this. These brakes have to be applied for a sustained period. If the situation improves, we remove some brakes. But even as we remove these brakes, we will not go back to zero,” said Mr Wong.

“We will still need a set of precautions – could be baseline, could be more than baseline – but if the situation does not improve, then we apply extra brakes.”

He also emphasises again that these measures or brakes will be applied on and of until at least the end of the year.

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Siti Hawa
Email: [email protected]