FROM March 29, wearing face masks while outdoors in Singapore will become optional, and group sizes restrictions for social gatherings will be doubled from five to 10 people, as the republic makes a “decisive move” towards living with Covid-19, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today.

While the wearing of masks outdoors is optional when the change kicks in due to a “significantly lower” risk of transmission, it will still be required while indoors, Lee said in his televised address to the nation.

Safe distancing of 1m between groups will still be required in settings where masks are not worn to minimise the risk of transmission, he added.

Authorities will also be increasing the capacity limit for larger events and settings, such as those with more than 1,000 people, to 75%.

At present, the limit is set at 50% if there are more than 1,000 people and their masks are on.

Lee also said up to 75% of employees who can work from home will be allowed to return to their workplaces, up from the current 50%.

In his speech, Lee said Singapore has reached a major milestone in its Covid-19 journey.

“The overwhelming majority of our population is fully vaccinated, and nearly everyone eligible has received a booster shot,” he said.

Moreover, the Omicron wave has crested and is now subsiding, he added.

“With many of us already exposed to the virus and recovered, our population has stronger immunity,” he said.

Crucially, he said Singapore’s healthcare system remains resilient, and has held up under the considerable stress at the peak of the Omicron wave.

“The load is still heavy, but the pressure is now easing,” he said.

Still, Lee said that in judging “how far and fast to ease restrictions”, Singapore must be mindful not to stress the healthcare workers and system to the breaking point.

“We must not place an impossible burden on the healthcare workers, and endanger many Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients who urgently need treatment,” he said.

Yet, he said there is also a need to weigh the cost of stringent safe management measures on businesses and the economy, as well as on children needing to learn, youths yearning to interact, families seeking to bond, and communities striving to connect.

“Taking all things into consideration, we believe that we are now ready to take a decisive step forward towards living with Covid-19,” he said.

On the road ahead to recovery, Lee said Singapore is opting to maintain its “measured approach” as it has served the nation well over the past two years of the pandemic.

“After this major step, we will wait a while to let the situation stabilise. If all goes well, we will ease up further,” Lee said.

However, he cautioned that Singapore should be “psychologically prepared for more twists and turns ahead”.

With more interactions between people happening, he said Singapore may see yet another wave of cases.

“Omicron will not be the last variant we encounter. The virus will continue to evolve,” he said. “Hopefully, new variants will become progressively milder and more flu-like.”

On the other hand, he said it is also possible that more aggressive and dangerous mutants will turn up, just like the Delta-variant of the coronavirus did.

“If that happens, we may have to backtrack and tighten up our restrictions again. We cannot rule this out, even though we hope it will not be necessary,” he said.

He said this could include giving everyone another booster jab, or administering an updated vaccine.

Yet whatever happens, Lee said: “we now have the knowledge and the means to keep everyone safe”. – Today Online, March 24, 2022.