Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has said that the island is planning to further ease COVID-19 restrictions.

He said this “is not an easing of measures, but a streamlining of the many rules that have accumulated over two years, which made the rules difficult to understand.”

“So, there will be a few steps and exactly when along the way do we ease on alcohol consumption rule, live performance, singing and nightlife activities, that’s something we are studying very carefully and as I said when we are ready, we will provide further details,” he added.

Measures will only take place “when conditions are right and the healthcare workload has eased, which we expect in the coming weeks,” the health ministry said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-health-minister-ong-ye-kung-says-30-of-coronavirus-deaths-last-year-were-fully-vaccinated-443600">Also read |&nbsp;Singapore: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung says 30% of coronavirus deaths last year were fully vaccinated</a>

Singapore will streamline border measures for all travellers, and remove an entry approval requirement for eligible residents who are long-term pass holders, the ministry said, making it easier for expatriates to travel.

When Singapore embarked upon its strategy of living with COVID-19, backed by one of the world’s leading vaccine programs, the wealthy city-state saw a spike in its rate of infections, leading many to question whether the time was right.

But with the numbers now dropping as rapidly as they rose, there’s cautious optimism that the widely watched plan has helped Singapore turn the corner in the pandemic, even with the discovery of the new worrisome omicron variant, and provide a better understanding of what is effective, and what isn’t.

94 per cent of its eligible population is fully vaccinated and another 26 per cent already inoculated with booster shots.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-singapores-pm-cites-jawaharlal-nehrus-legacy-during-a-parliamentary-debate-on-democracy-454039">Also read |&nbsp;India pushes back on Singapore PM's 'criminal, rapists' remarks about Indian MPs</a>

Singapore was able to succeed in getting so many people vaccinated by ensuring there were few barriers to getting the shot, increasing difficulties for the unvaccinated,&nbsp;such as prohibiting them from dining in restaurants or going to malls,&nbsp;and a general confidence in the government and its approach, said Alex Cook, a specialist on infectious disease modelling and statistics at the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

“Perhaps the main lesson to draw from Singapore is to make it easy go get vaccinated, and hard not to be,” he said.

Singapore saw daily cases top 10,000 in the past month and hit a record of about 26,000 on February 22, led to delays in the implementation of some easing measures.

"While the number of patients needing oxygen supplementation and intensive care unit (ICU) care is not high, there is a surge in demand for hospital beds, mostly for patients with underlying chronic illnesses to recover," the health ministry said in a statement.

It reiterated that people with mild or no symptoms who had tested positive should consider self-recovery at home to reduce the pressure on healthcare workers.

Early in the pandemic, the major Southeast Asian business and trade hub kept the spread of coronavirus cases to the single or low double-digits for nearly a year by imposing a hard-line “circuit-breaker” lockdown.

With its vaccination rollout in full swing, an aggressive testing and tracking regimen, and strict health and safety guidelines, the nation of 5.5 million felt confident as it embarked last August upon what it called a “transition journey to a COVID-19 resilient nation.”

It was part of a decision to start treating COVID-19 as an endemic disease, conceding that in the long-term reducing cases to zero would not be possible and that it was time to slowly allow people and businesses again to resume their normal lives.

In addition to a widely vaccinated population, Singapore calculated that its testing was comprehensive enough that it would be able to identify and isolate new outbreak clusters rapidly, and that its health care system had the capacity to deal with any more serious cases.

(With inputs from agencies)

Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has said that the island is planning to further ease COVID-19 restrictions. He said this “is not an easing of measures, but a streamlining of the many rules that have accumulated over two years, which made the rules difficult to understand.

Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has said that the island is planning to further ease COVID-19 restrictions. He said this “is not an easing of measures, but a streamlining of the many rules that have accumulated over two years, which made the rules difficult to understand.” “So, there will be a few steps and exactly when along the way do we ease on alcohol consumption rule, live performance, singing and nightlife activities, that’s something we are studying very carefully and as I said when we are ready, we will provide further details,” he added. Measures will only take place “when conditions are right and the healthcare workload has eased, which we expect in the coming weeks,” the health ministry said in a statement. Also read | Singapore: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung says 30% of coronavirus deaths last year were fully vaccinated Singapore will streamline border measures for all travellers, and remove an entry approval requirement for eligible residents who are long-term pass holders, the ministry said, making it easier for expatriates to travel. When Singapore embarked upon its strategy of living with COVID-19, backed by one of the world’s leading vaccine programs, the wealthy city-state saw a spike in its rate of infections, leading many to question whether the time was right. But with the numbers now dropping as rapidly as they rose, there’s cautious optimism that the widely watched plan has helped Singapore turn the corner in the pandemic, even with the discovery of the new worrisome omicron variant, and provide a better understanding of what is effective, and what isn’t. 94 per cent of its eligible population is fully vaccinated and another 26 per cent already inoculated with booster shots. Also read | India pushes back on Singapore PM's 'criminal, rapists' remarks about Indian MPs Singapore was able to succeed in getting so many people vaccinated by ensuring there were few barriers to getting the shot, increasing difficulties for the unvaccinated, such as prohibiting them from dining in restaurants or going to malls, and a general confidence in the government and its approach, said Alex Cook, a specialist on infectious disease modelling and statistics at the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. “Perhaps the main lesson to draw from Singapore is to make it easy go get vaccinated, and hard not to be,” he said. Singapore saw daily cases top 10,000 in the past month and hit a record of about 26,000 on February 22, led to delays in the implementation of some easing measures. "While the number of patients needing oxygen supplementation and intensive care unit (ICU) care is not high, there is a surge in demand for hospital beds, mostly for patients with underlying chronic illnesses to recover," the health ministry said in a statement. It reiterated that people with mild or no symptoms who had tested positive should consider self-recovery at home to reduce the pressure on healthcare workers. Early in the pandemic, the major Southeast Asian business and trade hub kept the spread of coronavirus cases to the single or low double-digits for nearly a year by imposing a hard-line “circuit-breaker” lockdown. With its vaccination rollout in full swing, an aggressive testing and tracking regimen, and strict health and safety guidelines, the nation of 5.5 million felt confident as it embarked last August upon what it called a “transition journey to a COVID-19 resilient nation.” It was part of a decision to start treating COVID-19 as an endemic disease, conceding that in the long-term reducing cases to zero would not be possible and that it was time to slowly allow people and businesses again to resume their normal lives. In addition to a widely vaccinated population, Singapore calculated that its testing was comprehensive enough that it would be able to identify and isolate new outbreak clusters rapidly, and that its health care system had the capacity to deal with any more serious cases. (With inputs from agencies)

Singapore planning to further ease COVID-19 restrictions, simplify rules

Singapore&nbsp;will begin slowly easing a month-long partial lockdown from next week after the curbs succeeded in stemming a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> outbreak, authorities said Thursday.

The city-state has weathered the pandemic largely unscathed but saw an uptick in local transmissions in recent weeks as new variants spread.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-singapore-finds-delta-most-prevalent-among-coronavirus-variants-locally-390316">COVID-19: Singapore finds delta most prevalent among coronavirus variants locally</a>

Fresh restrictions were introduced in mid-May, including a cap on the size of social gatherings at two, the closure of schools and a ban on dining-in at restaurants.&nbsp;

With cases falling steadily, maximum sizes for gatherings will be lifted to five from Monday, and bigger groups will be allowed at events such as live performances.

If the situation remains under control, more restrictions will be lifted from June 21, including a resumption of restaurant dine-ins, while people will be allowed to work out at gyms without masks.

However, employees who can work from home must continue to do so.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapores-death-toll-from-covid-19-tops-casualties-in-sars-outbreak-390385">Singapore's death toll from COVID-19 tops casualties in SARS outbreak</a>

Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, a member of a government task force dealing with the virus, said the city-state's outbreak was now "under control".

"Over the last few weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases... has fallen progressively, fewer clusters are emerging and (are) generally smaller clusters."

Schools have been closed since last month amid fears that new variants were affecting youngsters more.

The&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;outbreak led to the cancellation, for the second time, of a quarantine-free travel corridor with Hong Kong.&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;said the plan would be reviewed again in early July.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-virus-surge-singapore-set-to-vaccinate-students-from-june-3-388595">Amid virus surge, Singapore set to vaccinate students from June 3</a>

At the start of the pandemic,&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;saw sizeable outbreaks in crowded dormitories housing low-paid foreign workers that infected tens of thousands.&nbsp;

But by global standards, its experience with the virus has been mild. Officials in the city of 5.7 million have reported about 62,000 cases so far and 34 deaths.

Singapore will begin slowly easing a month-long partial lockdown from next week after the curbs succeeded in stemming a coronavirus outbreak, authorities said Thursday.

Singapore will begin slowly easing a month-long partial lockdown from next week after the curbs succeeded in stemming a coronavirus outbreak, authorities said Thursday. The city-state has weathered the pandemic largely unscathed but saw an uptick in local transmissions in recent weeks as new variants spread. Also read | COVID-19: Singapore finds delta most prevalent among coronavirus variants locally Fresh restrictions were introduced in mid-May, including a cap on the size of social gatherings at two, the closure of schools and a ban on dining-in at restaurants. With cases falling steadily, maximum sizes for gatherings will be lifted to five from Monday, and bigger groups will be allowed at events such as live performances. If the situation remains under control, more restrictions will be lifted from June 21, including a resumption of restaurant dine-ins, while people will be allowed to work out at gyms without masks. However, employees who can work from home must continue to do so. Also read | Singapore's death toll from COVID-19 tops casualties in SARS outbreak Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, a member of a government task force dealing with the virus, said the city-state's outbreak was now "under control". "Over the last few weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases... has fallen progressively, fewer clusters are emerging and (are) generally smaller clusters." Schools have been closed since last month amid fears that new variants were affecting youngsters more. The Singapore outbreak led to the cancellation, for the second time, of a quarantine-free travel corridor with Hong Kong. Singapore said the plan would be reviewed again in early July. Also read | Amid virus surge, Singapore set to vaccinate students from June 3 At the start of the pandemic, Singapore saw sizeable outbreaks in crowded dormitories housing low-paid foreign workers that infected tens of thousands. But by global standards, its experience with the virus has been mild. Officials in the city of 5.7 million have reported about 62,000 cases so far and 34 deaths.

Singapore to ease curbs as virus cases fall

Another wave of coronavirus outbreak threatens Singapore as the country reported late on Thursday a record jump in the number of cases.

The Ministry of Health reported 728 new cases, the biggest rise on a daily basis, taking the toll number of infections to 4,427, including 10 deaths. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-once-chinas-coronavirus-epicentre-raises-death-toll-by-50-293040">Wuhan, once China's coronavirus epicentre raises death toll by 50%</a>

"The number of new cases amongst Work Permit holders residing in dormitories has increased significantly, in line with our continued efforts to actively test and isolate the infected workers," the ministry said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-economy-shrinks-suffers-huge-drop-in-face-of-coronavirus-battle-293039">China's economy shrinks, suffers huge drop in face of coronavirus battle</a>

It further said that around 90 per cent of the new cases were linked to people living in dorms and another 26 foreign workers living outside the facilities.&nbsp;

Earlier, Singapore was the part of a smaller group of countries that have well-fought the coronavirus crisis with praises coming from the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, the virus is spreading rapidly from migrant workers, which form a major part of the country's workforce.

Around 200,000 workers, mostly from South Asia, live in 43 dorms across Singapore.&nbsp;

A large part of this workforce is involved in construction activities and their poor living conditions in the dorms were sharply criticised, following which the government moved thousands of them in areas that are not densely populated to lessen the spread of infection.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, veteran Singapore diplomat hit out at the government on Facebook describing it as a "the disgraceful way" &nbsp;of treating foreign workers.&nbsp;

It should be a "wake-up call to treat our indispensable foreign workers like a first world country should", he said. &nbsp;

(With AFP, Reuters inputs)

Another wave of coronavirus outbreak threatens Singapore as the country reported late on Thursday a record jump in the number of cases. The Ministry of Health reported 728 new cases, the biggest rise on a daily basis, taking the toll number of infections to 4,427, including 10 deaths.

Another wave of coronavirus outbreak threatens Singapore as the country reported late on Thursday a record jump in the number of cases. The Ministry of Health reported 728 new cases, the biggest rise on a daily basis, taking the toll number of infections to 4,427, including 10 deaths. Also read | Wuhan, once China's coronavirus epicentre raises death toll by 50% "The number of new cases amongst Work Permit holders residing in dormitories has increased significantly, in line with our continued efforts to actively test and isolate the infected workers," the ministry said. Also read | China's economy shrinks, suffers huge drop in face of coronavirus battle It further said that around 90 per cent of the new cases were linked to people living in dorms and another 26 foreign workers living outside the facilities. Earlier, Singapore was the part of a smaller group of countries that have well-fought the coronavirus crisis with praises coming from the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the virus is spreading rapidly from migrant workers, which form a major part of the country's workforce. Around 200,000 workers, mostly from South Asia, live in 43 dorms across Singapore. A large part of this workforce is involved in construction activities and their poor living conditions in the dorms were sharply criticised, following which the government moved thousands of them in areas that are not densely populated to lessen the spread of infection. Earlier this month, veteran Singapore diplomat hit out at the government on Facebook describing it as a "the disgraceful way" of treating foreign workers. It should be a "wake-up call to treat our indispensable foreign workers like a first world country should", he said. (With AFP, Reuters inputs)

Second wave of coronavirus wave threatens Singapore as country witnesses record infections

Singapore teachers have stopped using Zoom, a video-conferencing app, after intruders made lewd comments in an online class, officials said on Friday.

The city-state's schools were shut down earlier this week as a part of measures to control the novel coronavirus outbreak, but students are attending classes via so-called "home-based learning".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belgium-records-496-coronavirus-related-deaths-in-24-hours-toll-crosses-3000-291800">Belgium records 496 coronavirus related deaths in 24 hours; toll crosses 3,000</a>

During a session on geography on Zoom that involved teenage girls too, two men intruded into the livestream, displayed obscene photographs and made lewd remarks, Singapore's Straits Times newspaper reported.

Zoom's popularity has risen amid lockdown that is put in place in most countries to check COVID-19 spread, but widespread concerns over privacy and security still continue.&nbsp;

Singapore's education ministry is probing the "very serious incidents" and teachers have suspended the use of the app till the security issues are settled, aid Aaron Loh, from the ministry's educational technology division.

"We are already working with Zoom to enhance its security settings and make these security measures clear and easy to follow," Loh said in a statement.

However, he added that home-based teaching would continue.&nbsp;

Zoom, in a statement, said that it "strongly condemns" such behaviour, adding it was "committed to providing educators with the tools and resources they need on a safe and secure platform".

(With AFP inputs) 
&nbsp;

Singapore teachers have stopped using Zoom, a video-conferencing app, after intruders made lewd comments in an online class, officials said on Friday. The city-state's schools were shut down earlier this week as a part of measures to control the novel coronavirus outbreak, but students are attending classes via so-called "home-based learning".

Singapore teachers have stopped using Zoom, a video-conferencing app, after intruders made lewd comments in an online class, officials said on Friday. The city-state's schools were shut down earlier this week as a part of measures to control the novel coronavirus outbreak, but students are attending classes via so-called "home-based learning". Also read | Belgium records 496 coronavirus related deaths in 24 hours; toll crosses 3,000 During a session on geography on Zoom that involved teenage girls too, two men intruded into the livestream, displayed obscene photographs and made lewd remarks, Singapore's Straits Times newspaper reported. Zoom's popularity has risen amid lockdown that is put in place in most countries to check COVID-19 spread, but widespread concerns over privacy and security still continue. Singapore's education ministry is probing the "very serious incidents" and teachers have suspended the use of the app till the security issues are settled, aid Aaron Loh, from the ministry's educational technology division. "We are already working with Zoom to enhance its security settings and make these security measures clear and easy to follow," Loh said in a statement. However, he added that home-based teaching would continue. Zoom, in a statement, said that it "strongly condemns" such behaviour, adding it was "committed to providing educators with the tools and resources they need on a safe and secure platform". (With AFP inputs)

Singapore teachers stop teaching via Zoom app after intruders gatecrash online session