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Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.
- Thread starter LaoTze
- Start date
from straitstimes.com:
Covid-19 vaccine could mean shorter stay-home notice for those who take it: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - Travellers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 may avoid having to serve a lengthy stay-home notice (SHN) when they return to Singapore in the future, Education Minister Lawrence Wong has suggested.
Mr Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry coronavirus task force, said the Government would consider drastically reducing or even doing away with the two-week quarantine requirement if data shows vaccination significantly reduces transmission risks.
He said this was one of the potential "tangible benefits" for those choosing to be vaccinated, besides protection against the virus.
"Those who choose not to be vaccinated, you have to live with more frequent tests, you have to live with quarantine, you have to live with all of these other additional requirements," he said on Thursday (Jan 7) during an interview on CNA's Talking Point.
"If you have the vaccination, you travel to a high-risk place, you come back, can that SHN be shortened, or even done away with completely? That's the big question," said Mr Wong.
"We still don't know the extent to which a vaccination can completely - or how significantly - help reduce transmission risk. So those studies are still pending. If indeed the data shows that transmission risks can come down significantly with vaccination, then certainly, we will consider reducing drastically the SHN or even doing away with it."
Being vaccinated may also make it possible to travel abroad more freely, depending on the requirements in other countries, Mr Wong noted.
"Even without a vaccine today, many Singaporeans can already travel freely to other countries without a quarantine there because they regard Singaporeans as coming from a low-risk jurisdiction," said the minister.
"So I think with a vaccination it will certainly help, but those are regulations that are outside of our control."
The discussion hosted by CNA presenter Steven Chia also featured Associate Professor Vernon Lee, director of the communicable diseases division at the Ministry of Health, and Associate Professor Benjamin Ong, who chairs the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination convened by the MOH.
Prof Lee debunked a number of rumours about the vaccine, including one that says it can cause cancer. "At this point, there is no evidence that this vaccine will result in such a side effect," he said in response to a question from a viewer. He added that most of the known side effects are mild, but the vaccine can cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
The messenger RNA (mRNA) used in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is currently the only one being administered here, also does not incorporate itself into human DNA, Prof Lee noted.
"In fact, after about 48 hours, it just dissipates in the body and it disintegrates, so there's no evidence at this point that there's any such concern," he said of the cancer rumour.
There is also no evidence that a patient who receives the vaccine will have difficulty getting pregnant, Prof Lee said in response to another question.
Prof Ong said the likelihood that the vaccine will cause long-term issues is "very remote".
Nonetheless, he said the expert committee decided to play it safe and has recommended that pregnant women wait until after they have given birth before being vaccinated.
Asked about the new strain of the virus that has emerged in Britain and spread to various countries, including Singapore, Prof Ong said mutations occur all the time, and added that the vaccine is likely to still work on the new strain. This is because the mutated virus features the same spike protein as the earlier strain used to develop the vaccine.
Singapore has also purchased a vaccine developed by the US pharmaceutical company Moderna, which similarly uses mRNA technology to introduce the genetic code to the body to produce a piece of the coronavirus known as a spike protein, thereby helping the patient's cells recognise and develop an immune response to Covid-19.
In addition, the Republic has also bought stocks of a more traditional inactivated virus vaccine produced by China's Sinovac.
Mr Wong said Singapore had to make "early bets" on these vaccines as long ago as April, before there was extensive clinical data on the efficacy of the various candidate vaccines being developed. This was to ensure Singapore would be near the front of the queue.
"Based on whatever preliminary data that was available then... we decided on the three that we have made advanced purchases for, with the aim of building a diversified portfolio of vaccines that will be safe and effective for use in Singapore," he said.
"We have three now, but that's not the end of it."
Covid-19 vaccine could mean shorter stay-home notice for those who take it: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - Travellers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 may avoid having to serve a lengthy stay-home notice (SHN) when they return to Singapore in the future, Education Minister Lawrence Wong has suggested.
Mr Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry coronavirus task force, said the Government would consider drastically reducing or even doing away with the two-week quarantine requirement if data shows vaccination significantly reduces transmission risks.
He said this was one of the potential "tangible benefits" for those choosing to be vaccinated, besides protection against the virus.
"Those who choose not to be vaccinated, you have to live with more frequent tests, you have to live with quarantine, you have to live with all of these other additional requirements," he said on Thursday (Jan 7) during an interview on CNA's Talking Point.
"If you have the vaccination, you travel to a high-risk place, you come back, can that SHN be shortened, or even done away with completely? That's the big question," said Mr Wong.
"We still don't know the extent to which a vaccination can completely - or how significantly - help reduce transmission risk. So those studies are still pending. If indeed the data shows that transmission risks can come down significantly with vaccination, then certainly, we will consider reducing drastically the SHN or even doing away with it."
Being vaccinated may also make it possible to travel abroad more freely, depending on the requirements in other countries, Mr Wong noted.
"Even without a vaccine today, many Singaporeans can already travel freely to other countries without a quarantine there because they regard Singaporeans as coming from a low-risk jurisdiction," said the minister.
"So I think with a vaccination it will certainly help, but those are regulations that are outside of our control."
The discussion hosted by CNA presenter Steven Chia also featured Associate Professor Vernon Lee, director of the communicable diseases division at the Ministry of Health, and Associate Professor Benjamin Ong, who chairs the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination convened by the MOH.
Prof Lee debunked a number of rumours about the vaccine, including one that says it can cause cancer. "At this point, there is no evidence that this vaccine will result in such a side effect," he said in response to a question from a viewer. He added that most of the known side effects are mild, but the vaccine can cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
The messenger RNA (mRNA) used in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is currently the only one being administered here, also does not incorporate itself into human DNA, Prof Lee noted.
"In fact, after about 48 hours, it just dissipates in the body and it disintegrates, so there's no evidence at this point that there's any such concern," he said of the cancer rumour.
There is also no evidence that a patient who receives the vaccine will have difficulty getting pregnant, Prof Lee said in response to another question.
Prof Ong said the likelihood that the vaccine will cause long-term issues is "very remote".
Nonetheless, he said the expert committee decided to play it safe and has recommended that pregnant women wait until after they have given birth before being vaccinated.
Asked about the new strain of the virus that has emerged in Britain and spread to various countries, including Singapore, Prof Ong said mutations occur all the time, and added that the vaccine is likely to still work on the new strain. This is because the mutated virus features the same spike protein as the earlier strain used to develop the vaccine.
Singapore has also purchased a vaccine developed by the US pharmaceutical company Moderna, which similarly uses mRNA technology to introduce the genetic code to the body to produce a piece of the coronavirus known as a spike protein, thereby helping the patient's cells recognise and develop an immune response to Covid-19.
In addition, the Republic has also bought stocks of a more traditional inactivated virus vaccine produced by China's Sinovac.
Mr Wong said Singapore had to make "early bets" on these vaccines as long ago as April, before there was extensive clinical data on the efficacy of the various candidate vaccines being developed. This was to ensure Singapore would be near the front of the queue.
"Based on whatever preliminary data that was available then... we decided on the three that we have made advanced purchases for, with the aim of building a diversified portfolio of vaccines that will be safe and effective for use in Singapore," he said.
"We have three now, but that's not the end of it."
from straitstimes.com:
Get vaccinated promptly, don't wait for preferred Covid-19 vaccine brand: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - People here should get vaccinated as soon as they are given the chance to do so, urged Education Minister and co-chair of Singapore's Covid-19 multi-ministry task force Lawrence Wong, as he cautioned against waiting for one's preferred vaccine choices.
While the Government has made purchases and assured the public that there will be enough for everyone, there is uncertainty about the brand availability of vaccines, said Mr Wong on Wednesday (Jan 13).
He added that there is no way of knowing when one's preferred brand might be available, but gave his assurance that Singapore's vaccines are safe.
"What we have today is an authorised vaccine that is safe, that's effective," he said.
"And when the time comes, just come forward and get yourself vaccinated, rather than wait for some other brand that may or may not materialise down the road."
Mr Wong was speaking to reporters after receiving his Pfizer-BioNTech jab at the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, the other co-chair of the task force, was vaccinated on Wednesday as well.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first Covid-19 vaccine that has been approved for use here.
Vaccines by other pharmaceutical companies, Moderna and Sinovac, are expected to arrive in the months ahead.
Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination exercise began on Dec 30 last year with 40 healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. Since then, more than 6,200 people have received the vaccine.
The roll-out of the jabs here will be done in phases that will be timed with the arrival of Singapore's vaccine shipments.
The Government is setting up Covid-19 vaccination centres that will allow a large number of people to be vaccinated daily, and vaccinations will also be given in polyclinics and general practitioner clinics.
On Wednesday, Mr Wong said that there will be a significant ramp-up of vaccinations here, and added that it was important for front-liners like those working at Singapore's border entry points to get vaccinated as early as possible so that they can continue doing their job safely.
"That's the new front line, if you will, where the workers and the crew and the staff at these areas are potentially interacting with travellers and crew from overseas. So I think it's important that they get vaccinated early," he said.
"They are doing very important roles to keep our economy going, to keep Singapore going, and they are also an important part of our overall plan to contain the spread of the virus."
Get vaccinated promptly, don't wait for preferred Covid-19 vaccine brand: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - People here should get vaccinated as soon as they are given the chance to do so, urged Education Minister and co-chair of Singapore's Covid-19 multi-ministry task force Lawrence Wong, as he cautioned against waiting for one's preferred vaccine choices.
While the Government has made purchases and assured the public that there will be enough for everyone, there is uncertainty about the brand availability of vaccines, said Mr Wong on Wednesday (Jan 13).
He added that there is no way of knowing when one's preferred brand might be available, but gave his assurance that Singapore's vaccines are safe.
"What we have today is an authorised vaccine that is safe, that's effective," he said.
"And when the time comes, just come forward and get yourself vaccinated, rather than wait for some other brand that may or may not materialise down the road."
Mr Wong was speaking to reporters after receiving his Pfizer-BioNTech jab at the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, the other co-chair of the task force, was vaccinated on Wednesday as well.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first Covid-19 vaccine that has been approved for use here.
Vaccines by other pharmaceutical companies, Moderna and Sinovac, are expected to arrive in the months ahead.
Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination exercise began on Dec 30 last year with 40 healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. Since then, more than 6,200 people have received the vaccine.
The roll-out of the jabs here will be done in phases that will be timed with the arrival of Singapore's vaccine shipments.
The Government is setting up Covid-19 vaccination centres that will allow a large number of people to be vaccinated daily, and vaccinations will also be given in polyclinics and general practitioner clinics.
On Wednesday, Mr Wong said that there will be a significant ramp-up of vaccinations here, and added that it was important for front-liners like those working at Singapore's border entry points to get vaccinated as early as possible so that they can continue doing their job safely.
"That's the new front line, if you will, where the workers and the crew and the staff at these areas are potentially interacting with travellers and crew from overseas. So I think it's important that they get vaccinated early," he said.
"They are doing very important roles to keep our economy going, to keep Singapore going, and they are also an important part of our overall plan to contain the spread of the virus."
from straitstimes.com:
8 vaccination centres by end-Feb as S'pore ramps up vaccine roll-out
More than 6,200 have had first dose; elderly will get theirs from this month
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong (above) and Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chair Singapore's multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19, receiving their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from Dr Richard Tan, director of clinical services at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.
Singapore's vaccination programme is kicking into high gear, as it expands its scope and increases its pace, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said yesterday.
Eight vaccination centres will be set up by the end of next month, including two centres at Changi Airport Terminal 4 and Raffles City Convention Centre that are already operational, as well as two more at the former Hong Kah Secondary School and Woodlands Galaxy Community Club, which will begin running next week.
Another four centres will be ready next month, and more centres will be progressively opened as Singapore expands its vaccination programme, added Mr Gan, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19.
Shots will also be given at polyclinics and general practitioner clinics, as well as at healthcare institutions.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital yesterday, Mr Gan said the pace of vaccination is being ramped up from this week, with close to 2,800 vaccinated on Tuesday alone.
More than 6,200 people here have received their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine so far, and this figure is expected to rise substantially in the coming weeks.
"We are planning to continue to expand the scope of vaccination and to increase the pace of vaccination eventually to cover the whole population in Singapore," he said.
Mr Gan and task force co-chair, Education Minister Lawrence Wong, also received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday.
Mr Wong also announced that the elderly will start receiving their Covid-19 vaccinations from this month. The Government had previously announced that seniors aged 70 and above would start getting jabs from next month.
Letters will be sent out to inform the elderly of when they can make bookings for their vaccinations.
Since Singapore kicked off its vaccination drive on Dec 30, vaccines have been administered to healthcare workers in public and private healthcare institutions.
Front-line workers, including those at airports and sea ports, as well as swabbers and workers in community care facilities, are also being vaccinated.
Letters will be progressively issued to other Singapore residents when their turn to be vaccinated comes. Mr Wong said this expansion of the vaccination programme will be timed together with the arrival of vaccine shipments.
Mr Gan urged Singapore residents to go for the vaccination when they are offered one, stressing that it will collectively provide protection against the coronavirus to the whole population if a high vaccination rate is achieved.
"This, in turn, will allow us to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic more quickly. It will allow our economy to recover faster, it will also allow us to resume our community activities faster," he said.
If all goes to plan, Singapore will have enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone by the third quarter of this year.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - the only one approved here to date - requires two injections, given 21 days apart. Singapore is expecting more vaccine deliveries in the next few months, including from American biotechnology firm Moderna and China's Sinovac.
The Sinovac vaccine has yet to be approved, said Mr Gan. The Moderna vaccine, which has a similar efficacy rate as Pfizer's, is under review, Mr Wong said.
8 vaccination centres by end-Feb as S'pore ramps up vaccine roll-out
More than 6,200 have had first dose; elderly will get theirs from this month
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong (above) and Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chair Singapore's multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19, receiving their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from Dr Richard Tan, director of clinical services at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.
Singapore's vaccination programme is kicking into high gear, as it expands its scope and increases its pace, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said yesterday.
Eight vaccination centres will be set up by the end of next month, including two centres at Changi Airport Terminal 4 and Raffles City Convention Centre that are already operational, as well as two more at the former Hong Kah Secondary School and Woodlands Galaxy Community Club, which will begin running next week.
Another four centres will be ready next month, and more centres will be progressively opened as Singapore expands its vaccination programme, added Mr Gan, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19.
Shots will also be given at polyclinics and general practitioner clinics, as well as at healthcare institutions.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital yesterday, Mr Gan said the pace of vaccination is being ramped up from this week, with close to 2,800 vaccinated on Tuesday alone.
More than 6,200 people here have received their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine so far, and this figure is expected to rise substantially in the coming weeks.
"We are planning to continue to expand the scope of vaccination and to increase the pace of vaccination eventually to cover the whole population in Singapore," he said.
Mr Gan and task force co-chair, Education Minister Lawrence Wong, also received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday.
Mr Wong also announced that the elderly will start receiving their Covid-19 vaccinations from this month. The Government had previously announced that seniors aged 70 and above would start getting jabs from next month.
Letters will be sent out to inform the elderly of when they can make bookings for their vaccinations.
Since Singapore kicked off its vaccination drive on Dec 30, vaccines have been administered to healthcare workers in public and private healthcare institutions.
Front-line workers, including those at airports and sea ports, as well as swabbers and workers in community care facilities, are also being vaccinated.
Letters will be progressively issued to other Singapore residents when their turn to be vaccinated comes. Mr Wong said this expansion of the vaccination programme will be timed together with the arrival of vaccine shipments.
Mr Gan urged Singapore residents to go for the vaccination when they are offered one, stressing that it will collectively provide protection against the coronavirus to the whole population if a high vaccination rate is achieved.
"This, in turn, will allow us to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic more quickly. It will allow our economy to recover faster, it will also allow us to resume our community activities faster," he said.
If all goes to plan, Singapore will have enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone by the third quarter of this year.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - the only one approved here to date - requires two injections, given 21 days apart. Singapore is expecting more vaccine deliveries in the next few months, including from American biotechnology firm Moderna and China's Sinovac.
The Sinovac vaccine has yet to be approved, said Mr Gan. The Moderna vaccine, which has a similar efficacy rate as Pfizer's, is under review, Mr Wong said.
from straitstimes.com:
Elderly to start getting Covid-19 vaccine earlier, from end-Jan: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - The elderly will start receiving their Covid-19 vaccinations earlier than expected from later this month, as the Government steps up its roll-out of the vaccine, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong.
Mr Wong, who co-chairs Singapore's Covid-19 multi-ministry task force, on Wednesday (Jan 13) said the elderly will get help to make bookings for the vaccine.
The Government had previously announced that seniors aged 70 and above would start getting jabs from February.
"Towards the end of the month, we will begin the programme for the elderly, where we will invite them to come to the nearest polyclinic, Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) or vaccination centre on a booking system," said Mr Wong after receiving his Pfizer-BioNTech jab at the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.
The booking system is required to avoid a wastage of vaccines, where the jabs are prepared but no one is there to receive them.
Mr Wong said letters will be sent out to inform the elderly of when they can make bookings for their vaccinations.
Volunteers will be trained to help seniors make online bookings, and information in different languages will be disseminated in HDB estates.
Mr Wong said: "This process will take a bit of time. So we will also step up our outreach and engagement efforts, particularly to the elderly across all our HDB estates, to let them know what this is about, give them more information in different languages, and also to help them with the booking because not everybody will be familiar with the IT system."
After the elderly, vaccines will be progressively made available to other segments of the population here.
Mr Wong said this will be done in phases, and timed together with the arrival of vaccine shipments.
"We do expect a significant ramp up from now onwards, and once again, we would encourage everyone to step forward, be vaccinated when you are offered the chance to be vaccinated," he added.
Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination exercise began on Dec 30 with 40 healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
Since then, more front-line staff have received their jabs, including those working in the National University Health System (NUHS), Ren Ci Bukit Batok nursing home, as well as Home Team officers.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, the other co-chair of the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force, also received his vaccination.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first Covid-19 vaccine that has been approved for use in Singapore, with vaccines by other pharmaceutical companies, Moderna and Sinovac, expected to arrive in the months ahead.
The Government is currently at work setting up Covid-19 vaccination centres that will allow a large number of people to be vaccinated daily, and vaccinations will also be given in polyclinics and general practitioner clinics.
Prior bookings will be required before people head down to the vaccination centres to receive their Covid-19 shot.
Elderly to start getting Covid-19 vaccine earlier, from end-Jan: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - The elderly will start receiving their Covid-19 vaccinations earlier than expected from later this month, as the Government steps up its roll-out of the vaccine, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong.
Mr Wong, who co-chairs Singapore's Covid-19 multi-ministry task force, on Wednesday (Jan 13) said the elderly will get help to make bookings for the vaccine.
The Government had previously announced that seniors aged 70 and above would start getting jabs from February.
"Towards the end of the month, we will begin the programme for the elderly, where we will invite them to come to the nearest polyclinic, Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) or vaccination centre on a booking system," said Mr Wong after receiving his Pfizer-BioNTech jab at the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.
The booking system is required to avoid a wastage of vaccines, where the jabs are prepared but no one is there to receive them.
Mr Wong said letters will be sent out to inform the elderly of when they can make bookings for their vaccinations.
Volunteers will be trained to help seniors make online bookings, and information in different languages will be disseminated in HDB estates.
Mr Wong said: "This process will take a bit of time. So we will also step up our outreach and engagement efforts, particularly to the elderly across all our HDB estates, to let them know what this is about, give them more information in different languages, and also to help them with the booking because not everybody will be familiar with the IT system."
After the elderly, vaccines will be progressively made available to other segments of the population here.
Mr Wong said this will be done in phases, and timed together with the arrival of vaccine shipments.
"We do expect a significant ramp up from now onwards, and once again, we would encourage everyone to step forward, be vaccinated when you are offered the chance to be vaccinated," he added.
Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination exercise began on Dec 30 with 40 healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
Since then, more front-line staff have received their jabs, including those working in the National University Health System (NUHS), Ren Ci Bukit Batok nursing home, as well as Home Team officers.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, the other co-chair of the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force, also received his vaccination.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first Covid-19 vaccine that has been approved for use in Singapore, with vaccines by other pharmaceutical companies, Moderna and Sinovac, expected to arrive in the months ahead.
The Government is currently at work setting up Covid-19 vaccination centres that will allow a large number of people to be vaccinated daily, and vaccinations will also be given in polyclinics and general practitioner clinics.
Prior bookings will be required before people head down to the vaccination centres to receive their Covid-19 shot.
from yahoo.com:
More COVID-19 measures may be necessary as community cases rise: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE — The government is monitoring the COVID-19 situation carefully and considering if additional measures are necessary to ensure it remains under control amid a rise in community cases in recent days, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday night (18 January).
“For the first time in several months we have a local cluster linked to a police para-vet. Unfortunately there were also several recent cases who did not seek medical treatment despite falling ill with flu-like symptoms,” said Wong in a post on his Facebook page.
The co-chair of the multI-ministerial taskforce on COVID-19 was referring to the “case 59280” cluster, named after the para-vet’s case number, which now has six cases linked to it.
On Monday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported two more cases in the community – the fifth day in a row where new community infections are reported.
Both community cases are linked to a 44-year-old Singaporean man who works as an administrative officer at the Singapore Police Force's K-9 Unit at its headquarters. They are his wife, a 43-year-old Singaporean woman and homemaker, and a family member, a 66-year-old Malaysian woman.
The man and another family member, a 44-year-old Singaporean woman, were confirmed as cases on Sunday. They were identified as being linked to a 32-year-old Singaporean man who works as a para-vet at the K-9 Unit.
The para-vet himself was confirmed to have COVID-19 on 13 January and his wife was also confirmed to have the disease two days later.
Wong said contact tracers are working hard to identify all the possible contacts, ring-fence the potential cases and prevent them from spreading further.
“Meanwhile please cooperate with all the safe management measures - wear your masks, see a doctor when sick, and do your part to reduce transmission risks. The virus is still circulating silently within our community and we cannot afford to let our guard down.”
According to the MOH statement, the 43-year-old Singaporean woman and 66-year-old Malaysian woman had not sought treatment despite showing COVID-19 symptoms.
More COVID-19 measures may be necessary as community cases rise: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE — The government is monitoring the COVID-19 situation carefully and considering if additional measures are necessary to ensure it remains under control amid a rise in community cases in recent days, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday night (18 January).
“For the first time in several months we have a local cluster linked to a police para-vet. Unfortunately there were also several recent cases who did not seek medical treatment despite falling ill with flu-like symptoms,” said Wong in a post on his Facebook page.
The co-chair of the multI-ministerial taskforce on COVID-19 was referring to the “case 59280” cluster, named after the para-vet’s case number, which now has six cases linked to it.
On Monday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported two more cases in the community – the fifth day in a row where new community infections are reported.
Both community cases are linked to a 44-year-old Singaporean man who works as an administrative officer at the Singapore Police Force's K-9 Unit at its headquarters. They are his wife, a 43-year-old Singaporean woman and homemaker, and a family member, a 66-year-old Malaysian woman.
The man and another family member, a 44-year-old Singaporean woman, were confirmed as cases on Sunday. They were identified as being linked to a 32-year-old Singaporean man who works as a para-vet at the K-9 Unit.
The para-vet himself was confirmed to have COVID-19 on 13 January and his wife was also confirmed to have the disease two days later.
Wong said contact tracers are working hard to identify all the possible contacts, ring-fence the potential cases and prevent them from spreading further.
“Meanwhile please cooperate with all the safe management measures - wear your masks, see a doctor when sick, and do your part to reduce transmission risks. The virus is still circulating silently within our community and we cannot afford to let our guard down.”
According to the MOH statement, the 43-year-old Singaporean woman and 66-year-old Malaysian woman had not sought treatment despite showing COVID-19 symptoms.
from theindependent.sg:
Lawrence Wong: Pandemic raises questions on the value of university education
Singapore—In a recent interview with the straitstimes.com (ST), Education Minister Lawrence Wong outlined the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on education.
He said that the pandemic “has raised questions about the value of a university education” as well as had an effect on traditional models of teaching.
It also “raised a lot more questions about how an undergraduate education should be delivered and how we can achieve better learning outcomes or our students.”
In his interview, he added that the skills learned in university may grow irrelevant quickly, due to rapid developments.
Therefore, a university education should not just be about preparation for one particular job, but should instead provide “broader skillsets” to equip a student for life, including communication skills, innovation, creativity and other “fundamental skills that are cross-cutting.”
Mr Wong told ST that additional places were offered in the country’s six autonomous universities last year, given that a number of Singaporean students could not study overseas as they had planned.
Other students who had received diplomas from polytechnics chose to go on to universities last year as well, rather than compete for employment in a weakened job market.
This may happen this year too, he added, if the situation remains the same.
The Education Minister also emphasised that getting a university education is not a prerequisite for work.
Those who wish to attend university may do so later on, he added.
Also, the funding for education does not require students to obtain their degrees in four years, and if they desire to take some time off for other endeavours, provided the university “agrees that it’s useful,” he said.
Mr Wong also talked to ST about his own experience as an undergraduate.
He had been told by his parents that he would need to get a scholarship if he wanted to study overseas, and therefore “grabbed” the chance with a PSC (Public Service Commission) scholarship.
He obtained both his undergraduate and masters degrees in the United States.
At first Mr Wong enrolled in a diverse range of classes, later settling into economics.
He told ST he “started delving more into macroeconomics, the quantitative aspects of economic modelling, understanding fiscal and monetary policies, and later on, the Singapore model of economic development.”
The minister added this bit of advice to students, “start with a broad education, enjoy your learning, but also specialise in an area you are interested in and ensure you acquire deep knowledge and skills in it.”
Lawrence Wong: Pandemic raises questions on the value of university education
Singapore—In a recent interview with the straitstimes.com (ST), Education Minister Lawrence Wong outlined the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on education.
He said that the pandemic “has raised questions about the value of a university education” as well as had an effect on traditional models of teaching.
It also “raised a lot more questions about how an undergraduate education should be delivered and how we can achieve better learning outcomes or our students.”
In his interview, he added that the skills learned in university may grow irrelevant quickly, due to rapid developments.
Therefore, a university education should not just be about preparation for one particular job, but should instead provide “broader skillsets” to equip a student for life, including communication skills, innovation, creativity and other “fundamental skills that are cross-cutting.”
Mr Wong told ST that additional places were offered in the country’s six autonomous universities last year, given that a number of Singaporean students could not study overseas as they had planned.
Other students who had received diplomas from polytechnics chose to go on to universities last year as well, rather than compete for employment in a weakened job market.
This may happen this year too, he added, if the situation remains the same.
The Education Minister also emphasised that getting a university education is not a prerequisite for work.
Those who wish to attend university may do so later on, he added.
I expect some proportion of students will still do that – to go to university for their first degree before going out to work, but increasingly you will see more pathways for students to go for further studies when they are older, in the course of their working life,” he told ST.
Also, the funding for education does not require students to obtain their degrees in four years, and if they desire to take some time off for other endeavours, provided the university “agrees that it’s useful,” he said.
Mr Wong also talked to ST about his own experience as an undergraduate.
He had been told by his parents that he would need to get a scholarship if he wanted to study overseas, and therefore “grabbed” the chance with a PSC (Public Service Commission) scholarship.
He obtained both his undergraduate and masters degrees in the United States.
At first Mr Wong enrolled in a diverse range of classes, later settling into economics.
He told ST he “started delving more into macroeconomics, the quantitative aspects of economic modelling, understanding fiscal and monetary policies, and later on, the Singapore model of economic development.”
The minister added this bit of advice to students, “start with a broad education, enjoy your learning, but also specialise in an area you are interested in and ensure you acquire deep knowledge and skills in it.”
from straitstimes.com:
'He's literally on my speed dial': Lawrence Wong, Gan Kim Yong on working together to fight Covid-19
SINGAPORE - If there is one thing Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has learnt about Education Minister Lawrence Wong, it is that he is a decisive man.
"I look at the way he discusses and raises issues and makes decisions," said Mr Gan, 61. "Once the facts are clear, we will have no ifs and buts. Just move, and get it done."
And for Mr Wong, 48, his senior colleague has been a "great mentor" with whom he has worked closely since both men became co-chairs of the multi-ministerial task force tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
"He's literally on my speed dial. I disturb him all the time because, after all, I'm coming in cold," Mr Wong said, referring to how he was relatively new to the healthcare scene.
The ministers were speaking to reporters on Tuesday (Jan 19) at a press conference to mark one year of Covid-19 in Singapore. They had been asked how their impressions of one another had changed over the last 12 months.
"Somehow, I don't know why, I've been tied to Kim Yong in different ways, even before Covid-19," Mr Wong responded.
He succeeded Mr Gan as the PAP Community Foundation's management council chairman in 2015, and took over as the Singapore Labour Foundation's chairman in 2018. Mr Gan guided him in both transitions, Mr Wong said.
Part of his role as co-chairman of the task force involves thinking out of the box, he added, since he - unlike Mr Gan - is not within the Health Ministry (MOH).
"From time to time, I'll just call him up, brainstorm, throw up ideas," Mr Wong said. "And he's always open-minded... helping me to understand better what the science is, what MOH's opinion is, and then together we've been able to sort of think through and brainstorm, and come up with solutions together."
To that, Mr Gan added that he was "very happy" to be working with "a very decisive co-chairman".
'He's literally on my speed dial': Lawrence Wong, Gan Kim Yong on working together to fight Covid-19
SINGAPORE - If there is one thing Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has learnt about Education Minister Lawrence Wong, it is that he is a decisive man.
"I look at the way he discusses and raises issues and makes decisions," said Mr Gan, 61. "Once the facts are clear, we will have no ifs and buts. Just move, and get it done."
And for Mr Wong, 48, his senior colleague has been a "great mentor" with whom he has worked closely since both men became co-chairs of the multi-ministerial task force tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
"He's literally on my speed dial. I disturb him all the time because, after all, I'm coming in cold," Mr Wong said, referring to how he was relatively new to the healthcare scene.
The ministers were speaking to reporters on Tuesday (Jan 19) at a press conference to mark one year of Covid-19 in Singapore. They had been asked how their impressions of one another had changed over the last 12 months.
"Somehow, I don't know why, I've been tied to Kim Yong in different ways, even before Covid-19," Mr Wong responded.
He succeeded Mr Gan as the PAP Community Foundation's management council chairman in 2015, and took over as the Singapore Labour Foundation's chairman in 2018. Mr Gan guided him in both transitions, Mr Wong said.
Part of his role as co-chairman of the task force involves thinking out of the box, he added, since he - unlike Mr Gan - is not within the Health Ministry (MOH).
"From time to time, I'll just call him up, brainstorm, throw up ideas," Mr Wong said. "And he's always open-minded... helping me to understand better what the science is, what MOH's opinion is, and then together we've been able to sort of think through and brainstorm, and come up with solutions together."
To that, Mr Gan added that he was "very happy" to be working with "a very decisive co-chairman".
from straitstimes.com:
Singapore may tighten Covid-19 rules ahead of Chinese New Year, will also prioritise vaccine roll-out
SINGAPORE - The battle against Covid-19 this year will be fought on two fronts: speeding up the nationwide vaccination programme, and keeping the slate of safeguards finely tuned.
This could mean implementing further restrictions ahead of Chinese New Year in February, when more social interaction is expected to take place, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the task force tackling the pandemic.
He pointed out that the number of Covid-19 cases in the community has been inching up roughly two weeks after the year-end festive period.
"We are concerned that if we continue in the same sort of situation, (if) we don't do something more, then this continued creep in the cases may end up in new clusters emerging, that may be beyond our control later," Mr Wong said.
"So, we are considering very carefully now whether additional measures may be necessary."
He added: "Exactly what these are - whether they pertain to house visitations, what kind of measures - we are still studying. And when we are ready we will highlight them."
Mr Wong and task force co-chair Gan Kim Yong, the Health Minister, were addressing reporters on Tuesday (Jan 19) at an interview to mark one year of Covid-19 in Singapore.
The 90-minute interview covered a variety of topics, including the challenges the task force has faced over the past 12 months, as well as the prospects for Singapore in the coming years.
The ministers also thanked front-line workers, individual volunteers, and organisations that contributed to the effort and went out of their comfort zones to help.
The country's response to the crisis reflected the resilience of its society, Mr Gan said, adding: "When the challenges come our way, we are able to come together, look after one another, support one another and to emerge stronger at the end of the crisis."
In many ways, Singapore is in a stronger position to tackle the virus than it was before, Mr Wong said. It now has better healthcare capabilities, improved testing and tracing capabilities, and is rolling out vaccinations.
On the other hand, the situation remains highly unpredictable because the virus is still spreading in the wider world, he added. Community cases are going up, and there is a sense of fatigue with all the rules in place.
Mr Gan also said that much remains unknown about the virus.
From that point of view, Singapore is still in a vulnerable position, Mr Wong said. In fact, he added, it is almost as though the country is back where it started a year ago.
"We have to think through, all over again - what's the right calibration of measures (and) how far do we want to go in terms of the restrictions," he said.
He stressed that Singapore's safeguards are not watertight.
As long as there is a weakness in any line of the country's defence - for example, someone who feels ill but does not see a doctor - a superspreader event with multiple virus clusters could emerge. "And then we will be running around trying to chase after the virus all over again, like what happened at the beginning of last year," Mr Wong said.
Both ministers stressed that Singapore still has a long way to go and must remain vigilant, even though the end is in sight with the nationwide vaccination programme well under way.
If all goes according to plan, Singapore will have enough vaccines for all citizens and long-term residents by the third quarter of this year.
"But between now and the third quarter of this year, there are many months, and many things can happen during this period," Mr Wong said. "So let's stay alert, let's stay vigilant, let's rally together and complete our mission to defeat Covid-19 together."
Singapore may tighten Covid-19 rules ahead of Chinese New Year, will also prioritise vaccine roll-out
SINGAPORE - The battle against Covid-19 this year will be fought on two fronts: speeding up the nationwide vaccination programme, and keeping the slate of safeguards finely tuned.
This could mean implementing further restrictions ahead of Chinese New Year in February, when more social interaction is expected to take place, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the task force tackling the pandemic.
He pointed out that the number of Covid-19 cases in the community has been inching up roughly two weeks after the year-end festive period.
"We are concerned that if we continue in the same sort of situation, (if) we don't do something more, then this continued creep in the cases may end up in new clusters emerging, that may be beyond our control later," Mr Wong said.
"So, we are considering very carefully now whether additional measures may be necessary."
He added: "Exactly what these are - whether they pertain to house visitations, what kind of measures - we are still studying. And when we are ready we will highlight them."
Mr Wong and task force co-chair Gan Kim Yong, the Health Minister, were addressing reporters on Tuesday (Jan 19) at an interview to mark one year of Covid-19 in Singapore.
The 90-minute interview covered a variety of topics, including the challenges the task force has faced over the past 12 months, as well as the prospects for Singapore in the coming years.
The ministers also thanked front-line workers, individual volunteers, and organisations that contributed to the effort and went out of their comfort zones to help.
The country's response to the crisis reflected the resilience of its society, Mr Gan said, adding: "When the challenges come our way, we are able to come together, look after one another, support one another and to emerge stronger at the end of the crisis."
In many ways, Singapore is in a stronger position to tackle the virus than it was before, Mr Wong said. It now has better healthcare capabilities, improved testing and tracing capabilities, and is rolling out vaccinations.
On the other hand, the situation remains highly unpredictable because the virus is still spreading in the wider world, he added. Community cases are going up, and there is a sense of fatigue with all the rules in place.
Mr Gan also said that much remains unknown about the virus.
From that point of view, Singapore is still in a vulnerable position, Mr Wong said. In fact, he added, it is almost as though the country is back where it started a year ago.
"We have to think through, all over again - what's the right calibration of measures (and) how far do we want to go in terms of the restrictions," he said.
He stressed that Singapore's safeguards are not watertight.
As long as there is a weakness in any line of the country's defence - for example, someone who feels ill but does not see a doctor - a superspreader event with multiple virus clusters could emerge. "And then we will be running around trying to chase after the virus all over again, like what happened at the beginning of last year," Mr Wong said.
Both ministers stressed that Singapore still has a long way to go and must remain vigilant, even though the end is in sight with the nationwide vaccination programme well under way.
If all goes according to plan, Singapore will have enough vaccines for all citizens and long-term residents by the third quarter of this year.
"But between now and the third quarter of this year, there are many months, and many things can happen during this period," Mr Wong said. "So let's stay alert, let's stay vigilant, let's rally together and complete our mission to defeat Covid-19 together."
Well that is what Singaporeans voted for. kind of sad we got such calibre of minister.Dumbass PAP technocrats. You cannot 'defeat' a viral pandemic. You can however do damage limitation.
In fact, I bet the situation gets worse with every additional hare-brained attempt to fight/resist/defeat it.
Not a single country can defeat the virus.Dumbass PAP technocrats. You cannot 'defeat' a viral pandemic. You can however do damage limitation.
In fact, I bet the situation gets worse with every additional hare-brained attempt to fight/resist/defeat it.
Our minister so powerful??
from yahoo.com:
COVID-19: Visitors to be capped at 8 per household per day from 26 Jan – Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE — The government will impose a cap of eight distinct visitors per household per day from 26 January, amid a rise in the number of COVID-19 community cases and emergence of new clusters in Singapore recently.
Making the announcement at a virtual news conference on Friday (22 January), Education Minister Lawrence Wong said enforcement officers will conduct random spot checks on households to ensure that the new measure is being adhered to.
“There are also possibilities where neighbours may call up. It has already happened before. We've received feedback from residents during the circuit breaker for example, or even during Phase One,” said Wong, who is also the COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) co-chair.
“We know it's not easy to enforce (the new measure), it may not be 100 per cent, because you can't have people everywhere in every home checking 100 per cent of the time.”
The cap on visitors per household is to further mitigate the risk of large community clusters arising from infections that spread within a household and through them to their contacts.
Individuals should also limit themselves to visiting at most two other households a day, as much as possible, said Wong.
Health Minister and taskforce co-chair Gan Kim Yong, who also spoke at the conference, expressed concern about “a certain degree of complacency” among the community cases and clusters in the past two weeks.
“About three-quarters of them were symptomatic yet half of them did not seek medical treatment after they had experienced symptoms and some continue to go to work and intermingle within the community,” Gan said.
The maximum group size for social gatherings outside the house will remain at eight people for now.
“That said, everyone should keep their social circle small instead of mixing with multiple social groups. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and impose further measures as necessary,” the MTF said in a statement.
COVID-19: Visitors to be capped at 8 per household per day from 26 Jan – Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE — The government will impose a cap of eight distinct visitors per household per day from 26 January, amid a rise in the number of COVID-19 community cases and emergence of new clusters in Singapore recently.
Making the announcement at a virtual news conference on Friday (22 January), Education Minister Lawrence Wong said enforcement officers will conduct random spot checks on households to ensure that the new measure is being adhered to.
“There are also possibilities where neighbours may call up. It has already happened before. We've received feedback from residents during the circuit breaker for example, or even during Phase One,” said Wong, who is also the COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) co-chair.
“We know it's not easy to enforce (the new measure), it may not be 100 per cent, because you can't have people everywhere in every home checking 100 per cent of the time.”
The cap on visitors per household is to further mitigate the risk of large community clusters arising from infections that spread within a household and through them to their contacts.
Individuals should also limit themselves to visiting at most two other households a day, as much as possible, said Wong.
Health Minister and taskforce co-chair Gan Kim Yong, who also spoke at the conference, expressed concern about “a certain degree of complacency” among the community cases and clusters in the past two weeks.
“About three-quarters of them were symptomatic yet half of them did not seek medical treatment after they had experienced symptoms and some continue to go to work and intermingle within the community,” Gan said.
The maximum group size for social gatherings outside the house will remain at eight people for now.
“That said, everyone should keep their social circle small instead of mixing with multiple social groups. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and impose further measures as necessary,” the MTF said in a statement.
COVID-19 pandemic could last 4 to 5 years: Lawrence Wong
Education Minister Lawrence Wong speaks at the Institute of Policy Studies Singapore Perspectives Conference on Jan 25, 2021. (Photo: Jacky Ho for IPS)
By Chew Hui Min
25 Jan 2021 09:22PM (Updated: 25 Jan 2021 09:50PM)
Bookmark
SINGAPORE: It may take four to five years before the COVID-19 pandemic ends and the world can look to a "post-COVID normal", said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (Jan 25).
"At some point in time the pandemic will pass, but it may take four to five years before we finally see the end of the pandemic and the start of a post-COVID normal. What will this new post-COVID world look like? No one can tell," he said.
Mr Wong, who co-chairs the COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce, was speaking at the Singapore Perspectives 2021 conference hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).
READ: 'Many things could have been done better': COVID-19 task force chiefs on the lessons from the past year of the pandemic
In a 30-minute speech on the final day of the four-day conference, the minister highlighted how there are still many uncertainties to contend with in the next few years, while sharing his hopes about how the future can be "reset" once the pandemic is over.
"Reset" was the theme of the hybrid conference, held online and in-person at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, which sought to imagine how Singapore could look like in 2030.
Mr Wong said there was still "great uncertainty" about how the coronavirus will shape society in the coming years. Adhering to safe management measures like mask-wearing and avoiding crowds will continue for this year and "maybe a good part of next year", he said.
"Beyond that, the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations will progressively restart global travel, but getting the world vaccinated won't be quick or easy," he added.
Education Minister Lawrence Wong (left) and Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez at the dialogue session during the Institute of Policy Studies Singapore Perspectives Conference on Jan 25, 2021. (Photo: Jacky Ho for IPS)
The Government has planned for everyone in Singapore to be vaccinated by the third quarter of this year, but Mr Wong said that there could still be "bumps along the way".
He noted that the current vaccines may not be so effective against new mutant strains of the virus, and will have to be modified to counter them.
"In the positive scenario, this means the vaccine becomes a bit like an annual flu jab ... or perhaps we develop a vaccine that works for all strains. But in the worst case, we end up always a step behind an evolving virus, and you will not be able to catch up in time," he said.
"So there are still tremendous uncertainties ahead of us. And the bottom line is that we live in a shared world and no one is safe until everyone is safe."
IN FOCUS: How a year of COVID-19 changed Singapore forever
When asked later by moderator Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez on whether 2021 will be a re-run, a sequel or a re-make of 2020, Mr Wong said there are important differences between the situation now and last year - mainly that Singapore is better prepared to fight the virus and that there are now vaccines available.
"What we need to do really is to tide through now until the point where everyone in Singapore is vaccinated, maybe the third quarter of the year. Perhaps at the end of the year, there is a solution."
"REBOOT" FOR THE FUTURE
Looking ahead to the post-pandemic future, Mr Wong said the current crisis can set the stage for a "software update" or a "reboot" of Singapore after the damage inflicted the virus.
"We must reset our social compact to emerge as a fairer and more equal society. The pandemic may be indiscriminate about who it infects but its impact is anything but equal. It has, in fact, widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots," he said.
He said that Singapore started to prioritise reducing inequality a decade ago, and that last year, many emergency measures were introduced to help lower-income groups. But this year, the temporary measures will have to "taper down" as the economy improves.
READ: How the COVID-19 pandemic changed my life
However, he foresees that Singaporeans will need more assurance and support in a more uncertain and volatile world.
"The impact of the pandemic has created an added impetus to strengthen our social support system. There will be a permanent shift towards further strengthening of our social safety nets in Singapore to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable," he said, adding that it will have to be done in a "sustainable manner over the long term".
The minister added that meritocracy in Singapore should not "ossify into a hereditary system".
"We start by intervening early and uplifting our children from birth. That's a key focus and priority for me in the Ministry of Education - that's why we're making significant investments in pre-school," said Mr Wong, who took over the education portfolio this year after the General Election in July.
Commentary: Making sense of shifting goalposts in public policy and the science of COVID-19
Expanding on his outlook for Singapore's education system, he said the country is making "fundamental shifts" in its model to facilitate education for life.
"We want to have multiple entry points across the age distribution and across the entire skill spectrum. And thereby enable everyone to reskill, upgrade and continuously improve to be the best possible version of themselves," he said.
GREENER, MORE UNITED SINGAPORE
Mr Wong said that the pandemic has also thrown a spotlight on the unequal value society places on different types of workers, and added that this needs to change.
"Merit has become narrowly defined by academic and cognitive abilities but there's a wide range of abilities and aptitudes needed for societies to thrive," he said.
"We've come to better appreciate the contributions of our essential workers ... We must honour them for their work and accord them the dignity and respect they deserve. We must ensure they receive fair remuneration for the important work they do."
IN FOCUS: After COVID-19, where are the Singapore economy, workforce headed?
Mr Wong highlighted two more ways Singapore can "reset" - to become greener and to strengthen solidarity among its people.
He said that the pandemic led to a temporary fall in carbon emissions when human activity came to a standstill, and the natural world began to heal.
"We cannot go back to the status quo ante ... climate change will be the existential emergency of our time. So we must build a greener economy and society that's more environmentally sustainable."
He said that while the pandemic sharpened divisions in some counties, it has brought Singaporeans together.
"I am confident that we will prevail and emerge stronger from this crucible, and I do not say this lightly. I speak from my own conviction of seeing the best of Singaporeans over the past year in the face of adversity and very tough conditions," he said.
A renewed sense of solidarity is important as it will help Singapore build a better society, said the minister.
"My hope is for Singapore to emerge as a fairer, greener and more equal country with a much stronger spirit of solidarity and shared purpose," he said.
Education Minister Lawrence Wong speaks at the Institute of Policy Studies Singapore Perspectives Conference on Jan 25, 2021. (Photo: Jacky Ho for IPS)
By Chew Hui Min
25 Jan 2021 09:22PM (Updated: 25 Jan 2021 09:50PM)
Bookmark
SINGAPORE: It may take four to five years before the COVID-19 pandemic ends and the world can look to a "post-COVID normal", said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (Jan 25).
"At some point in time the pandemic will pass, but it may take four to five years before we finally see the end of the pandemic and the start of a post-COVID normal. What will this new post-COVID world look like? No one can tell," he said.
Mr Wong, who co-chairs the COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce, was speaking at the Singapore Perspectives 2021 conference hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).
READ: 'Many things could have been done better': COVID-19 task force chiefs on the lessons from the past year of the pandemic
In a 30-minute speech on the final day of the four-day conference, the minister highlighted how there are still many uncertainties to contend with in the next few years, while sharing his hopes about how the future can be "reset" once the pandemic is over.
"Reset" was the theme of the hybrid conference, held online and in-person at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, which sought to imagine how Singapore could look like in 2030.
Mr Wong said there was still "great uncertainty" about how the coronavirus will shape society in the coming years. Adhering to safe management measures like mask-wearing and avoiding crowds will continue for this year and "maybe a good part of next year", he said.
"Beyond that, the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations will progressively restart global travel, but getting the world vaccinated won't be quick or easy," he added.
Education Minister Lawrence Wong (left) and Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez at the dialogue session during the Institute of Policy Studies Singapore Perspectives Conference on Jan 25, 2021. (Photo: Jacky Ho for IPS)
The Government has planned for everyone in Singapore to be vaccinated by the third quarter of this year, but Mr Wong said that there could still be "bumps along the way".
He noted that the current vaccines may not be so effective against new mutant strains of the virus, and will have to be modified to counter them.
"In the positive scenario, this means the vaccine becomes a bit like an annual flu jab ... or perhaps we develop a vaccine that works for all strains. But in the worst case, we end up always a step behind an evolving virus, and you will not be able to catch up in time," he said.
"So there are still tremendous uncertainties ahead of us. And the bottom line is that we live in a shared world and no one is safe until everyone is safe."
IN FOCUS: How a year of COVID-19 changed Singapore forever
When asked later by moderator Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez on whether 2021 will be a re-run, a sequel or a re-make of 2020, Mr Wong said there are important differences between the situation now and last year - mainly that Singapore is better prepared to fight the virus and that there are now vaccines available.
"What we need to do really is to tide through now until the point where everyone in Singapore is vaccinated, maybe the third quarter of the year. Perhaps at the end of the year, there is a solution."
"REBOOT" FOR THE FUTURE
Looking ahead to the post-pandemic future, Mr Wong said the current crisis can set the stage for a "software update" or a "reboot" of Singapore after the damage inflicted the virus.
"We must reset our social compact to emerge as a fairer and more equal society. The pandemic may be indiscriminate about who it infects but its impact is anything but equal. It has, in fact, widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots," he said.
He said that Singapore started to prioritise reducing inequality a decade ago, and that last year, many emergency measures were introduced to help lower-income groups. But this year, the temporary measures will have to "taper down" as the economy improves.
READ: How the COVID-19 pandemic changed my life
However, he foresees that Singaporeans will need more assurance and support in a more uncertain and volatile world.
"The impact of the pandemic has created an added impetus to strengthen our social support system. There will be a permanent shift towards further strengthening of our social safety nets in Singapore to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable," he said, adding that it will have to be done in a "sustainable manner over the long term".
The minister added that meritocracy in Singapore should not "ossify into a hereditary system".
"We start by intervening early and uplifting our children from birth. That's a key focus and priority for me in the Ministry of Education - that's why we're making significant investments in pre-school," said Mr Wong, who took over the education portfolio this year after the General Election in July.
Commentary: Making sense of shifting goalposts in public policy and the science of COVID-19
Expanding on his outlook for Singapore's education system, he said the country is making "fundamental shifts" in its model to facilitate education for life.
"We want to have multiple entry points across the age distribution and across the entire skill spectrum. And thereby enable everyone to reskill, upgrade and continuously improve to be the best possible version of themselves," he said.
GREENER, MORE UNITED SINGAPORE
Mr Wong said that the pandemic has also thrown a spotlight on the unequal value society places on different types of workers, and added that this needs to change.
"Merit has become narrowly defined by academic and cognitive abilities but there's a wide range of abilities and aptitudes needed for societies to thrive," he said.
"We've come to better appreciate the contributions of our essential workers ... We must honour them for their work and accord them the dignity and respect they deserve. We must ensure they receive fair remuneration for the important work they do."
IN FOCUS: After COVID-19, where are the Singapore economy, workforce headed?
Mr Wong highlighted two more ways Singapore can "reset" - to become greener and to strengthen solidarity among its people.
He said that the pandemic led to a temporary fall in carbon emissions when human activity came to a standstill, and the natural world began to heal.
"We cannot go back to the status quo ante ... climate change will be the existential emergency of our time. So we must build a greener economy and society that's more environmentally sustainable."
He said that while the pandemic sharpened divisions in some counties, it has brought Singaporeans together.
"I am confident that we will prevail and emerge stronger from this crucible, and I do not say this lightly. I speak from my own conviction of seeing the best of Singaporeans over the past year in the face of adversity and very tough conditions," he said.
A renewed sense of solidarity is important as it will help Singapore build a better society, said the minister.
"My hope is for Singapore to emerge as a fairer, greener and more equal country with a much stronger spirit of solidarity and shared purpose," he said.
from yahoo.com:
Seniors to get COVID-19 vaccines from 27 January, says Gan Kim Yong
SINGAPORE — Seniors in the community in Ang Mo Kio and Tanjong Pagar will be able to get their COVID-19 vaccines from next Wednesday under pilots, before vaccination centres are set up islandwide for other seniors from mid-February.
Speaking at a virtual press conference on Friday (22 January), Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said that more than 60,000 people have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as of Friday, including those working in healthcare, nursing homes, frontline and essential services, and seniors in nursing homes.
Additionally, 39 staff at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) have also received their second dose of the vaccine; they will have built up maximum protection against COVID-19 in two weeks’ time.
About 5,000 to 10,000 seniors in each of the two precincts will be invited to take part in the pilots, Gan, who co-chairs the multi-ministry taskforce tackling the pandemic, said.
Authorities will begin to roll out the vaccination to other precincts and areas two weeks after the pilots, he added.
“While we have made steady progress on the vaccination front, we must remember that the journey is far from over. Vaccination is but one of a whole suite of measures that must work hand in hand to keep transmissions low,” said Gan.
“The key to keeping one another safe lies in each one of us. If we all do our part to adhere strictly to the safe management measures and be socially responsible, we can turn the tide of the rising community cases without having to impose drastic measures. So let us keep up our fight and remain vigilant especially over the coming festive Chinese New Year period,” he added.
Seniors will receive personalised letters inviting them to make an appointment for their vaccinations. The appointments can be made online, or in-person at selected community centres near their homes.
Community volunteers from the People’s Association and Silver Generation Ambassadors will also be doing door-to-door to answer queries and help seniors book an appointment, said Gan, who received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccination on 13 January.
And more vaccination centres will also be progressively set up islandwide over the next few weeks.
At the press conference, Gan also said one scheduled Pfizer-BioNTech shipment has been delayed, and that there may be other delays to the shipments of vaccines due to Pfizer’s upgrading of its European manufacturing plant.
“We will continue to monitor our supplies closely to meet our target of vaccinating all Singaporeans and long-term residents in Singapore by the end of this year. But we will need to calibrate our roll out in tandem with our supplies,” he added.
Seniors to get COVID-19 vaccines from 27 January, says Gan Kim Yong
SINGAPORE — Seniors in the community in Ang Mo Kio and Tanjong Pagar will be able to get their COVID-19 vaccines from next Wednesday under pilots, before vaccination centres are set up islandwide for other seniors from mid-February.
Speaking at a virtual press conference on Friday (22 January), Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said that more than 60,000 people have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as of Friday, including those working in healthcare, nursing homes, frontline and essential services, and seniors in nursing homes.
Additionally, 39 staff at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) have also received their second dose of the vaccine; they will have built up maximum protection against COVID-19 in two weeks’ time.
About 5,000 to 10,000 seniors in each of the two precincts will be invited to take part in the pilots, Gan, who co-chairs the multi-ministry taskforce tackling the pandemic, said.
Authorities will begin to roll out the vaccination to other precincts and areas two weeks after the pilots, he added.
“While we have made steady progress on the vaccination front, we must remember that the journey is far from over. Vaccination is but one of a whole suite of measures that must work hand in hand to keep transmissions low,” said Gan.
“The key to keeping one another safe lies in each one of us. If we all do our part to adhere strictly to the safe management measures and be socially responsible, we can turn the tide of the rising community cases without having to impose drastic measures. So let us keep up our fight and remain vigilant especially over the coming festive Chinese New Year period,” he added.
Seniors will receive personalised letters inviting them to make an appointment for their vaccinations. The appointments can be made online, or in-person at selected community centres near their homes.
Community volunteers from the People’s Association and Silver Generation Ambassadors will also be doing door-to-door to answer queries and help seniors book an appointment, said Gan, who received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccination on 13 January.
And more vaccination centres will also be progressively set up islandwide over the next few weeks.
At the press conference, Gan also said one scheduled Pfizer-BioNTech shipment has been delayed, and that there may be other delays to the shipments of vaccines due to Pfizer’s upgrading of its European manufacturing plant.
“We will continue to monitor our supplies closely to meet our target of vaccinating all Singaporeans and long-term residents in Singapore by the end of this year. But we will need to calibrate our roll out in tandem with our supplies,” he added.
from yahoo.com:
Avoid repeat of last year’s spike in COVID-19 cases after Chinese New Year: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE — With the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) just weeks away, the government is urging everyone in Singapore to observe safe distancing and personal hygiene measures in order to avoid a repeat of the spike in COVID-19 cases following the same holiday period last year.
“We don't want a repeat of that happening. And that's why we are making a preemptive move now to tighten some of our measures,” Education Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday (22 January) at a virtual news conference.
Wong, who is the COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce co-chair, was referring to the new cap of eight distinct visitors per household per day taking effect from 26 January, amid a rise in the number of community cases and emergence of new clusters in Singapore recently.
Announcing the measure, Wong said enforcement officers will do random spot checks on households to ensure compliance.
Individuals should also limit themselves to visiting at most two other households a day, as much as possible, he added.
Wong also reiterated that face masks must be worn during lohei – tossing of a raw fish salad called yusheng – while in restaurants and shouting of auspicious phrases, be it by patrons or staff members, is discouraged.
Cases linked to last year’s CNY
On 25 January last year, the first day of CNY, Singapore reported its first-ever COVID-19 case. In the subsequent weeks, the number of community cases surged.
Among them, two COVID-19 clusters were linked to a CNY family gathering attended by those who were infected, the multi-ministry taskforce said on 25 February last year.
On Friday, the Ministry of Health reported one new COVID-19 case in the community and 14 more imported infections, taking Singapore’s total case count to 59,250.
The sole community case marks the ninth day in a row where new community infections have been reported. In addition, there are currently six live clusters of COVID-19 cases in Singapore.
Protect elderly persons
The government is urging everyone to curb their contacts with friends and minimise the number of family visits during CNY.
“We would strongly encourage everyone to keep in touch with your friends virtually rather than have physical meetings. And if you do want to have physical visits, limit these visits to your family members only,” Wong said.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who was also at the conference, advised everyone to observe safe distancing measures and personal hygiene to protect the health of elderly persons.
“When you visit your seniors or any other family members, remember to wash your hands when you arrive at the home. Make sure that you keep your mask on as much as possible... exercise caution, always bear in mind the safety of the seniors,” said Gan, who is also the co-chair of the MTF.
The government is undertaking various measures and has issued related statements in the run-up to CNY as it steps up efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
The prevailing COVID-19 related rules at F&B establishments will apply to reunion dinners held within them.
The MTF will also step up enforcement checks at F&B establishments, malls, and other crowded public spaces during this period.
It will also carry out surveillance testing for stallholders, shop owners, persons in the F&B industry, as well as food delivery persons operating in and around Chinatown. The testing will take place from 8 to 9 February.
Avoid repeat of last year’s spike in COVID-19 cases after Chinese New Year: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE — With the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) just weeks away, the government is urging everyone in Singapore to observe safe distancing and personal hygiene measures in order to avoid a repeat of the spike in COVID-19 cases following the same holiday period last year.
“We don't want a repeat of that happening. And that's why we are making a preemptive move now to tighten some of our measures,” Education Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday (22 January) at a virtual news conference.
Wong, who is the COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce co-chair, was referring to the new cap of eight distinct visitors per household per day taking effect from 26 January, amid a rise in the number of community cases and emergence of new clusters in Singapore recently.
Announcing the measure, Wong said enforcement officers will do random spot checks on households to ensure compliance.
Individuals should also limit themselves to visiting at most two other households a day, as much as possible, he added.
Wong also reiterated that face masks must be worn during lohei – tossing of a raw fish salad called yusheng – while in restaurants and shouting of auspicious phrases, be it by patrons or staff members, is discouraged.
Cases linked to last year’s CNY
On 25 January last year, the first day of CNY, Singapore reported its first-ever COVID-19 case. In the subsequent weeks, the number of community cases surged.
Among them, two COVID-19 clusters were linked to a CNY family gathering attended by those who were infected, the multi-ministry taskforce said on 25 February last year.
On Friday, the Ministry of Health reported one new COVID-19 case in the community and 14 more imported infections, taking Singapore’s total case count to 59,250.
The sole community case marks the ninth day in a row where new community infections have been reported. In addition, there are currently six live clusters of COVID-19 cases in Singapore.
Protect elderly persons
The government is urging everyone to curb their contacts with friends and minimise the number of family visits during CNY.
“We would strongly encourage everyone to keep in touch with your friends virtually rather than have physical meetings. And if you do want to have physical visits, limit these visits to your family members only,” Wong said.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who was also at the conference, advised everyone to observe safe distancing measures and personal hygiene to protect the health of elderly persons.
“When you visit your seniors or any other family members, remember to wash your hands when you arrive at the home. Make sure that you keep your mask on as much as possible... exercise caution, always bear in mind the safety of the seniors,” said Gan, who is also the co-chair of the MTF.
The government is undertaking various measures and has issued related statements in the run-up to CNY as it steps up efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
The prevailing COVID-19 related rules at F&B establishments will apply to reunion dinners held within them.
The MTF will also step up enforcement checks at F&B establishments, malls, and other crowded public spaces during this period.
It will also carry out surveillance testing for stallholders, shop owners, persons in the F&B industry, as well as food delivery persons operating in and around Chinatown. The testing will take place from 8 to 9 February.
from yahoo.com:
'A lot of uncertainty' over duration of protection from COVID-19 vaccines: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE — There is a lot of uncertainty both over the duration of protection following COVID-19 vaccination and whether those who have received the injections can still transmit the virus, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (25 January).
While early data from some countries such as Israel suggest promising results from vaccination, Singapore will “still need time to look at all of these critical unknowns and to resolve them,” cautioned Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling the pandemic.
And there may also be setbacks: for example, initial research suggests that current vaccines may be less effective against the South African variant of the virus, he noted in a speech at an Institute of Policy Studies conference.
“In the worst case, we end up always a step behind the evolving virus and we will not be able to catch up in time,” he said. “So there are still tremendous uncertainties ahead of us and the bottom line is that we live in a shared world and no one is safe until everyone is safe.”
Noting that the pandemic will end at some point, Wong said the many unknowns mean that it may take four to five years for the pandemic to end and the post-COVID normal to start.
Still, no one can tell how the world will look like then. “Let us think of this crisis as setting the stage for a software update – a ‘reboot’ of sorts after the tremendous damage inflicted by the virus,” said Wong.
Three ‘resets’
In his speech, Wong highlighted three “resets” Singapore must make: creating a fairer and more equal society; a greener Singapore; and a stronger spirit of solidarity.
Firstly, the pandemic has widened the gap between the haves and have-nots, and there is added impetus to strengthen the social support system, he said.
“So there will be a permanent shift towards further strengthening of our social safety nets, to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable, and we will have to work out how this will be sustainable over the longer term. The bottom line is that we aim to give Singaporeans more assurance in an uncertain post-COVID world.”
Noting the need for a wide range of abilities and aptitudes for societies to thrive ranging from artisans and technicians to artists and those doing care jobs, Wong added that a broader mindset change is needed so that merit is not narrowly defined by academic abilities.
“If we attach more value in terms of prestige and income to people who excel across a wide range of fields and not just cognitively, incomes would naturally spread out more evenly across society, and we will go a long way in advancing our cause towards a fairer and more equal society,” he added.
Secondly, climate change will be the “existential emergency of our time” and Singapore must build a greener economy and society that is more environmentally sustainable, said Wong, who is also Second Minister for Finance.
Sustainability can open up new opportunities for growth and jobs, he said. “There is potential for Singapore to be a carbon trading and services hub in Asia, for example in areas like sustainability consultancy, verification, carbon credits trading, and risk management,” he added.
Finally, strengthening Singapore’s social compact will enable the country to thrive, said Wong. A silver lining from the pandemic is that it can be an opportunity to strengthen Singapore’s social solidarity, Wong pointed out.
“Because we are forced to reflect deeply on our own values, we develop a more acute sense of shared memories and common destiny. We go through difficulties together, and we forge a stronger sense of group solidarity and social cohesion.”
Citing broad initiatives such as Emerging Stronger Conversations, SG Youth Action Plan, and ‘Alliances for Action’, Wong said the government is creating more opportunities for citizens and stakeholders to be part of policy-making and implementation.
'A lot of uncertainty' over duration of protection from COVID-19 vaccines: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE — There is a lot of uncertainty both over the duration of protection following COVID-19 vaccination and whether those who have received the injections can still transmit the virus, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (25 January).
While early data from some countries such as Israel suggest promising results from vaccination, Singapore will “still need time to look at all of these critical unknowns and to resolve them,” cautioned Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling the pandemic.
And there may also be setbacks: for example, initial research suggests that current vaccines may be less effective against the South African variant of the virus, he noted in a speech at an Institute of Policy Studies conference.
“In the worst case, we end up always a step behind the evolving virus and we will not be able to catch up in time,” he said. “So there are still tremendous uncertainties ahead of us and the bottom line is that we live in a shared world and no one is safe until everyone is safe.”
Noting that the pandemic will end at some point, Wong said the many unknowns mean that it may take four to five years for the pandemic to end and the post-COVID normal to start.
Still, no one can tell how the world will look like then. “Let us think of this crisis as setting the stage for a software update – a ‘reboot’ of sorts after the tremendous damage inflicted by the virus,” said Wong.
Three ‘resets’
In his speech, Wong highlighted three “resets” Singapore must make: creating a fairer and more equal society; a greener Singapore; and a stronger spirit of solidarity.
Firstly, the pandemic has widened the gap between the haves and have-nots, and there is added impetus to strengthen the social support system, he said.
“So there will be a permanent shift towards further strengthening of our social safety nets, to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable, and we will have to work out how this will be sustainable over the longer term. The bottom line is that we aim to give Singaporeans more assurance in an uncertain post-COVID world.”
Noting the need for a wide range of abilities and aptitudes for societies to thrive ranging from artisans and technicians to artists and those doing care jobs, Wong added that a broader mindset change is needed so that merit is not narrowly defined by academic abilities.
“If we attach more value in terms of prestige and income to people who excel across a wide range of fields and not just cognitively, incomes would naturally spread out more evenly across society, and we will go a long way in advancing our cause towards a fairer and more equal society,” he added.
Secondly, climate change will be the “existential emergency of our time” and Singapore must build a greener economy and society that is more environmentally sustainable, said Wong, who is also Second Minister for Finance.
Sustainability can open up new opportunities for growth and jobs, he said. “There is potential for Singapore to be a carbon trading and services hub in Asia, for example in areas like sustainability consultancy, verification, carbon credits trading, and risk management,” he added.
Finally, strengthening Singapore’s social compact will enable the country to thrive, said Wong. A silver lining from the pandemic is that it can be an opportunity to strengthen Singapore’s social solidarity, Wong pointed out.
“Because we are forced to reflect deeply on our own values, we develop a more acute sense of shared memories and common destiny. We go through difficulties together, and we forge a stronger sense of group solidarity and social cohesion.”
Citing broad initiatives such as Emerging Stronger Conversations, SG Youth Action Plan, and ‘Alliances for Action’, Wong said the government is creating more opportunities for citizens and stakeholders to be part of policy-making and implementation.
from yahoo.com:
Singapore can be more relevant as a hub if it responds well to Covid-19 crisis: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - When international investors and the broader global community think about having some presence in Asia, Singapore ought to be the first answer that comes to mind.
Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (Jan 25) expressed optimism for such a scenario in a post-Covid-19 pandemic future, but cautioned that Singapore's ability to gain relevance as a hub would also depend on it responding well to the ongoing coronavirus situation.
He was speaking at a dialogue chaired by Straits Times editor-in-chief Warren Fernandez, as part of the Singapore Perspectives conference organised by the Institute of Policy Studies.
Mr Fernandez had noted that the pandemic-precipitated trend of remote work meant that international corporations could engage employees anywhere in the world, leading to implications for Singapore's hub status.
But Mr Wong, who is also Second Minister for Finance, said that some form of physical presence would still be needed in a "new normal".
"We are not going into a world where it's all just machines, and we stop having face-to-face interaction," he said. "It has not happened across human history and it's unlikely to happen going forward because... humans are fundamentally social animals."
He alluded to the same point earlier when noting that a fully work-from-home model was not doable.
"You cannot function effectively without that human collaboration… you do need a chance for people to come together," said Mr Wong.
But neither should things go back to the way they were, he added, urging employers to embrace more flexible, hybrid arrangements blending face-to-face and remote work.
Mr Wong later stressed, in response to a question from the audience, that Singapore was in a far better and stronger position to fight Covid-19 today.
He pointed to improved testing and tracing capabilities and "more importantly", the vaccination programme now underway.
"That's a game-changer," said Mr Wong, who also co-chairs the multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19. "No doubt there is uncertainty with supply, but we have done our best to procure as much as we can. And if all goes well, we get everyone vaccinated. So what we need to do really is to tide through from now until the point when everyone in Singapore is vaccinated."
He also sought to address concerns about the high number of imported Covid-19 cases in recent days.
"We have not increased our travelers coming into Singapore," Mr Wong explained, adding that the two largest sources of travellers are construction workers - to fulfil contractors' needs - and foreign domestic helpers who perform caregiving duties for Singaporeans.
He said numbers have gone up because the prevalence and incidence rate of the disease is higher now, with the virus raging in countries everywhere. Mandatory pre-departure tests for travellers are also not foolproof as the virus may be incubating, leading to negative results for arriving persons who later test positive.
Hence the need for precautions such as a stay-home notice requirement to isolate them from the community, said Mr Wong.
At the end of the dialogue, he was also asked by Mr Fernandez what made him so sure that Singapore could come out for the better in the wake of the pandemic.
For Mr Wong, the answer lay in the tremendous spirit and resilience of Singaporeans rallying together.
Acknowledging the surreal experience of the world coming to a standstill in facing the "crisis of a generation", he said he was fortunate to have a front-row seat to how Singaporeans responded to the situation.
He singled out the outbreak in the migrant worker dormitories - "our darkest hour last year" - and how the public and private sectors came together to set up community care facilities in double quick time.
"We said it would be impossible, but they made the impossible possible," said Mr Wong. "Sometimes, just a few people can change the course of history and change the trajectory in a crisis. This was one of those moments.
"That's why I say I don't speak lightly when I believe with conviction that Singapore can emerge stronger from this crisis."
Singapore can be more relevant as a hub if it responds well to Covid-19 crisis: Lawrence Wong
SINGAPORE - When international investors and the broader global community think about having some presence in Asia, Singapore ought to be the first answer that comes to mind.
Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (Jan 25) expressed optimism for such a scenario in a post-Covid-19 pandemic future, but cautioned that Singapore's ability to gain relevance as a hub would also depend on it responding well to the ongoing coronavirus situation.
He was speaking at a dialogue chaired by Straits Times editor-in-chief Warren Fernandez, as part of the Singapore Perspectives conference organised by the Institute of Policy Studies.
Mr Fernandez had noted that the pandemic-precipitated trend of remote work meant that international corporations could engage employees anywhere in the world, leading to implications for Singapore's hub status.
But Mr Wong, who is also Second Minister for Finance, said that some form of physical presence would still be needed in a "new normal".
"We are not going into a world where it's all just machines, and we stop having face-to-face interaction," he said. "It has not happened across human history and it's unlikely to happen going forward because... humans are fundamentally social animals."
He alluded to the same point earlier when noting that a fully work-from-home model was not doable.
"You cannot function effectively without that human collaboration… you do need a chance for people to come together," said Mr Wong.
But neither should things go back to the way they were, he added, urging employers to embrace more flexible, hybrid arrangements blending face-to-face and remote work.
Mr Wong later stressed, in response to a question from the audience, that Singapore was in a far better and stronger position to fight Covid-19 today.
He pointed to improved testing and tracing capabilities and "more importantly", the vaccination programme now underway.
"That's a game-changer," said Mr Wong, who also co-chairs the multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19. "No doubt there is uncertainty with supply, but we have done our best to procure as much as we can. And if all goes well, we get everyone vaccinated. So what we need to do really is to tide through from now until the point when everyone in Singapore is vaccinated."
He also sought to address concerns about the high number of imported Covid-19 cases in recent days.
"We have not increased our travelers coming into Singapore," Mr Wong explained, adding that the two largest sources of travellers are construction workers - to fulfil contractors' needs - and foreign domestic helpers who perform caregiving duties for Singaporeans.
He said numbers have gone up because the prevalence and incidence rate of the disease is higher now, with the virus raging in countries everywhere. Mandatory pre-departure tests for travellers are also not foolproof as the virus may be incubating, leading to negative results for arriving persons who later test positive.
Hence the need for precautions such as a stay-home notice requirement to isolate them from the community, said Mr Wong.
At the end of the dialogue, he was also asked by Mr Fernandez what made him so sure that Singapore could come out for the better in the wake of the pandemic.
For Mr Wong, the answer lay in the tremendous spirit and resilience of Singaporeans rallying together.
Acknowledging the surreal experience of the world coming to a standstill in facing the "crisis of a generation", he said he was fortunate to have a front-row seat to how Singaporeans responded to the situation.
He singled out the outbreak in the migrant worker dormitories - "our darkest hour last year" - and how the public and private sectors came together to set up community care facilities in double quick time.
"We said it would be impossible, but they made the impossible possible," said Mr Wong. "Sometimes, just a few people can change the course of history and change the trajectory in a crisis. This was one of those moments.
"That's why I say I don't speak lightly when I believe with conviction that Singapore can emerge stronger from this crisis."
from straitstimes.com:
Lawrence Wong outlines 'resetting' for a fairer, greener, more united Singapore
SINGAPORE - The Covid-19 pandemic has set the stage for Singapore to "reset" itself, emerging from the crisis a fairer, greener and more united country.
This means combating inequality and ensuring social mobility, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (Jan 25). It also means building a greener economy that is more environmentally sustainable, and fostering a renewed sense of solidarity, he added.
Speaking at the Institute of Policy Studies' Singapore Perspectives conference which is themed "Reset", the minister detailed each of the three resets that should take place.
Inequality and meritocracy
First, Singapore has to reset its social compact by tackling inequality and keeping society fluid and mobile.
Mr Wong noted that the pandemic has widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots, with poorer segments of society paying a higher price all over the world.
In Singapore, a balance has been struck between free markets and state intervention, with policies tilted towards the lower-income households.
When the pandemic hit, the country drew on its reserves to save jobs and tide over those who were hardest hit.
These temporary measures will taper down this year as the economy improves. But the pandemic has created added impetus to strengthen the social support system, Mr Wong said.
"There will be a permanent shift towards further strengthening of our social safety nets in Singapore to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable. And we will have to work out how this can be done in a sustainable manner, over the long term."
Mr Wong also highlighted the importance of uplifting children from birth, pointing out that Singapore is making substantial investments in pre-school education to ensure that children of all income groups can benefit from quality programmes.
Schools with a larger proportion of children from lower-income families are getting more resources, so that these children get more support.
"Meritocracy in Singapore must not ossify into a hereditary system, where the outcome of your birth determines the outcome of your life," he said.
In Singapore, merit has become narrowly defined by one's academic and cognitive abilities. But societies require a wide range of abilities to thrive, Mr Wong added.
He noted that the pandemic has again thrown the spotlight on essential workers, and that the country must ensure that remuneration is fair for people in these roles.
"If we attach more value in terms of prestige and income to people who excel across a wide range of fields and not just cognitively, incomes will naturally spread out more evenly across society," he said. "And we will go a long way in advancing our cause towards a fairer and more equal society."
A greener Singapore
When the pandemic hit, carbon emissions dropped significantly all over the world and pollution fell. Now that economic activities are beginning to pick up, Singapore cannot return to how things used to be, Mr Wong said.
Already, the country is one of the greenest cities in the world, he added. It is also the only one to completely freeze the growth of its vehicle population, and one of the few to have closed its water loop.
"But we must go further and build on what we have done to achieve cleaner growth and greener mindsets," he said.
This includes deploying more renewable energy, as well as researching new technologies that are energy and resource-efficient. It also means having vehicles run on cleaner energy and making sustainable living a key feature in Housing Board estates.
Sustainability can also be a source of competitive advantage for Singapore globally, he added.
"The greatest promise of going green, however, is not about what it will mean for us today," he said. "It's about building for the future - for our children, and the next generation."
Strengthening solidarity
The pandemic has intensified divisions in many countries, with falsehoods and conspiracy theories gaining circulation over facts, Mr Wong said.
He added that there has been a downgrading of expertise, with expert knowledge sometimes portrayed as a conspiracy by the elites to perpetuate their dominance.
While easy access to information has contributed to healthy questioning of expert advice at times, it has also led to people viewing expert advice from the "narrow prism" of their own social and political tribes, he said.
"We end up self-selecting information to support and reinforce our own points of view... As a result, it's very hard to find consensus; you see in many places a hollowing-out of the centre as extreme views gain ground, and it makes societies very hard to govern."
Yet, societies can also gain renewed strength from the pandemic by forging a sense of solidarity and cohesion in the face of difficulty, Mr Wong said.
"I am confident that we will prevail and emerge stronger from this crucible. And I do not say this lightly," he added.
"I speak from my own conviction of seeing the best of Singaporeans over the past year, in the face of adversity and very tough conditions."
Front-line workers have given their all, with many ground-up initiatives emerging to help the vulnerable and those in need.
This renewed sense of solidarity is critical as Singapore recovers, Mr Wong said, adding that this is why the Government is intentionally creating more opportunities for Singaporeans to take part in the decision-making process.
In the Emerging Stronger Conversations, for instance, Singaporeans have shared their hopes for a post-coronavirus society, while the industry-led Alliances for Action have been set up to move quickly for Singapore's economic recovery.
Mr Wong was also asked how the Government reconciles greater diversity with greater unity.
The key is to build consensus around the common good - regardless of one's own political or individual differences, he replied. This strong sense of consensus is especially important for Singapore, given its small size. It cannot have individuals or groups lobbying only for their own interests and neglecting what is at stake, he said.
"I think that gives us purpose. It gives us that sense of a common destiny for the future, and it will enable Singapore to continue thriving and doing well in the future."
Lawrence Wong outlines 'resetting' for a fairer, greener, more united Singapore
SINGAPORE - The Covid-19 pandemic has set the stage for Singapore to "reset" itself, emerging from the crisis a fairer, greener and more united country.
This means combating inequality and ensuring social mobility, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (Jan 25). It also means building a greener economy that is more environmentally sustainable, and fostering a renewed sense of solidarity, he added.
Speaking at the Institute of Policy Studies' Singapore Perspectives conference which is themed "Reset", the minister detailed each of the three resets that should take place.
Inequality and meritocracy
First, Singapore has to reset its social compact by tackling inequality and keeping society fluid and mobile.
Mr Wong noted that the pandemic has widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots, with poorer segments of society paying a higher price all over the world.
In Singapore, a balance has been struck between free markets and state intervention, with policies tilted towards the lower-income households.
When the pandemic hit, the country drew on its reserves to save jobs and tide over those who were hardest hit.
These temporary measures will taper down this year as the economy improves. But the pandemic has created added impetus to strengthen the social support system, Mr Wong said.
"There will be a permanent shift towards further strengthening of our social safety nets in Singapore to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable. And we will have to work out how this can be done in a sustainable manner, over the long term."
Mr Wong also highlighted the importance of uplifting children from birth, pointing out that Singapore is making substantial investments in pre-school education to ensure that children of all income groups can benefit from quality programmes.
Schools with a larger proportion of children from lower-income families are getting more resources, so that these children get more support.
"Meritocracy in Singapore must not ossify into a hereditary system, where the outcome of your birth determines the outcome of your life," he said.
In Singapore, merit has become narrowly defined by one's academic and cognitive abilities. But societies require a wide range of abilities to thrive, Mr Wong added.
He noted that the pandemic has again thrown the spotlight on essential workers, and that the country must ensure that remuneration is fair for people in these roles.
"If we attach more value in terms of prestige and income to people who excel across a wide range of fields and not just cognitively, incomes will naturally spread out more evenly across society," he said. "And we will go a long way in advancing our cause towards a fairer and more equal society."
A greener Singapore
When the pandemic hit, carbon emissions dropped significantly all over the world and pollution fell. Now that economic activities are beginning to pick up, Singapore cannot return to how things used to be, Mr Wong said.
Already, the country is one of the greenest cities in the world, he added. It is also the only one to completely freeze the growth of its vehicle population, and one of the few to have closed its water loop.
"But we must go further and build on what we have done to achieve cleaner growth and greener mindsets," he said.
This includes deploying more renewable energy, as well as researching new technologies that are energy and resource-efficient. It also means having vehicles run on cleaner energy and making sustainable living a key feature in Housing Board estates.
Sustainability can also be a source of competitive advantage for Singapore globally, he added.
"The greatest promise of going green, however, is not about what it will mean for us today," he said. "It's about building for the future - for our children, and the next generation."
Strengthening solidarity
The pandemic has intensified divisions in many countries, with falsehoods and conspiracy theories gaining circulation over facts, Mr Wong said.
He added that there has been a downgrading of expertise, with expert knowledge sometimes portrayed as a conspiracy by the elites to perpetuate their dominance.
While easy access to information has contributed to healthy questioning of expert advice at times, it has also led to people viewing expert advice from the "narrow prism" of their own social and political tribes, he said.
"We end up self-selecting information to support and reinforce our own points of view... As a result, it's very hard to find consensus; you see in many places a hollowing-out of the centre as extreme views gain ground, and it makes societies very hard to govern."
Yet, societies can also gain renewed strength from the pandemic by forging a sense of solidarity and cohesion in the face of difficulty, Mr Wong said.
"I am confident that we will prevail and emerge stronger from this crucible. And I do not say this lightly," he added.
"I speak from my own conviction of seeing the best of Singaporeans over the past year, in the face of adversity and very tough conditions."
Front-line workers have given their all, with many ground-up initiatives emerging to help the vulnerable and those in need.
This renewed sense of solidarity is critical as Singapore recovers, Mr Wong said, adding that this is why the Government is intentionally creating more opportunities for Singaporeans to take part in the decision-making process.
In the Emerging Stronger Conversations, for instance, Singaporeans have shared their hopes for a post-coronavirus society, while the industry-led Alliances for Action have been set up to move quickly for Singapore's economic recovery.
Mr Wong was also asked how the Government reconciles greater diversity with greater unity.
The key is to build consensus around the common good - regardless of one's own political or individual differences, he replied. This strong sense of consensus is especially important for Singapore, given its small size. It cannot have individuals or groups lobbying only for their own interests and neglecting what is at stake, he said.
"I think that gives us purpose. It gives us that sense of a common destiny for the future, and it will enable Singapore to continue thriving and doing well in the future."
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