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Singapore to hold off on further reopening measures: minister
Singapore had sufficient vaccine coverage to protect its citizens and the country was becoming more resilient in living with the virus, Lawrence Wong, finance minister and co-chair of government coronavirus taskforce told a news conference, quoted by Reuters.
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Singapore’s National Development Minister Lawrence Wong speaks during a press conference on coronavirus situation in Singapore on January 27, 2020. Singapore have four case of the coronavirus. All four patients had arrived in the city-state from Wuhan over the last week. (Agence France Presse/Roslan Rahman)
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ingapore will hold off on further steps to reopen the country while it monitors an increase in daily coronavirus cases, but sees no need to consider re-imposing heightened restrictions, a senior official said on Friday.
Singapore had sufficient vaccine coverage to protect its citizens and the country was becoming more resilient in living with the virus, Lawrence Wong, finance minister and co-chair of government coronavirus taskforce told a news conference, quoted by Reuters.
Wong said a tightened posture would only be taken as a last resort to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.
Singapore will start giving coronavirus vaccine booster shots to the elderly and those with weak immune systems, officials said Friday, as cases rise despite high inoculation rates.
The city-state joins a number of countries worldwide in giving a third jab to the most vulnerable groups, as it faces a new outbreak driven by the Delta variant.
The health ministry said an expert committee had recommended the third dose for people aged 60 and above and those with weak immune systems.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung described the decision as a "preemptive step before antibodies wane further", as quoted by AFP.
For the over 60s, the boosters can be given six to nine months after the second shot, which means as early as this month for some, Ong said.
For those with weak immune systems, it should be administered after two months. Immune systems can be weakened by some diseases, or by treatments for illnesses such as cancer.
Giving a third jab to the most vulnerable groups is in line with measures adopted in other countries, such as Israel and Germany, according to the health ministry.
The US Food and Drug Administration has also approved a third dose for those with weak immune systems, and is considering it for the elderly.
Singapore has shifted to a strategy of living with the virus instead of regularly imposing lockdowns to eradicate it as vaccination rates increase.
More than 80 percent of the population are fully inoculated but officials say easing domestic restrictions and opening borders will only be done gradually.
Singapore has seen a steady uptick in infections in recent weeks, and is now reporting more than 100 cases a day and regular deaths.
But its outbreak has generally been mild, with about 68,000 infections and 55 deaths.
