Health

Restrictions Will Ease Pressure On Healthcare Sector, S’pore Not Returning To Lockdown: Lawrence Wong

Tighter Covid-19 Restrictions Introduced On 24 Sep Are Temporary

The sudden announcement of tighter Covid-19 restrictions yesterday (24 Sep) must have taken many by surprise as we had only just started getting comfortable increasing our social activities.

Aware of the effects of the abrupt changes, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) addressed the nation’s possible concerns in a press conference.

Co-Chair Lawrence Wong, in particular, assured that Singapore is in no way returning to heightened alert or a lockdown.

Tighter restrictions meant to ease pressure on healthcare workers

In a press conference on Friday (24 Sep), a member of the media raised the following concerns:

  • that the latest round of tighter measures may be seen as a step back
  • many may be confused & fatigued by the constant changes
  • the continued rise in cases may be worrying

He thus asked how the MTF can assure citizens that our strategy to live with Covid-19 as an endemic is still on track.

In response to this, Mr Wong first acknowledged the disappointment and frustration people may feel towards the new restrictions.

Source

He then explained that the MTF had arrived at the decision after very careful deliberation.

The main reason for them is the “tremendous pressures” the current, exponential wave of infections is placing on our healthcare workers and sector as a whole.

 

Like he and the rest of the MTF have mentioned many times before, they don’t want the sector to be overwhelmed.

Therefore, Mr Wong asked for Singapore residents to understand and rise in solidarity to support our frontliners.

Restriction period will help stabilise & better prepare the system

Mr Wong added that the restriction period from 27 Sep – 24 Oct will help stabilise the healthcare system and better prepare it for any surge in cases.

Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong echoed this point in his Facebook post yesterday (24 Sep).

Source

He listed examples like the expansion of hospital capacity and the new Community Treatment Facilities (CTF).

PM Lee also mentioned how the restrictions will allow more time for people to receive booster shots and vaccinations.

Like Mr Wong, he requested for residents to bear with the authorities as they try their best to protect all families.

Singapore not going back to heightened alert or lockdown

Despite the new measures, Mr Wong emphasised Singapore’s commitment to our reopening plans.

He pointed out how we’re not going back to a heightened alert or lockdown despite the current wave of infections.

Instead, Singapore is only implementing measures to scale back social interactions and slow down the rate of transmission.

Moreover, they plan to continue with reopening plans once hospitals have been able to expand their capacities and stabilise.

Hope calibrated measures will pay off

As much as many of us would like to grumble about the changes, surely we can understand that the gravity of the current situation probably warrants them.

Let’s do our best to abide by the restrictions for the next few weeks until things get better.

Once they do, we’ll hopefully be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and work towards a greater semblance of normalcy again.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from govsg on YouTube.

Fayyadhah Zainalabiden

Fayyadhah spends most of her free time wondering why there's nothing fun to do and wastes the rest of her time on Netflix.

Recent Posts

Continuous heavy traffic expected at S’pore-JB checkpoints till end of 2024: ICA

A record of more than 553,000 travellers crossed both checkpoints on 13 Dec.

22 Dec 2024, 7:25 pm

H5N1 poses ‘highest risk’ of becoming next pandemic, S’pore health authorities monitoring situation

There has been no year-end Covid-19 wave, as had been expected.

22 Dec 2024, 6:42 pm

Wagyu beef worth S$5,700 found in car entering JB from S’pore, M’sian driver arrested

The beef was imported without a veterinary health certificate and halal certification.

22 Dec 2024, 5:40 pm

Long queue forms at Jalan Besar Stadium for tickets to ASEAN Championship semi-final

One fan started queueing as early as 7am.

22 Dec 2024, 4:50 pm

Toys“R”Us in Japan sends parcels in plain boxes before Christmas, praised for protecting ‘Santa’s surprise’

The company made the change after parents said they wanted to make sure their gifts…

22 Dec 2024, 4:36 pm

Google Maps helps Spanish police arrest murder suspects caught transporting corpse on Street View

An incredible twist of fortune for the police -- and a stroke of bad luck…

22 Dec 2024, 2:59 pm