Even with one of the world’s highest vaccination rates at 82%, Singapore’s residents are under curbs that the U.S. and Europe have largely dealt away with. In the latest U-turn, Singapore on Sept. 27 capped social gatherings and dining-in to two people, moved many school classes online and made working from home the default arrangement, citing concerns that rising cases could overwhelm the health-care system.
The Singapore government can do a better job communicating the country’s virus strategy, a minister said, addressing residents’ frustrations over confusing signals on the financial hub’s reopening plan.
The country of about 5.5 million people has shifted its approach from Covid elimination to trying to live with the virus, yet authorities have tightened restrictions on gatherings, restaurants and businesses even after pledging more freedoms. Officials need to improve the messaging on how their actions relate to the country’s goals to avoid confusion, said Josephine Teo, the minister for communications and information.
