Singapore is seeing indications that the Covid-19 wave of infections is near its peak, “if not at the peak”, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung told parliament Tuesday, July 5.
Authorities assess that the wave driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron sub-variants will not be as severe as the omicron wave earlier this year, Ong said.
Daily Covid-19 cases have risen to 5,700 as of July 4 from about 3,500 at the start of June. Ong said he expects more than 12,000 daily cases on Tuesday, which typically sees higher numbers due to the weekend.
Officials in the financial hub have also appealed for the elderly to take booster shots to avoid the risk of serious illness. The country is one of the most highly vaccinated societies in the world, with over 90% of its 5.5 million population having been double-vaccinated, and more than three in four having received a booster.
Ong said Tuesday that around 60,000 people aged 60 years and above have yet to get boosters. He also reiterated comments made earlier by other officials that there is no need to tighten Covid curbs, although it could not be ruled out in a serious wave of infections.
The health ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that it will limit the number of visitors to hospital wards and nursing homes as well as reduce the general duration of individual visits to 30 minutes. The new rules, designed to protect hospital capacity as well as patients and nursing home residents, will be in effect from July 7 to August 3 and include the pre-designation of visitors.
