Coronavirus: Singapore hits 70 per cent vaccination threshold as restrictions ease; Sri Lanka rejects lockdown
- Singapore has targeted vaccinating 80 per cent of its population by early September to start relaxing some of its toughest restrictions
- Elsewhere, Sri Lanka officials say they won’t call for a lockdown even as the country records 100 deaths a day
In an effort to vaccinate the rest, officials said citizens and long-term residents would no longer need to make an appointment to get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and could instead walk in to any of the more than two dozen clinics offering the jab. Singapore earlier this month also made the Moderna vaccine available on a walk-in basis.
“Vaccination remains a key enabler in our fight against Covid-19,” the ministry said. “We urge all who are eligible to be vaccinated.”
Singapore on Tuesday began easing some of its Covid-19 rules, allowing dining in to resume and raising group sizes to five for those who’ve been fully vaccinated. Work from home rules are expected to ease next week.
The country is targeting vaccinating 80 per cent of its population by early September to start relaxing some of its toughest restrictions, including allowing quarantine-free travel for vaccinated travellers where frequent testing could replace mandatory stay-home rules on arrival.
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Sri Lanka rejects lockdown, will rely on vaccinations and ‘gods’
The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday rejected mounting calls for an immediate lockdown to contain a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths that is severely stretching hospitals and crematoriums.