Coronavirus: Singapore fully vaccinates 80 per cent of people; Japan explores mixing vaccines to boost roll-out
- Singapore has pledged to use the vaccination milestone to gradually open up more economic and social activities, as well as quarantine-free travel
- Elsewhere, Japan said it aims to fully vaccinate its population by November, and Australia’s New South Wales reported record Covid-19 cases
Senior officials have pegged the vaccination milestone to the government’s cautious strategy, pledging to use the high rate to gradually open up more economic and social activities, as well as quarantine-free travel.
Singapore has one of the world’s best vaccination rates – higher only in places like Gibraltar, Malta and the Maldives – but still generally requires people arriving in the country to undergo two-week quarantine in a local hotel, and group gatherings are limited to just five.
The restrictions have started to loosen in recent weeks. The government reopened restaurants to in-person dining on August 10 for those who are fully vaccinated, and a week later eased strict work-from-home rules, allowing as many as 50 per cent of employees to return to the office.
It also increased the capacity of spaces that see large numbers of patrons, like shopping malls and cinemas, and ended temperature screenings that have been required to enter public places since early in the pandemic.
In what represents its biggest leap of faith yet toward reopening, the city state is taking steps to welcome vaccinated travellers from some countries with an intention to expand travel lanes.