Domestically, more restrictions will also be relaxed from next Tuesday – bringing the country almost back to the state of affairs before the pandemic.

Current limits capping social groups to 10 will be removed, all workers can return to the workplace, and safe distancing will no longer be required. The number of places people are required to use the “TraceTogether” contact-tracing application will also be slashed.

“Today is really a happy day that marks a very important milestone,” health minister Ong Ye Kung said. “We know the danger is of course, not over, but we can all breathe easier now.”

The city state, with one of the world’s highest vaccination rates, has progressively relaxed its pandemic restrictions. The health ministry reported that the seven-day moving average of daily infections had fallen from 18,300 at its peak to under 3,100 in the past week. Hospitalisation numbers have also dipped to about 266.

“Mask-wearing is effective and it will be one of the last few measures that we will do away with,” he said.

Joy, free beer, parties: Singapore makes post-Covid shift, but many remain wary

Just last month, Singapore took its most decisive step yet in reopening its borders by allowing all fully-vaccinated travellers – from any country or region – to enter quarantine-free.

It also removed the requirement for on-arrival Covid-19 tests.

Authorities expect the move to boost air passenger volumes to at least 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. The civil aviation authority reported that numbers were at 31 per cent last week, with particularly strong traffic growth to and from Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Singapore aims to be Asia’s busiest airport as Hong Kong delays easing travel curbs

“But let’s always remember we are getting closer to the finish line, but the race is not over,” he said.