Singapore braces for fresh Covid wave, ‘new variants of concern’ from China

Singapore was ‘bound to have more infections’ over the festive period, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said – especially as China opens up more

But he said the city state was now accustomed to waves of coronavirus and would continue to open up as ‘pretty much life has gone back to normal’

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People visit Merlion Park in Singapore last week. The city state no longer mandates mask wearing outside or in most indoor settings. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 9:13am, 5 Dec 2022

More Covid-19 infections and a new coronavirus wave are expected amid an increase in year-end travel and as more people take part in the festivities, but it will not be something that Singapore has not experienced, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said.

“With Christmas coming, new year coming, people going out, [we’re] bound to have more infections, but it’s not something we’ve never seen before,” he said.

He added that in 2022, Singapore saw three Covid-19 waves – the BA.2 Omicron subvariant in April, the wave driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in July, and the recent wave driven by the XBB variant.

“So there will be a new wave but it’s not something that we have not seen before,” Ong said on Sunday on the sidelines of a Chinese Development Assistance Council event held at Nanyang Junior College.

Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said new variants of concern were certain to emerge as China appears to be loosening its zero-Covid policy. Photo: Jonathan Wong/SCMP

He also said that the government will be monitoring developments overseas.