Singapore scraps remaining pandemic curbs, enters ‘new endemic Covid-19 norm’

From February 13, residents will no longer have to wear face masks in public transport and indoor healthcare setting, while unvaccinated visitors are not required to show a negative pre-departure test

The health ministry said it did not expect major restrictions to return unless a ‘very dangerous and virulent variant’ hits the city state

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Dancers perform at Singapore’s Chingay parade, which returned after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:57am, 9 Feb 2023Updated: 5:17pm, 9 Feb 2023

Singapore on Thursday said it will move to discard the last of Covid-19 restrictions that have remained in place after it reopened last year, including the requirement to wear masks in public transport.

The city state’s pandemic situation remained stable in recent months despite increased travel during the year-end holiday season, China’s unravelling of its zero-Covid policy and the northern hemisphere winter season.

“We are therefore able to step down the remaining few Covid-19 measures, and establish a new endemic Covid-19 norm,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Thursday.

While the new status quo would not be “static” – given expectations of new waves of infection and evolution of the virus – the ministry said it did not expect major restrictions to return.

“Unless it is a very dangerous and virulent variant, we should be able to manage these subsequent waves with an appropriate level of measures that does not deviate significantly from the new norm, and continue to live our lives normally,” it said.

The latest easing – effective from February 13 – removes the requirement for residents to wear masks in public transport, indoor healthcare and residential care settings.