SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be on local leave for two weeks, beginning on Thursday (Dec 17), his office said in a statement on Wednesday.

No acting prime minister will be appointed during this period, as he will remain contactable.

In response to media queries, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Chang Li Lin clarified that Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat would also be on local leave on some days while Mr Lee is on leave.

Mr Lee decided he could continue since he was not travelling and would remain contactable, rather than switching between himself and Mr Heng as acting prime minister.

Mr Heng will chair the Cabinet meetings during this period.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Mr Lee said: "No travelling overseas this year. Instead, I will be exploring our island and catching up on my reading."

He added that he would update his followers on social media if he came across anything interesting during his walks.

The last time the Prime Minister went on leave in December 2019, Mr Heng was the acting prime minister from Dec 25 until the end of Mr Lee's leave on Jan 3 this year.

This was before the first confirmed case of Covid-19 was announced in Singapore on Jan 23.