Coronavirus Singapore

Stricter CNY curbs to remain for a few weeks after festivities

Lawrence Wong urges caution against easing measures as virus has an incubation period

Pedestrians in Chinatown amid festive street decorations on Feb 8. Tighter measures introduced ahead of Chinese New Year include a cap of eight visitors per day per household. People were also reminded to wear masks at all times outside the home, inc
Pedestrians in Chinatown amid festive street decorations on Feb 8. Tighter measures introduced ahead of Chinese New Year include a cap of eight visitors per day per household. People were also reminded to wear masks at all times outside the home, including when visiting someone else's home. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Tighter measures introduced ahead of Chinese New Year to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the community will remain in place until a few weeks after the festivities.

Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who is co-chair of the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19, said yesterday that the situation has improved, but cautioned against easing measures.

Noting that the virus has an incubation period, he said: "We will monitor one, two, a few weeks after the (Chinese) New Year celebrations and festivities are over.

"If the situation remains stable and under control, we will review and we will consider the measures again and see whether or not there is scope for us to adjust."

He was speaking to reporters during a visit to a Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Jalan Besar Community Club.

Some of the additional measures introduced last month include a cap of eight visitors per day per household.

People were also reminded to wear masks at all times outside the home, including when visiting someone else's home.

Enforcement checks have been stepped up during this period, with strict action taken against individuals and business operators who breach safe management measures.

Mr Wong noted yesterday that restrictions had to be tightened after the Christmas and New Year break as the number of community cases rose.

In the third week of January, for instance, there were 21 new cases in the community, up from three the week before.

Mr Wong said: "We were concerned, and therefore we had tightened the measures.

"Since then, the situation has improved, but it is too early to say what happens."

Events which were postponed earlier due to an increasing number of Covid-19 community cases such as the National School Games (NSG) may be reviewed to see when they can be held.

The NSG, which usually sees about 60,000 student-athletes competing across 29 sports, was scheduled to begin this month.

Thanking Singaporeans for their cooperation, Mr Wong said: "By all accounts, when I meet people and ask them, everyone has had a much quieter, subdued (Chinese) New Year, and they understand the rationale for doing this."

He added that with the cooperation of Singaporeans, he was hopeful the Republic would not have a spike in cases after the Chinese New Year period.

On Feb 2, The Straits Times reported that hundreds of shoppers thronged the wet market at Chinatown Complex to stock up on steamboat ingredients before Chinese New Year.

A new coronavirus cluster later emerged after the owner of a sundry shop at Chinatown Complex was confirmed to have Covid-19 on Feb 10.

Currently, the cluster has four cases linked to it, with the wife and two sons of the stall owner testing positive too.

Long queues also formed outside popular bak kwa chain Lim Chee Guan's Chinatown and Jewel Changi Airport outlets on Feb 9, as shoppers rushed to buy their barbecued meats.

Crowds were also seen at Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple in Waterloo Street on Monday as thousands of devotees queued to enter the temple to seek blessings for Chinese New Year.

Mr Wong said yesterday: "We ramp up the vaccine programme, we continue with all the safe distancing measures that are necessary, and I think we can get through this new year in a much better position than before."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 20, 2021, with the headline Stricter CNY curbs to remain for a few weeks after festivities. Subscribe