Singapore calls on businesses to “live with COVID-19”
Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong has called on businesses to help eligible employees get vaccinated, integrate the use of antigen rapid tests into work processes, and continue flexible work arrangements.
People queue to buy food as takeaway orders, as tables and chairs are cordoned off to prevent people from dining at a hawker food centre in Singapore on May 16. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong has called on busines♏ses to help eligible employees get vaccinated, integrate the use of antigen rapid tests into work processes, and c🦂ontinue flexible work arrangements.
Speaking at the parliament on July 26, Gan said these moves were necessary as Singapore transits towards living with the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that safe management measures will be eased, including restrictions on social gatherings and certain events will see higher capacity limits, The Straits Times newspaper reported.
It means that food and beveraꦦge establishments, retail, and other businesses that provide in-person services such as gyms and beaut༺y services will see a return in demand, he said.
To prepare for this eventuality, Gan said, businesses can encourage and facilitate all medically eligible employees, especially those involved in high touch point activities, to get vaccinated. Those who cannot be vaccinated should be deployed to lower-risk settings.
He said the use of antigen rapid self test kits should be integrated into work processes, especially for businesses that provide services with high touch points, or those that tap a pool of workers who frequently change.
To strengthen operational resilience, enterprises should continue to allow flexible work arrangements and put in place business continuity plans.
Gan also said businesses should be ready for other changes in COVID-19 prevention rules.
For example, they would not have to shut down their premises for cleaning whenever a COVID-19 case emerges, and huge resources would not have to be pumped into contact tracing efforts.
Singapore is al💎so looking at relaxing border restrictions safely, as many parts𝔍 of the economy require a steady flow of people in and out of the country, according to Gan./.
Singapore’s government said on July 20 that it will again tighten COVID-19 prevention and control measures, including a ban on dining at restaurants, as new cases continue to rise, while Cambodia recorded the highest ever number of daily imported cases.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) have raised their full-year forecast for overall inflation to between 1 percent and 2 percent in 2021, up from the previous prediction of 0.5 percent-1.5 percent.
The Government of Singapore will provide a support package worth 1.1 billion SGD, or over 808 million USD, to help businesses and workers impacted by the country’s “Heightened Alert” restrictions put in place from July 22 – August 18.
Singapore will consider easing COVID-19 prevention rules for people who have been fully vaccinated if the outbreak is still under control and the hospitalisation rate in the country remains low, said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on July 26.
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People queue to buy food as takeaway orders, as tables and chairs are cordoned off to prevent people from dining at a hawker food centre in Singapore on May 16. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
