[Singapore] Target for 3 in 4 residents to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by October: Lawrence Wong

As at Monday (June 7), more than 1.8 million people, or about 30 per cent of the population, have been fully vaccinated.

Finance Minister Lawrence Wong gave the projection at a news conference on Thursday (June 10), as he noted that the United States saw infection rates steadily come down - from a peak in January this year - when about half the population developed immunity to the coronavirus which causes Covid-19.

He added that more than 40 per cent of people in the US are fully vaccinated, and about 10 per cent have been infected with the virus.

Singapore has not reached that level of immunity yet, but "we will get there soon", said Mr Wong.

In his national address on May 31, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the country's target is for everyone who is eligible for a vaccination and wants everyone to get at least their first jab by National Day on Aug 9.

With a higher vaccination rate, compliance with social distancing and safe management measures, regular testing, and faster and more comprehensive contact tracing, Singapore will ease restrictions and gradually restore "our normal lives, both within Singapore and at our borders", said Mr Wong, who is co-chair of the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19.

For now, phase two (heightened alert) measures will be rolled back from Monday in a cautious and controlled manner, while maintaining strict controls at borders.

The maximum group size for social gatherings will increase from two people to five, among other relaxation of rules.

The second stage of the reopening will happen from June 21, when dining in at eateries may be allowed, with a maximum group size of five.

Such restrictions are needed in phase three (heightened alert) until Singapore's vaccination rate is higher, said Mr Wong.

"It is not quite the full phase three, we call this phase three (heightened alert) because there are still these restrictions in place."

The announcement on the relaxation of rules comes amid a decline in community cases in the past three weeks.

Mr Wong said: "As we progress through these stages (of reopening), we will ease our restrictions and gradually restore our normal lives, both within Singapore and at our borders. Then we will move to phase three, and even beyond phase three, to a new normal phase of living with endemic Covid."