Singapore - Although breakthrough infection spread, no lockdown

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

シンガポール ブレイクスルー感染拡大もロックダウンは行わず

2021年10月9日 23時23分

新型コロナウイルスワクチンの接種を終えたあと感染が確認される、いわゆる「ブレイクスルー感染」も広がっているシンガポールで、リー・シェンロン首相はワクチン接種によって重症化は抑えられているとして、経済活動などの厳しい制限は行わず、新型コロナウイルスとの共存戦略を推進すると国民に呼びかけました。

シンガポールでは新型コロナウイルスワクチンの接種を終えた人が人口の83％に上っていますが、接種を終えたあと感染が確認されるいわゆる「ブレイクスルー感染」も広がり、政府はことし8月に緩和した行動制限を先月下旬から再び強化しています。

8日にはこれまでで最も多い3590人の感染が確認されましたが、リー・シェンロン首相は9日、テレビ演説を行い「感染者の98％以上は無症状か軽症者だ。新型コロナウイルスはもはや、われわれの多くにとって危険ではない」と述べ、接種によって重症化は抑えられていると強調しました。

そのうえで経済活動などを厳しく制限する、いわゆる「ロックダウン」は行わず「新型コロナウイルスとの共存戦略を推進しなければならない」と国民に呼びかけました。

新型コロナウイルスをめぐっては、感染拡大の防止と経済活動の維持をどう両立させるか、各国政府は難しいかじ取りを迫られています。

Translation

In Singapore, where infection had been confirmed after vaccination with the new coronavirus vaccine, the so-called "breakthrough infection" was spreading, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that vaccination had suppressed the severity of the disease and called on the public to promote a strategy of coexistence with the new coronavirus without strict restrictions on economic activities etc.

In Singapore, 83% of the population had completed vaccination with the new coronavirus vaccine, but the so-called "breakthrough infection", in which infection was confirmed after vaccination, had spread, the government again tightened the restrictions on behavior starting from the end of last month that were relaxed in August.

The highest number of infections to date was confirmed on the 8th, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave a television speech on the 9th, saying that "More than 98% of infected people are asymptomatic or mild. The new coronavirus is no longer dangerous to many of us "; he stressed that vaccination had reduced the aggravation of illness.

On top of that, he called on the people that "a strategy to coexist with the new coronavirus must be promoted" without performing so-called "lockdown" that could severely restrict economic activities.

Regarding the new coronavirus, many governments were under pressure to steer the difficult leadership to balance between the spread of infection and the maintenance of economic activity.

              So, Singapore government is calling on the public to coexist with the new coronavirus so as to avoid imposing strict restrictions on economic activities etc. It seems that this is the most popular choice among most governments globally except mainland China and Hong Kong.