More Covid-19 cases, new wave expected with year-end festivities and travel: Ong Ye Kung

More Covid-19 infections and a new coronavirus wave are expected amid an increase in year-end travel and as more people take part in the upcoming festivities, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Sunday (Dec 4)

"With Christmas coming, (the) new year coming, people going out, (there's) bound to have more infections, but it's not something we've never seen before," said Mr Ong on the sidelines of a Chinese Development Assistance Council event held at Nanyang Junior College

In 2022, Singapore saw three Covid-19 waves – the BA.2 Omicron subvariant in April, the wave driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in July, and the recent wave driven by the XBB variant – and Mr Ong said there will be a new wave

He also said that the Government will be monitoring developments overseas, including China's Covid-19 situation

One thing that people should be mindful of is a potential new variant of concern that may emerge as winter arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, said Mr Ong