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Parliament passes Bill extending Covid-19 powers such as imposing safe management measures to April 2023

SINGAPORE — A Bill was passed in Parliament on Friday (March 11) to extend by one year until April 8, 2023 legislative powers enabling the Government to use safe management measures and vaccination-differentiated safe management measures to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Health, speaking in Parliament on March 11, 2022.
Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Health, speaking in Parliament on March 11, 2022.
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  • A Bill was passed to extend part of the Covid-19 Temporary Measures Act for another year
  • The regulatory powers will be extended until April 8, 2023
  • They empower MOH to continue enforcing safe management measures, among other powers
  • Dr Koh Poh Koon said that Singapore must keep a position "where we are nimble and ready to take appropriate measures"

SINGAPORE — A Bill was passed in Parliament on Friday (March 11) to extend by one year until April 8, 2023 legislative powers enabling the Government to use safe management measures and vaccination-differentiated safe management measures to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Health, told the House that despite indications that the current wave of Covid-19 cases has peaked and started to subside, Singapore must “bear in mind that the pandemic is not yet over” and new variants and new waves remain a possibility.  
 
“Safe management measures are still needed for now and we will take a gradual and calibrated approach even as we move towards greater degree of normalcy in our communities, businesses, workplaces and travels," he said.

"While we have moved away from lockdowns, which are harmful to the well-being of our people and economy, we must keep a position where we are nimble and ready to take appropriate measures should the situation worsen or change.” 

The Bill to amend the Covid-19 Temporary Measures Act 2020 specifically extends the powers of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to introduce measures to tackle Covid-19.

While we have moved away from lockdowns, which are harmful to the well-being of our people and economy, we must keep a position where we are nimble and ready to take appropriate measures should the situation worsen or change.
Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Health

Those who do not adhere to these measures may be subject to fines or jail terms, and enforcement officers may be employed to ensure the public adheres to the regulations.

During a short debate on the amendment, Mr Yip Hon Weng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Yio Chu Kang, questioned whether the Bill extension of one year is required.

He said that many residents he had spoken to “dread the thought of continued restrictions on social gatherings, economic activities and events”.

“Rather than this be given carte blanche, can MOH extend the clauses for a certain period of time only if we hit a certain trigger point?” Mr Yip asked.

As possible indicators, the Government could look at death rates and the average number of people to whom one infected person will pass the coronavirus, for instance. 

Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim acknowledged that the extension of this Bill “appears to be prudent since Covid-19 is still spreading widely in Singapore”. 

“In the months ahead, we do not know whether any variant of concern may emerge. It is therefore sensible to empower the Minister for Health to issue control measures, if assessed to be necessary to protect public health, including not overwhelming healthcare services,” she said. 

However, she noted that there is a need to review if current infection control measures remain fit for purpose, given that the coronavirus is still spreading widely despite high vaccination rates, and that businesses have to fork out extra costs to comply with the rules

“As such, while I support the Bill as prudent, the next one year should ideally see Singapore continue to move significantly towards normalcy,” Ms Lim said.

In response to Mr Yip and Ms Lim’s questions, Dr Koh said that the Government will further ease the Covid-19 rules if cases continue to show a sustained decline over the coming weeks. 

He also explained that each virus strain has different characteristics and slightly different behaviours to one another, making it difficult to rely solely on a single set of parameters. 

“We have to remain nimble and take all factors into account in designing any of these restrictions,” Dr Koh added. 

Related topics

MOH Covid-19 regulations Covid-19 coronavirus infection control Koh Poh Koon

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