COVID-19 pandemic may take four to five years to end
What's the story
It may take four to five years for the COVID-19 pandemic to end and the world to look to a post-COVID-19 normal, Singapore's Education Minister Lawrence Wong warned. He said that there are many uncertainties to contend with in the next few years while sharing his hopes about how the future can be reset once the pandemic is over, the Channel News Asia reported.
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Still great uncertainty about how coronavirus will shape society: Wong
Speaking at the Singapore Perspectives 2021 conference hosted by Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Wong said, "At some point of time the pandemic will pass, but it may take four to five years before we finally see the end of the pandemic." He said that there was still great uncertainty about how the coronavirus will shape society in the coming years.
COVID-19
Getting the world vaccinated won't be quick or easy
Wong, who co-chairs the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force, said, "Adhering to safe management measures like mask-wearing and avoiding crowds will continue for this year and maybe a good part of next year." "Beyond that, the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations will progressively restart global travel, but getting the world vaccinated won't be quick or easy," he added.
COVID-19 vaccination
Wong conceded vaccination might face bumps along the way
The Government has planned for everyone in Singapore to be vaccinated by the third quarter of this year, but Wong conceded that there could still be "bumps along the way." However, he noted that the current vaccines may not be so effective against new mutant strains of the virus, and will have to be modified to counter them.
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'No one is safe until everyone is safe,' says Wong
"There are still tremendous uncertainties ahead of us. And the bottom line is that we live in a shared world and no one is safe until everyone is safe," the minister said.
Economic divide
Pandemic has widened gulf between the haves and the have-nots
Wong said, "The pandemic may be indiscriminate about who it infects but its impact is anything but equal. It has, in fact, widened the gulf between the haves and the have-nots." He said that last year, many emergency measures were introduced to help lower-income groups in Singapore. "But this year, the temporary measures will have to taper down as the economy improves," Wong added.
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Current crisis can set the stage for a 'software update'
Wong said that the current crisis can set the stage for a "software update" or a "reboot" of Singapore after the damage inflicted by the virus. "We must reset our social compact to emerge as a fairer and more equal society," he added.
Social safety nets
Permanent shift toward social safety nets in Singapore
Wong said, "The impact of the pandemic has created an added impetus to strengthen our social support system." "There will be a permanent shift toward the further strengthening of our social safety nets in Singapore to protect the disadvantaged and vulnerable," he added. Wong said that it will have to be done in a sustainable manner over the long term.