So he decided to wipe down and disinfect the playground, to reassure families that it was clean and safe to let their kids play there – a simple gesture, which made all the difference to the community. But he saw that everyone was afraid of COVID-19. The playground near his block is very popular with young kids. Or Mr Razali Puasa, who stays in Toa Payoh. A simple pack of hot meal brought many warm smiles. To lift their spirits, she cooked and distributed meals for her neighbours. She noticed many elderly neighbours were afraid to go out during the pandemic, so they were getting listless and moody. Every bit counted in our national vaccination campaign! Or take Mdm Ruku d/o Pakirisamy, a Yishun resident. Because she spoke Malay and dialects, she also bridged language gaps, and could reassure and comfort the seniors during their jabs. She volunteered at vaccination centres in East Coast, and brought fellow seniors to their appointments. For example Mdm Alice Chua, who is a retiree. Many of you went out of your way to help others. Everyone did our part to keep us all safe. And if two red lines appeared, you self-isolated to protect others. You have also become experts at swabbing yourselves using ART kits – what used to be an unpleasant experience has now become a routine chore. You conscientiously washed your hands after coming home. You kept your masks on, especially indoors. You took your vaccinations when your turn came, protecting yourself, plus everyone around you and society as a whole. You practised personal and social responsibility. Above all, there was trust amongst Singaporeans that we would each do the right thing and have each other’s back. We spoke directly to you, shared information readily, and gave you the full facts even when things did not look good. The Government upheld your trust by being open and transparent. You patiently endured rounds of easing and tightening measures despite the inconvenience. ![]() But in Singapore, people worked with and not against one another. In some countries, a precaution as simple and essential as mask wearing became a heated point of contention. Key to our success has been the high level of trust in our society. Our collective efforts have saved many lives. But if our mortality rates had been like other countries, we could easily have suffered 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, or more by now. Thus far, we have had fewer than 1,600 COVID-19-related deaths. We have spread out the impact, and prevented our hospitals from being overwhelmed. This suggests we have been effective in slowing down disease transmission. In Singapore, our waves grow as well as tail off more gradually. And when cases shoot up like that hospitals come under a lot of pressure. In many other countries, when a wave happens, cases shoot up furiously and then crash down suddenly, like a roller coaster. The latest, the Omicron BA.5 wave, is now subsiding. ![]() With each infection wave, we have managed the impact better. We are now learning to live with the virus. We have come a long way in our fight against COVID-19.
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