ECONOMIC growth forecasts for Singapore have risen as the city state announces a 70 per cent vaccination rate for its population and on the back of an improved performance of the economy in the second half of 2020, a period that included the hosting of international conferences held under the hybrid event model.
Fully vaccinated residents can now attend live performances and events in groups of up to five with suitably sized venues permitted to host 500 people if they are vaccinated but limited to 250 if they are expected to move around the venue. Numbers at venues may be increased to 1,000 from August 19 if the Covid-19 situation remains under control.
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry upgraded its growth prediction for 2021 to between 6 and 7 per cent compared to the 4-6 per cent forecast last November, the Straits Times reported.
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Some 79 per cent of Singapore’s population have had at least one dose of the vaccine with 3.9 million declared by authorities as fully vaccinated by August 9, which was Singapore National Day, while 4.4 million have received their first dose.
If 80 per cent of the population gets fully vaccinated by early next month, Singapore authorities will consider further opening up measures such as easing travel restrictions.
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Plans have already been drawn up for fully vaccinated travellers from designated countries and regions to be able to apply to stay at their place of residence or home instead a quarantine facility on arrival in Singapore. Destinations selected for the scheme, which is due to commence August 21, include Australia, Austria, Brunei, Canada, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Health minister Ong Ye Kun said figures show Singapore to be one of the most highly vaccinated countries in the world.
