But officials will wait for the results of ongoing studies on the effectiveness of current Covid-19 vaccines.

Singapore’s downtown skyline at sunset. (Photo: Peter Nguyen/Unsplash)

Authorities in Singapore may ease restrictions for travelers vaccinated against the novel coronavirus should the brand-new, rapidly developed vaccines prove effective in curbing the spread of the disease. Education Minister Lawrence Wong, the co-chair of Singapore’s Multi-Ministry Taskforce on Covid-19, said in parliament yesterday that officials would consider relaxing the stay-home-notice regime for vaccinated travelers “if there is clear evidence that transmission risks can be lowered significantly” by getting inoculated.

In a ministerial statement, Wong added that the government was closely monitoring ongoing studies on the efficacy of coronavirus vaccines, before deciding on whether to modify its current approach. Singapore began its national inoculation program last week, and is now administering its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to healthcare workers. Residents aged 70 and above will be eligible to receive their shots from February.

According to a Reuters report, the eased restrictions could apply to those traveling to the Lion City for the World Economic Forum due to take place from May 13–16. This year’s annual meeting has been moved to Singapore from its usual home in Davos, Switzerland, because of the current Covid-19 situation in Europe. Up to several thousand business and political leaders from around the world, as well as celebrities, may fly in for the gathering, which is being billed as the first global leadership event to address worldwide recovery from the pandemic.