“Utterly Shameful” — Lim Tean calls out PAP gov’t again after US CDC classifies Singapore as Level 4: COVID-19 destination

Singapore — Lawyer and opposition leader Lim Tean criticised the People’s Action Party government after Singapore was placed again in the highest risk classification for travel due to the Covid situation.

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued its updated “COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination” list on Monday, Jan 31. Singapore is classified under Level 4: COVID-19 Very High, for which the main advisory is: “Avoid travel to these destinations. If you must travel to these destinations, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel.”

Mr Lim, the secretary-general of People’s Voice Party, called this, “Utterly Shameful!”

He wrote, “On the 1st day of CNY, we learn that the US CDC has advised Americans not to travel to Singapore as it classifies our Health Notice as ‘Level 4: Very High Level of Covid-19’.

The Americans have put us in the same category as Ecuador, Brazil, Philippines, Kosovo and Paraguay. 

So don’t be fooled by the PAP and the Taskforce into believing that the Covid situation is rosy in Singapore. 

The PAP has a warped sense of what the ‘Gold Standard’ means!”

However, to put things in perspective, almost 130 destinations are now included under CDC’s Level 4 category, currently making it the largest category listed on the site. 

Even developed countries such as Germany, France, Finland, Spain, and the United Kingdom are classified under Level 4, primarily due to the surge of Covid-19 cases running rampant through many areas all over the globe.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus behind the pandemic, as well as its own variant, which has been dubbed “Omicron BA.2,” is responsible for the increase in cases.

However, while Omicron and Omicron BA.2 are more transmissible than previous variants, they seem to have brought on a milder form of the disease, especially in venues with high vaccination rates.

Under CDC’s Level 3 classification, there are 54 destinations listed. For Level 2 there are eight destinations, and for Level 1, there are nine.

The CDC placed 39 destinations under its “Unknown” category, which also carries a warning to avoid travel.

In October of last year, Singapore was placed under Level 4 for the first time. 

Last month, the country was listed by the CDC under “Unknown,” which Mr Lim also called out. 

But Health Minister Ong Ye Kung sought to clarify the situation, by saying “To be clear, we know our situation very well,”  he said at a press conference by the Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) on Jan 5. /TISG

Read also: Lim Tean blasts MTF after US reclassifies Singapore’s Covid-19 travel advisory status as ‘Unknown’ for travel

Lim Tean blasts MTF after US reclassifies Singapore’s Covid-19 travel advisory status as ‘Unknown’ for travel