Why Singapore is choosing to wait before pushing panic button on Omicron

People wearing protective face masks walk along the Orchard Road shopping area in Singapore on Nov. 28, 2021. When Singapore embarked upon its strategy of “living with COVID,” backed by one of the world's leading vaccine programs, the wealthy city-state saw a spike in its rate of infections, leading many to question whether the time was right. - AP

SINGAPORE, Dec 1 (Bloomberg): Singapore’s world-leading pivot away from Covid Zero is being watched closely as the omicron variant roils global markets. So far, the country has refrained from reversing course on its gradual border reopening, and experts say it has time to wait before pushing the panic button.

Instead of joining Japan and Israel in slamming borders shut again to foreigners, Singapore kept its existing vaccinated travel lanes open, choosing instead to step up testing for travelers and pause further easing of travel and social curbs.