Pro tip: Don’t delete TraceTogether app or discard token yet

If you are thinking of doing away with the TraceTogether app or token, please hold your horses.

This is because Singapore may have to step up contact tracing measures if the Covid-19 situation takes a turn for the worse, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.

“We will have to take into account if there is a new variant of concern, whether it’s more severe, more infectious than the Omicron variant,” he told Parliament on May 9, 2022.

“Hence, we are taking a cautious ‘step down but not dismantle’ posture for our public health measures.”

Government will do what is necessary to protect lives

He noted that while some members of the House would like to have a system that with “transparent and clear triggering points”, it’s not possible.

“I am afraid that is not possible when we are in a pandemic crisis with fog of war. But through the MTF actions over the years, I hope the public would also appreciate where we are coming from.”

Minister Ong reiterated that the Government will do what is necessary to protect lives.

“We do what is necessary to protect lives when danger is upon us and we will step down measure when they are no longer needed, no longer necessary so that people can resume their normal lives. So the best step for the public to take is not to delete your TraceTogether app and throw away your TraceTogether tokens. Please keep them.”

Cover photo credit: Max Oh on Unsplash