Family support is strength in trying times: PM Lee’s New Year message

Chinese new year

In his Chinese New Year Message, PM Lee said that with COVID-19, it is perhaps “more important than ever to show our appreciation to our family members. The warmth, comfort and support of our families have given all of us strength to get through the most trying times of COVID-19.”

Through a tremendous effort, Singapore has managed to bring the virus under control.

“Because of this tremendous effort, our COVID-19 situation has now stabilised. We have avoided the disastrous outbreaks and the enormous pain and suffering experienced by many other countries,” PM Lee said.

As we welcome the Year of the Ox, PM Lee said we can ‘look back and give thanks that we have come through the Year of the Rat, not without trouble, but relatively unscathed’.

While celebrating the new Chinese New Year will come with various restrictions, these stricter measures are necessary as the virus is still spreading rapidly around the world.

There are ways we can have reunions with family members or connect with friends such as through video calls or teleconferencing, he said.

“We can look forward to more carefree celebrations when the pandemic is over,” PM Lee added.

On a positive note, PM Lee said the Year of the Ox brings new hope because vaccines are now available.

Countries with serious outbreaks, which have started mass vaccinations, have begun to bring down their new cases, PM Lee said.

In Singapore, 250,000 people have received their first dose of the vaccine, he added.

We should be on track to vaccinate our whole population within this year provided vaccine supplies come in as scheduled.

Concluding his message, PM Lee exhorts us to show our appreciation for the essential workers including healthcare workers, transport staff, cleaners, and migrant workers.

They are making personal sacrifices to keep Singapore going during this festive period.

“Many of our Malay, Indian and Eurasian friends will be working, covering for their Chinese colleagues. They deserve our heart-felt thanks,” said PM Lee.

Here’s the message reproduced in full:

Chinese New Year is a time for reunions and celebration. Tonight, across Singapore, families will enjoy dinners with their loved ones. Over the next few days, we will visit parents and relatives in smaller groups to exchange New Year wishes for good health and prosperity, and to welcome new arrivals to the family. This year, with COVID-19, it is perhaps more important than ever to show our appreciation to our family members. The warmth, comfort and support of our families have given all of us strength to get through the most trying times of COVID-19.

Keeping our families safe from COVID-19 has been on all of our minds. Protecting our people, especially our seniors, has been the government’s top priority in this pandemic. We have gone all out to control the spread of the virus, treat the infected, and prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed, even at great economic cost. Because of this tremendous effort, our COVID-19 situation has now stabilised. We have avoided the disastrous outbreaks and the enormous pain and suffering experienced by many other countries. We have restarted most of our economy, and are cautiously resuming cross-border travel. As we welcome the Year of the Ox, we can look back and give thanks that we have come through the Year of the Rat, not without trouble, but relatively unscathed.

I thank everyone for your continued support for the tough restrictions the government has had to implement. COVID-19 has forced us to scale down 2 and adapt our family gatherings and New Year visits. We can still gather, provided we receive no more than eight visitors per day to our homes. Our own visits should be to at most two other households daily, and only to relatives. These stricter measures are necessary as the virus is still spreading rapidly around the world. This January, we saw the new waves of infection caused by year-end celebrations in many countries, where many people gathered and let their guard down. This is something we should learn from and avoid.

I know these restrictions will dampen the festive atmosphere somewhat. Bigger extended families will be especially inconvenienced. But the precautions are essential to keep our loved ones safe. I am sure you will find other ways to hold your reunions and connect with family members and friends, perhaps through video calls or teleconferencing.

We can look forward to more carefree celebrations when the pandemic is over. The Year of the Ox brings new hope. Vaccines are now available. Countries with serious outbreaks, which have started mass vaccinations, have begun to bring down their new cases. In Singapore, 250,000 people have received their first dose of the vaccine. We have vaccinated most frontline and essential workers, and are now vaccinating our seniors, starting with those over 70. Provided vaccine supplies come in as scheduled, we should be able to offer vaccinations to our whole population within this year.

I strongly encourage everyone to take the vaccine when it is your turn. Vaccination protects ourselves, and our loved ones. Furthermore, if enough of us are vaccinated, our population will have herd immunity. But we are not there yet, so in the meantime please keep up our safe distancing precautions, even if you yourself have been vaccinated.

As we celebrate Chinese New Year, let us also show our appreciation for the essential workers who are making personal sacrifices to keep Singapore going during this festive period: our healthcare workers, transport staff, cleaners, migrant workers, delivery riders and many more. Many of our Malay, Indian and Eurasian friends will be working, covering for their Chinese colleagues. They deserve our heart-felt thanks.

I wish all Singaporeans good health, and a very happy Chinese New Year.

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