17% of local COVID-19 cases are Omicron: Health Minister Ong

Given the latest data, Ong said an Omicron wave will be “imminent.”

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said Singapore needs to prepare for an Omicron wave as the variant now makes up 17% of local infections.

Ong said Omicron cases have started to creep up. “This means an Omicron wave is imminent, and we need to be prepared for it,” he wrote in a Facebook update.

The health minister said Singapore will combat the variant with continuous vaccination, including booster shots.

“Our vaccination exercise has maintained its momentum. 87% of our total population has completed their full regimen, and 88% has received at least one dose. We also ended 2021 with 41% of our population boosted, out of about 70% that is or will be eligible,” Ong shared.

“Over the past week, more than 20,000 children aged 9 to 11 years have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. This is equivalent to about half a cohort. Many more are scheduled in the coming few weeks,” he added.

Overall, Ong said Singapore’s COVID-19 situation has been “stable so far,” with active local cases at 1,200 and ICU cases reaching their lowest level at 20.

“All these signal that the recent COVID-19 wave due to the Delta variant has subsided, at least for now,” the health minister said.

Meanwhile, Ong also assured Singaporeans that 2022 will be a “better year than the last.”

“We will keep making progress, everyone needs to continue to do our part and exercise civic responsibility,” he said.