New South Wales and Victoria have been given a grim warning ahead of next month’s long-awaited Covid reopening, with a leading infectious disease expert in Singapore urging Australia to prepare ‘more hospital beds’.
The southeast Asian financial hub surpassed an 80 per cent vaccination rate in August prompting the country to open its doors allowing citizens back into pubs, restaurants, retails stores and gyms.
But just one month later the daily infection rate has soared to new record highs leaving policymakers with no choice but to reintroduce some capacity restrictions on venues as health authorities scramble to ease the burden on ‘overwhelmed’ hospitals.
In mid August, the city-state’s seven-day rolling average was below 100 but now daily case numbers have hovered just below 2,000 this week, with an all-time high of 1939 infections on Monday.
But with the over 82 per cent of the nation now double-dosed the seven day moving average of deaths remains at just three – however there are fears that number could increase sharply.
Covid cases in Singapore (pictured) have soared after the financial hub reopened last month
![Over 80 per cent of Singapore are vaccinated against Covid yet infection rates are still soaring. Pictured: A Covid testing clinic in Singapore](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/28/09/48487767-10036171-image-a-2_1632816086710.jpg)
Over 80 per cent of Singapore are vaccinated against Covid yet infection rates are still soaring. Pictured: A Covid testing clinic in Singapore
Professor Dale Fisher, an Australian who chairs the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network in Singapore said the same thing is likely to happen Down Under when NSW and Victoria start to ease restrictions next month.
‘We went from 100 to a 1000 in a very short space of time and that messaging wasn’t I guess uniformly received. Suddenly the hospitals were overwhelmed with people that didn’t need to be there for health reasons,’ the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine-based physician told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Teo Yik-Ying of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health explained the number of severely ill on the island remains low as the ‘vast majority’ are protected by the vaccines, however due to the speed of the unprecedented surge in cases the hospital system now needs ‘breathing space’.
‘Hospital beds are filling up because of the country’s very cautious approach, and not because that many people need acute medical care,’ Teo told CNBC.
![Professor Dale Fisher, an Australian who chairs the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network in Singapore said cases are likely to shoot up in Australia after the reopen as they have done in Singapore (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/28/09/48487703-10036171-image-a-4_1632816148415.jpg)
Professor Dale Fisher, an Australian who chairs the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network in Singapore said cases are likely to shoot up in Australia after the reopen as they have done in Singapore (pictured)
![The daily infection rate graph shows the surge in cases that Singapore have experienced since the August reopen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/28/09/48487999-10036171-image-a-12_1632816733944.jpg)
The daily infection rate graph shows the surge in cases that Singapore have experienced since the August reopen
![Professor Dale Fisher (pictured) getting vaccinated against Covid-19 has warned Australia to learn the lessons of Singapore](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/28/10/48487687-10036171-Professor_Dale_Fisher_pictured_getting_vaccinated_against_Covid_-a-2_1632822335798.jpg)
Professor Dale Fisher (pictured) getting vaccinated against Covid-19 has warned Australia to learn the lessons of Singapore
Government data shows 194 patients currently require oxygen in hospital with 30 others in intensive care.
Officials expect case numbers to soar beyond 3,000 in weeks to come and are taking steps to secure a further 300 ICU beds.
‘If there is a lesson for NSW and Victoria, [it is] could this be a problem for you as numbers continue to increase as you ease restrictions?’ Mr Fisher said.
‘Do you need these extra facilities? If there are suddenly a number of nursing home people [infected], do you have a facility or do you have capacity to look after them? If people aren’t that sick but need to be kept away from the home while they’re contagious… do you need these facilities? If so, do them now because your numbers are going to go up.’
![Professor Fisher said Australia must learn the lessons of Singapore. Pictured: The Marina Bay Sands Hotel](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/28/09/48487763-10036171-image-a-3_1632816138339.jpg)
Professor Fisher said Australia must learn the lessons of Singapore. Pictured: The Marina Bay Sands Hotel
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/15/10/47706319-9992723-image-a-39_1631697107175.jpg)
NSW this week revealed a three-stage roadmap out of lockdown that will see freedoms gradually restored from October 11 and life largely return to normal on December 1.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian outlined the phased return of freedoms that will begin on the Monday after the 70 per cent double-vaccination rate will be reached; forecast to happen next week.
From October 11, five people will be able to visit a home, pubs and restaurants will open for seated service only, retail stores can re-open, and hair and beauty salons to restart with a cap of five patrons – but all of those freedoms will be restricted to the double vaccinated.
About two weeks later, when 80 per cent are fully vaccinated, those restrictions will be further relaxed to allow 10 visitors to a home, community sport and drinking while standing in a pub.
A one person per four square metre rule will be in place for indoor venues, and a one person per two square metre rule for outdoor areas.
Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage venues will be uncapped but must obey the four square metre rule.
![Freedoms will gradually be restored from October 11 in NSW with life largely return to normal on December 1. Pictured: Fully vaccinated Sydneysiders enjoy a picnic under the state's new rules](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/28/09/48487939-10036171-image-a-7_1632816531978.jpg)
Freedoms will gradually be restored from October 11 in NSW with life largely return to normal on December 1. Pictured: Fully vaccinated Sydneysiders enjoy a picnic under the state’s new rules
![On December 1 - regardless of the vaccination rate - just about all remaining restrictions will be removed, including for the unvaccinated. Pictured: A locked down Sydneysider in Bondi](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/28/10/48488321-10036171-On_December_1_regardless_of_the_vaccination_rate_just_about_all_-a-3_1632822335920.jpg)
On December 1 – regardless of the vaccination rate – just about all remaining restrictions will be removed, including for the unvaccinated. Pictured: A locked down Sydneysider in Bondi
Intra-state travel – previously slated to begin at the 70 per cent rate – has been pushed back to the 80 per cent mark due to growing Covid case numbers in regional areas.
The 80 per cent threshold will also see the removal of the 50-person limit on fully vaccinated guests for weddings and funerals.
On December 1 – regardless of the vaccination rate – just about all remaining restrictions will be removed, including for the unvaccinated.
Victorians will finally be released from lockdown on October 26 when the state is predicted to hit 70 per cent double vaccination.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced there will no longer be any restrictions on leaving home, the 9pm-5am curfew will be scrapped and the travel distance extended to 25km.
![Victorians will finally be released from lockdown on October 26 when the state is predicted to hit 70 per cent double vaccination. Pictured: Albert lake in Melbourne](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/09/28/09/48487959-10036171-image-a-8_1632816546183.jpg)
Victorians will finally be released from lockdown on October 26 when the state is predicted to hit 70 per cent double vaccination. Pictured: Albert lake in Melbourne
Students in Year 12 will return to on-site learning as early as the first week of October with all pupils to return to classrooms at least part-time.
Fully-vaccinated residents will be allowed to gather outdoors in groups of 10, with pubs, clubs and restaurants to open for 50 double-dosed people outdoors.
Weddings and funerals will resume with a cap on 50 vaccinated guests with hairdressing and personal care services to restart for five vaccinated clients.
Mr Andrews promised Christmas Day would be as normal as possible with 30 visitors to be allowed inside homes once 80 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated.
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