Ban flights from India?

If we had banned flights from India, we would be able to keep out the double mutant infectious Indian variant of the virus?

If only it is so simple.

First, it is infectious. This variant is now circulating in more than 44 countries according to WHO. The virus does not have to come in from India. It can come in from anywhere in the world as long as the world is not free of COVID-19.

So what do we do? Ban all flights from all countries?

Can Singapore ban all flights and shut down Changi Airport until the pandemic is over?

Can Singapore also shut down our seaport since the virus also comes in through sea crew?

Can Singapore afford to break our own supply chains and expect manna from heaven while we close all our doors and keep the storm out?

Talk is cheap. If you are required to stay at home and shut your doors, and there shall be no movement in and out of your home, in no time you will run out of supply, and starve.

Incidentally, international flights between India and Singapore have been suspended by the Indian Government since March 2020.

Given the infectiousness of the double mutant, the taskforce is casting the net wide to detect every case circulating in the community. They are testing not just close contacts but people who could have come into contact with confirmed cases, people with possible exposure.

For every case placed on quarantine that tests positive, it means they have succeeded in removing one potential spreader in the community and cut a potential chain of transmission.

But controlling the spread is not the responsibility of the taskforce alone. It is everyone's responsibility. It is a social compact. Everyone has to adhere strictly to the safe management measures.