The president will welcome visitors at her residence next month in another sign that Singapore sees a light at the end of the COVID tunnel.
President Halimah Yacob announced today that the Istana, her official residence which has been closed for over a year, will finally reopen next month, just in time for National Day, as health measures are relaxed.
“With the gradual easing of community measures and as Singapore progressively resumes activities safely, I am glad that we are now ready to reopen the Istana grounds in stages,” she wrote.
National Day is Aug. 9 and celebrations are expected to return to The Float @ Marina Bay this year with spectator seats saved for frontliners and essential workers who are fully vaccinated. The parade will be televised, and there will be virtual activities for those celebrating from home.
The President’s Office canceled Hari Raya Puasa and Labor Day celebrations at the Istana in May due to a surge in the number of COVID-19 infections. The Istana, which opens to the public for special occasions, had been closed since February 2020.
Singapore this week loosened dining restrictions from groups of two to five and allowed larger social gatherings of up to 250 pre-tested people at wedding receptions, and up to five people at fitness classes.
About a third of the nation has been fully vaccinated. For the past few weeks, Singapore has reported single digit cases among residents. In total, Singapore has reported 62,718 cases and 36 deaths since the outbreak began last year.
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