I would like to first applaud the authorities for doing everything they can to stem the tide of COVID-19, especially in the midst of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant. With nearly the whole population doubled dosed and a growing number of people boosted, I am optimistic that the pandemic will be a thing of the past, soon.
We are currently in the Endemic Phase, which allows for some breathing room due to the de-escalation of measures. However, the authorities have repeatedly warned us against complacency; and I have to agree. What we have seen in global news is testament that one misstep is all it takes for strict restrictions to return.
However, I would like to call on the authorities to extend its assistance to the public by controlling the price of antigen rapid test (ART) kits. On the market, it is not uncommon to see the same make of the kit being sold at vastly different prices, ranging from BND3 in certain shops to BND6 in others. If there is one thing that is essential in this phase, it is the ART kit. While public school students and government employees receive testing for free, not all sectors are afforded such benefit.
As a result, we are subjected to wild price fluctuations if the pricing is not kept in check.
Perhaps the better solution is for the authorities to take over the sale of ART kits, thus ensuring that they are affordable to those of us who need to prove our health status on a regular basis.
Boosted Citizen
