Part 3/14:
The gravity of the emerging crisis was underscored during a trip to Davos in January 2020. There, a pivotal call from Minister Gun Kim Yong catalyzed the formation of a dedicated COVID-19 task force. The Singapore government anticipated the uncharted challenge of a rapidly spreading virus with high transmissibility, much like the SARS experience. Initially met with skepticism by some, the strict preparation and early interventions justified the early measures taken.