Israel, UK, Singapore: What living in an 80 per cent double vaccinated country looks like

This is what Australians can expect as we look to Israel, the UK and Singapore to see what life is like with 80 per cent of their people vaccinated.

Australians suffering lockdown fatigue are longing for the freedoms being enjoyed by other countries whose Covid-19 vaccination programs have been quicker.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said more of society will reopen once the 80 per cent target is hit, and has announced plans for her state.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also promised life in Australia will be much different by Christmas; and he has also said no hotel quarantine for fully vaccinated Australians.

But it comes with consequences — there will inevitably be more deaths, and more hospitalisations, including a surge in patients in ICU.

Here is what other countries have found:

ISRAEL

Israel was a world leader in getting its citizens vaccinated and reached high rates much quicker as a result.

It relaxed restrictions before it reached 80 per cent, but was then hit with a surge in cases.

There have been big gatherings, festivals, and unrestricted travel - all largely without restrictions, including mask use.

So far in September, more than 10,000 confirmed cases a day have been recorded. This exceeded the peak number of cases from January. Israel has a population not much larger than that of NSW.

Israel is seeing a return of Covid-19, despite being heavly vaccinated.

The cases are being caused largely by the unvaccinated - and children are catching the virus and spreading it to their parents, further fuelling the new wave of infections.

With under 12s factored in, only 68 per cent of its whole population is fully vaccinated

However, the seven day average of deaths, while climbing from recent months, is still below the January peaks - the rolling average this week is 23 deaths a day and was 61 a day in mid-January.

As of September 6, at least 2.6 million people in Israel—around 28 per cent of the population—have now had the booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.

SINGAPORE

Since August 6, fully vaccinated Singaporeans have been able to eat at restaurants in groups of five and households are allowed to receive five visitors as well.

Workplaces have been able to welcome 50 per cent of staff back to the office, in a staged return to work once the 80 per cent target was hit.

Live performances, sports events, weddings, conferences and cinemas can proceed with up to 1000 vaccinated attendees and up to 50 unvaccinated attendees.

Singapore is also relaxing its border to certain countries from this month - they describe their way of living as “Covid resilient” not “living with Covid”.

But Singapore has warned it may need to reintroduce restrictions, as new cases threaten its new model of living alongside the virus.

People walk past a shopping mall along Orchard Road in Singapore, where a new model with dealing with Covid is being used. Picture: AFP

In the last week, cases have doubled to more than 1200 for the week ending September 5. Lawrence Wong, the head of Singapore’s Covid response, it was the rate the virus was spreading that was the biggest concern.

“We know from the experience of other countries that when cases rise so sharply there will be many more ICU cases and many more people succumbing to the virus,” he said

To combat the surge, beefed up contact tracing and isolating clusters is being used, as is weekly testing of high risk workers - it had been fortnightly.

Occupations that are subjected to mandatory testing has been expanded to include public transport staff, retail, and delivery.

Mr Wong warned: “If find that the number of serious cases needing oxygen in ICU care goes up sharply, then we may have no case but to tighten our overall posture, so we should not rule that out.”

Singapore is studying the efficacy of booster shots, and will soon begin giving them to those aged over 60, who had their second jab more than six months ago.

UNITED KINGDOM

The United Kingdom has provided good clues about what living with Covid-19 may be like.

With 80 per cent fully jabbed, all restrictions for those in England have been removed - the use of masks is now mandatory only on the Tube.

Travel has also returned - movement within the UK is no longer restricted and the list of countries Brits can travel to without quarantine is growing.

Cases have been steadily building - infections over the past week have risen 15.3 per cent -and the death rate is up 26.1 per cent.

After-work drinks at English pubs are back.

But the numbers are far below what was experienced last northern winter when thousands were being admitted to hospital each day and hundreds were dying a day.

Notwithstanding that, the latest deaths are the biggest increase in six months, and health officials worry about the return to school and university this month of students after their summer holidays.

Downing Street has not ruled out a “firebreak” lockdown as a last resort if the NHS were to be overwhelmed by Covid cases, but denied there were plans for one during October’s half-term school holiday.

When asked this week, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said it was “not true that the government is planning a lockdown or firebreak around the October half-term”.

But he said further restrictions such as a two-week circuit breaker remained an option if the NHS were to be overwhelmed.

A booster shot program is likely to start this month, but it is unlcear if it will be for all adults, or just some vulnerable groups.

Originally published as Israel, UK, Singapore: What living in an 80 per cent double vaccinated country looks like