Synopsis: This podcast series is based on selected chapters from a book, detailing Singapore’s experience battling the Covid-19 pandemic. The book - written by journalists of The Straits Times and edited by ST’s executive editor Sumiko Tan - is titled In This Together: Singapore's Covid-19 Story and is available in major bookstores now. Details online: https://www.stbooks.sg/ In this fourth of six instalments, ST's executive editor Sumiko Tan looks back at the lessons Singapore learnt from fighting the pandemic. Two, in particular, stood out: The need to quickly adapt its policies as more was known about the coronavirus in the first half of 2020, and how being prepared helped its fight. Highlights (click/tap above): (Headphones recommended) 02:18 Two biggest lessons that Singapore's government learnt from the pandemic 04:25 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reflects on the U-turn on wearing masks 05:03 Then-Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on the importance of changing national direction when assumptions are no longer valid 06:20 Minister Lawrence Wong says the multi-ministry task force was guided by science but had to be flexible 09:00 The big bet on buying vaccines early during the coronavirus outbreak 14:53 Lessons on how to tweak future lockdowns 15:25 Using Covid-19 as a rehearsal for the Big One that is yet to come, the dreaded Disease X Produced by: Sumiko Tan (sumiko@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Singapore's War On Covid podcast series here: Playlist: https://str.sg/wsfD Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wsPm Spotify: https://str.sg/wsPs Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wsyN Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  Read Sumiko Tan's stories: https://str.sg/Jbhe  --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wsfD The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia Embed: https://str.sg/ws76 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wnBi --- Discover more ST podcast series: In Your Opinion Podcast: https://str.sg/w7Qt SG Extra Podcast: https://str.sg/w6mk  Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #stcovidbook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.