ABSTRACT
The chapter discusses why the 2003 SARS outbreak in Singapore was a seminal event. The government’s vigorous efforts to contain the outbreak have been hailed as a success story. However, while SARS was a turning point in some ways, the government also made mistakes in managing what was ultimately a mini-epidemic. Among the mistakes was the failure to pay heed to the history of pandemics in Singapore. The SARS experience would also hinder Singapore’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a good reason to note that leaning on the most recent outbreak while ignoring earlier historical precedents is likely to lead to error.
