(SINGAPORE) With the influenza A (H1N1) virus turning out to be less contagious and deadly than first feared, Singapore will lower its pandemic alert status level from the current orange to yellow by next Monday.

This progressive step-down, however, will depend on whether the current situation here remains unchanged until then, said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday, adding that the country will continue to be on high alert.

Some measures introduced last week when the alert was raised to orange, however, can be eased, he said. From Thursday, hospitals will relax its one-visitor-per-patient rule. There is also no need for temperature screenings at offices, buildings, schools and events.

But some restrictions will stay. There will still be temperature checks at the air, land and sea borders. Passengers flying in from Mexico will still be served with a seven-day home quarantine order. Mr Khaw also strongly advised against anyone travelling to Mexico.

Last Thursday, the government raised its alert to orange shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its own alert to level five, the second-highest on its one to six scale. Singapore's lowering of its alert back to yellow is consistent with its pandemic response plan, which measures infections by its transmissibility and severity.

'We have had a frantic week but a productive one. So far, we have been lucky. There are no cases in Singapore,' Mr Khaw told a news conference. 'The incubation period for the disease appears to be one to five days, nearly that of a seasonal flu virus.'

He said that it is unclear as to how many H1N1 cases result in serious respiratory disease, hence the need to remain vigilant and act nimbly. 'A complete picture will not be available for a long time. There are still unanswered questions, while the virus will continue to mutate and surprise.'

To date, the virus has infected more than 1,500 people, killing 31 and spreading to 21 countries worldwide, according to latest updates from the WHO yesterday. In Singapore, as at 2 pm yesterday, 29 cases have been investigated and all have tested negative.

The health minister said that the easing of some measures would help prevent 'flu fatigue' in Singapore, as well as conserve precious resources such as N95 masks. 'Let's not waste our bullets now . . . and save up for the big battle which may come several months later.'

He urged people not to be complacent and to take the disease seriously as the authorities continue to learn more about the virus. 'Pandemics can start out mild, and over the course of some months, become a severe illness. We are definitely not yet out of the woods,' he said.

With two 'wake-up calls' already - the Sars outbreak in 2003 and now with H1N1 - Mr Khaw warned that the next outbreak may be both contagious and deadly, and things may take a turn for the worse.

He said that it was crucial for everyone to take their personal hygiene seriously. 'I don't have much confidence in our personal hygiene yet. Please prove me wrong,' he said glumly. 'We have bought ourselves some time with strong border controls and home quarantine orders. Let's now get ready at the community level by upping our personal and public hygiene standards.'

So far, 12 home quarantine orders have been issued as at yesterday afternoon. Six were foreign residents and the rest Singaporeans. Two foreigners ended their quarantine last night.

Mr Khaw praised Singaporeans for their fuss-free response when the alert moved to orange last week. Despite the reduced alert now, he said that companies which reacted quickly by stocking up on thermometers, thermal scanners and even splitting up their operations would learn from this valuable experience, and should not regard it as a 'wasted effort'.