The city-state is registering two COVID deaths per million people per day for a grand total, so far, of 430 deaths. That’s 75 total fatalities per million people. The United States at the same time has tallied around twice as many COVID deaths per million people per day while adding to its much bigger overall toll of 745,000 deaths—or 2,300 total fatalities per million.

A dozen deaths a day amid a huge spike in mostly asymptomatic infections is the discounted price super-vaccinated Singapore is paying for getting back to something resembling normal. “The expectation is that social-distancing measures will gradually be rolled back,” Cook said. “This downscaling may cause further epidemic waves, but if the process is gradual we may avoid hospitals being overwhelmed.”

Singapore has all the advantages of a small, rich, orderly island when it comes to handling a global pandemic. But that doesn’t mean bigger, poorer, messier countries with porous land borders can’t at least try to copy the city-state’s working strategy.

It all comes down to vaccinations. Once you’ve got the supply, mandate jabs for work and play. Vaccinate nearly all adults, and you’ll be able to get back to something resembling normal.