Singapore expects the Omicron coronavirus variant to cause a bigger wave of infections than Delta, the health ministry has said, adding that a booster dose will soon be required for adults to maintain their fully vaccinated status.

From February 14, eligible persons aged 18 years and above should have received a booster dose no later than 270 days after the last dose in the primary vaccination series to continue to be considered fully vaccinated, the ministry said, according to Reuters.

Over the past week, Singapore detected 1,281 Omicron cases, comprising 1,048 people who had come from overseas and 233 local cases. The number made up around 18 per cent of its total infections in the last week.