Scaled down National Day Parade held in Singapore

Singapore celebrated its 55th National Day on Sunday with scaled down festivities amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The National Day Parade, which is the highlight of the annual celebration, had few participants and attendees, and was more compact to observe social distancing guidelines.

Members of the Singapore army, navy, air force and police kicked off the parade at the Padang, where the parade has been held every year since 1966.

Except for members of the marching band, parade participants and guests were all wearing face masks, including Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Singapore President Halimah Yacob.

A sparse crowd of spectators waved miniature flags as a parade of military vehicles passed by along one of the main roads of the city state.

Singapore's navy personnel also held a ceremonial onboard several ships during a maritime sail-past off Marina Bay.

In his National Day message delivered online before the parade started, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore still holds National Day parades even during difficult years, in order to renew the country's resolve to weather the storm and take Singapore through to better days.

Although Singapore's National Day this year can't be celebrated the usual way because of it's happening amidst the COVID-19 period, Lee said that Singaporeans are still determined to hold the parade as a symbol of their unity as a nation.

He added that this year's parade was also an opportunity for its citizens to salute those on the frontline fighting COVID-19 in the city state.