Singapore sticks to social distancing

By TIN Media | Singapore News Published 4 years ago on 22 March 2020
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SINGAPORE:

As the countries around the world are aggressively shutting down restaurants, bars, theatres and other non-essential businesses to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Singapore is still sticking to social distancing.

The city-state seen as a litmus test for containing the spread of the coronavirus  is “doing its utmost” to prevent the spread without having a complete lockdown as is the case with other countries, said President Halimah Yacob in a Facebook post.

The government has been working to limit disruptions to companies and workers after Malaysia – its closest neighbour – imposed rules on Monday to prevent its citizens from travelling overseas.

The ban has raised concerns of labour and food shortages for the island, which relies heavily on its northern neighbour. Singapore’s economy is already taking a hit and facing a recession due to virus-linked disruptions to trade and tourism.


The island has yet to reach the peak in terms of coronavirus transmission, with so-called imported cases continuing to be a concern, Halimah said. The government will, however, prohibit events and gatherings of 250 or more people.


A total of 40 new virus cases were reported as of 12pm on Friday, taking the total to 385. Thirty of the new infections were brought in by arrivals to the city and the majority of these were Singapore residents returning home, it said.


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