#15,208
Three weeks ago (1st of April) Singapore had registered - since January - a total of 926 COVID-19 cases. Despite eschewing the more draconian social distancing measures adopted by other countries, Singapore - at least until late March - was hailed as having one of the most effective COVID-19 public health response systems in the world.
Since then, they have reported a rapid increase in cases - a great many described as foreign workers residing in dormitories - raising their total nearly 10-fold, to 9,125 in just 3 weeks. Of those, over 25% (n=2,537) have been reported over the past 48 hours.
1,111 New Cases of Covid-19 Infection 33 More Cases Discharged - April 21st
1,426 New Cases of Covid-19 Infection Confirmed - April 20thSingapore closed schools in early April, and a week ago ordered Mandatory Mask Wearing along with additional `circuit breakers' in hopes of slowing the spread of the virus. Today, they are announcing even more stringent measures.
I've only posted some excerpts from today's announcement, so follow the link to read it in its entirety.
STRONG NATIONAL PUSH TO STEM SPREAD OF COVID-19
21ST APR 2020
The Multi-Ministry Taskforce has directed more steps to be taken to further reduce transmission of COVID-19. We will close more work premises to minimise workplace transmissions and to contain the infection amongst migrant worker clusters. We will also take targeted action at popular areas in the community, and encourage more to stay home, to further reduce the risk of community transmission.
Update on Current Trends of Transmission
2 We have seen a significant increase in cases relating to migrant workers, in the past two weeks, driven predominantly by aggressive testing in migrant worker dormitories. We have deployed medical and support teams to various dormitories to tend to the healthcare and daily needs of the migrant workers residing there. Those who are sick and contracted COVID-19 have been placed under the care of our healthcare teams. Most are young and many have either no symptoms or relatively mild symptoms. None need oxygen support or are in the intensive care unit. Many recover without having to be hospitalised.
3 Since the introduction of the circuit breaker measures, we are starting to see a moderation in the number of cases in the community. This has come down from an average of around 40 cases per day in the first week of the circuit breaker period (i.e. from 7 April to 13 April 2020) to an average of around 30 cases per day in the second week of the circuit breaker period (i.e. from 14 April to 20 April 2020).[1] The number of cases amongst Singaporeans and Permanent Residents have also decreased in the same period, to an average of 24 cases per day. Overall COVID-19 related deaths remain low, with 11 deaths to date.
4 However we want to bring the number of cases in the community down further. There continues to be transmission at workplaces. There is also an increasing number of unlinked cases in the community. This is indicative of continued community spread and cases in the community that have not been detected.
5 We must therefore make a stronger national push to decisively break the transmissions and further reduce the number of community cases. We must also be able to detect and contain cases that break out in the community, to prevent new clusters from forming. Together, we must make the most out of our circuit breaker period.
Closure of More Work Premises and Measures for Workplaces
6 On 14 April 2020, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced that fewer businesses will be permitted to operate during the circuit breaker period. We aim to reduce the proportion of workers still commuting daily to work from about 20% today, to around 15%, so as to minimise the workers’ movements and interactions.
7 The list of activities that will be allowed to continue to operate will be updated at https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/essentialservices. For businesses that are customer facing, we will have a tighter definition of what is allowed under F&B, and either suspend or place restrictions on selected businesses to further reduce interactions. The affected businesses will be notified by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Businesses which can continue operating at their work premises must register their workers who are required to work on-site. The number of workers permitted to work on-site will be reduced to the minimum needed.
8 For workplace premises which remain open, employers must put in place effective measures to avoid transmission of COVID-19 at and across workplace premises. These include not allowing teams working in different locations to interact physically with one another, implementing safe distancing measures at every workplace premise, and ensuring workers wear masks at the workplaces. All workplaces will also be required to have a system that logs their workers’ entry into, and exit from, their workplaces. Employers can consider using a digital check-in application called SafeEntry for this purpose. More information on SafeEntry’s deployment at work premises can be found at go.gov.sg/safeentry.
9 Enforcement agencies will increase the number of inspections of workplace premises which remain open, and will take firm action against non-compliant workplaces. First-time offenders will be issued composition offers of $1,000, and repeat offenders will face higher fines or prosecution in court. Businesses will be required to suspend their operations should a cluster of infection arise among their staff working on the premises.
Tackling Transmissions in Migrant Worker Clusters
(SNIP)
General Population is Urged to Take Circuit Breaker Measures Seriously
14 We urge all in Singapore to stay home and avoid going out except to purchase food and daily necessities, procure essential services or for urgent medical needs. Everyone must observe the circuit breaker measures strictly so that we can quickly break transmissions and bring down the number of cases in the community.
15 We ask all to observe the spirit of the circuit breaker measures. Individuals who need to leave their homes should do so on their own, and not in groups or as a household. These trips are not meant to be family outings. Likewise, if there is a need to exercise outside, we urge everyone to do so alone and in their immediate neighbourhoods, rather than travel unnecessarily to other parts of Singapore.
16 We want to minimise the number of people out and about, to reduce the chances of community transmission. We understand that some members of the public will need to be accompanied by a caregiver, for example, frail seniors, the disabled, and young children. We encourage everyone to adhere to the spirit of the guidelines to minimise movement, and complete their tasks and return to their homes quickly.
17 There are some local areas that are susceptible to crowding at certain times, and where it is difficult to uphold safe distancing measures. The site owners may introduce access restrictions, and we ask that members of the public comply with them. In particular, at four popular wet markets (Geylang Serai Market; Blk 505, Jurong West St 52; Blk 20/21, Marsiling Lane; and Blk 104/105, Yishun Ring Road), entry will be permitted only on alternate dates, depending on the last digit of the individuals’ NRIC/FIN. Individuals with even/odd last digits in their NRIC/FIN will be allowed entry only on even/odd dates of the month respectively. This will help spread out the crowd over the week, and reduce the crowding and long queues seen at these popular markets, especially on weekends. Other wet markets, as well as supermarkets, which experience crowding, may also introduce similar access restrictions. The list of hotspot areas will be updated at https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/hawker-management/announcements.
Extension of Circuit Breaker Period
18 These tighter measures will be in place minimally for a two-week period from 21 April 2020 until 4 May 2020 (inclusive). In view of the current situation, the Taskforce will also extend the circuit breaker period by another 4 weeks until 1 June 2020 (inclusive). We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and may be able to gradually ease some of the measures if there is a significant decline in our local transmission numbers.
19 The Government will provide the same level of support to our workers and businesses, even as we extend the circuit breaker period. Please refer to the Ministry of Finance’s media release for details.
20 To fight COVID-19 successfully, all of us must play our part. Stay home; minimise the time spent outside; and strictly observe safe distancing measures. The Government is doing everything we can on multiple fronts to keep Singaporeans as well as our migrant workers safe. Please work with us.
[1] These cases comprise all Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Pass holders (excluding work permit holders).
