Singapore Extends High-Intensity Lockdown

Confirmed cases surge over 1,000 per day... High-intensity lockdown policy extended until June 1

80% of confirmed cases occur in communal dormitories

Majority are low-wage migrant workers from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc.

Up to 20 people live together in one room

Social distancing impossible

Plans to establish accommodation facilities at ports and other locations

[Asia Economy, Singapore ? Correspondent Seo Jumi] Singapore, which fell from being a model country in COVID-19 prevention to a failure case, has extended its high-intensity lockdown policy until June 1.

According to local media including The Straits Times on the 28th, the Singapore government decided to extend the period of border closures and social distancing measures, originally scheduled until May 7, by about a month as the speed of transmission rapidly increased with daily new confirmed cases exceeding 1,000. Although lockdown measures were implemented for one month starting from the 8th, the extension was decided as there was no sign of the spread calming down. According to the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH), 1,426 new confirmed cases were added in a single day on the 20th, marking the highest daily number. The cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 13,624 as of the 26th.

The epicenter of the COVID-19 spread was communal dormitories where foreign workers live together. MOH stated that currently 80% of confirmed cases were found in communal dormitories, and most of these workers are low-wage migrants from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Foreign worker dormitories accommodate from 3,000 up to as many as 25,000 people. They share cooking spaces, washrooms, and convenience facilities, and up to 20 people live in one room. Social distancing is practically impossible. Among the population of 5.8 million, there are 323,000 foreign workers. A significant number of them work in low-wage jobs such as construction sites, shipyards, loading goods, and cleaning. Health authorities reported that 3% of the total foreign workers have been infected with COVID-19.

Malaysia, which borders Singapore, has also extended its shutdown period, making worker movement impossible. There are 300,000 workers commuting from Malaysia to Singapore, but due to the lockdown measures, most Malaysians cannot leave Singapore.

The Singapore government has relocated 10,000 workers engaged in essential services from communal facilities to temporary residences such as vacant houses and public apartments, and is additionally preparing facilities to accommodate workers at convention centers, ports, and other locations.

However, during this lockdown period, infection cases in areas where Singapore citizens reside have decreased. MOH evaluates this as a positive sign that the virus spread is slowing down. The Singapore Ministry of Education has decided not to reopen all public schools on June 1 and to implement an early school break during the extended restriction period. Instead, the start of the third term, originally scheduled for early July, will be brought forward.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.