Singapore is extending its partial lockdown by four weeks to June 1

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: Handout

Singapore extends coronavirus ‘circuit breaker’ measures to June 1

• The island nation’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says the decision was made against the backdrop of a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases
• SCMP

Singapore is extending its partial lockdown by four weeks to June 1 against the backdrop of a sharp rise in
Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday.


In a televised address, Lee said the country of 5.7 million people needed to hunker down and press on with social distancing measures, termed a “circuit breaker”, to stop the outbreak from spreading.
The island nation as of Tuesday had 9,125 cases, the highest in Southeast Asia.


The government would make further adjustments and consider easing some measures after June 1, Lee said, adding that he understood many people would be disappointed by the extension.


“But I hope you understand that this short-term pain is to stamp out the virus, protect the health and safety of our loved ones and allow us to revive our economy,” he said.


Singapore has seen a massive jump in infections among migrant workers living in cramped dormitories, which has become the city state’s greatest challenge in tackling the coronavirus. Infections among these workers made up 76 per cent of Singapore’s cases as of Monday.


Singapore has been under a partial lockdown since April 7, with most workplaces and schools closed and only businesses providing essential services such as food or groceries allowed to remain open.

More to follow …