Singapore tightens preventative measures to combat COVID-19

Taking COVID-19 swab sample in Singapore (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Singapore (VNA) – Singaporean authorities have ordered tightening some restrictions from July 22 to August 18 amid increasing COVID-19 infections.

Under the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures, gatherings are capped at two people. Officials allow two distinct visitors per household daily. Authorities continue to require people to practice health protocols, including wearing face masks in public places.

Since the beginning of July, the number of COVID-19 cases in the community in Singapore has increased dramatically, whereby the number of new cases in the community on July 19 nearly doubled the figure on the previous day.

Singapore is entering a new wave of community infections with the number of COVID-19 cases expected to rise in the coming weeks. Most of these new cases were detected in two major outbreaks - KTV karaoke bars and Jurong fishing port.

The KTV karaoke has been required to stop operation since Singapore put in place the restriction measures since April 2020. To pay rent, many owners have switched to food stalls, of which, most of them fail to follow pandemic prevention measures, leading to the outbreak. Experts also pointed out some inadequacies in management from this case. However, these karaoke bars are unlikely to meet the standards of a restaurant, and it is also difficult to meet the epidemic prevention requirements.

According to medical experts, the number of COVID-19 cases related to this outbreak is likely to continue to increase in the coming weeks, because there are still many people who have not taken COVID-19 tests due to personal reasons.

The Ministry of Health has advised all elderly people not to go out for the next few weeks as the number of cases is expected to continue to soar and this particular age group is more vulnerable to the disease.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health has also created favourable conditions for this group of people to get vaccinated, such as deploying mobile vaccination teams to their homes, or the elderly can go to any vaccination site without having to make any appointment./.