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Photos: Singapore rushes to contain Covid-19 cases after record spike

The number of daily coronavirus cases in Singapore topped the 1,000 mark for the first time on Monday since the coronavirus pandemic began. With its total number of confirmed infections at 8,014 Singapore has the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia. The island nation’s small size and proactive state government quickly facilitated contact tracing and enforcement of restrictions. But its case totals exploded last week as the coronavirus rampaged through the tightly packed dormitories housing migrant workers who perform essential services.

Updated on: Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM IST

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A cyclist rides past a housing construction site in the Punggol area of Singapore, where activity has been stalled due to circuit-breaker measures against the coronavirus outbreak, on April 20, 2020. Singapore reported a record 1,426 new coronavirus cases on Monday, mostly among foreign workers, pushing its total number of confirmed infections to 8,014. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

A cyclist rides past a housing construction site in the Punggol area of Singapore, where activity has been stalled due to circuit-breaker measures against the coronavirus outbreak, on April 20, 2020. Singapore reported a record 1,426 new coronavirus cases on Monday, mostly among foreign workers, pushing its total number of confirmed infections to 8,014. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

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A Police Coast Guard boat patrols along the Johor Strait next to the S11 Punggol dormitories that house foreign workers and have been made into an isolation area on April 21. The city-state now has the highest number of cases in Southeast Asia. About 3,000 cases have been reported in just the past three days. (Roslan Rahman / AFP)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

A Police Coast Guard boat patrols along the Johor Strait next to the S11 Punggol dormitories that house foreign workers and have been made into an isolation area on April 21. The city-state now has the highest number of cases in Southeast Asia. About 3,000 cases have been reported in just the past three days. (Roslan Rahman / AFP)

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People wearing face masks are seen in a quarantine room in Westlite Toh Guan dormitory, in Singapore. More than 200,000 workers from Bangladesh, India and other Asian countries live in tightly packed dormitories. Clusters of infections have expanded rapidly in the dorms after they were overlooked in the government’s earlier health measures. (Ministry of Manpower Singapore via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

People wearing face masks are seen in a quarantine room in Westlite Toh Guan dormitory, in Singapore. More than 200,000 workers from Bangladesh, India and other Asian countries live in tightly packed dormitories. Clusters of infections have expanded rapidly in the dorms after they were overlooked in the government’s earlier health measures. (Ministry of Manpower Singapore via REUTERS)

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Medical screening takes place at Westlite Toh Guan dormitory. Low-wage migrant workers, a vital part of Singapore’s workforce, now account for at least 60% of its infections. (Ministry of Manpower Singapore via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

Medical screening takes place at Westlite Toh Guan dormitory. Low-wage migrant workers, a vital part of Singapore’s workforce, now account for at least 60% of its infections. (Ministry of Manpower Singapore via REUTERS)

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People load food destined for migrant workers onto a truck during a partial lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus in the Little India area of Singapore. Over half of the 43 registered dormitories have reported active viral clusters. At least 18 of the dormitories were declared isolation areas where workers have been quarantined. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

People load food destined for migrant workers onto a truck during a partial lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus in the Little India area of Singapore. Over half of the 43 registered dormitories have reported active viral clusters. At least 18 of the dormitories were declared isolation areas where workers have been quarantined. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

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Food distribution takes place at Westlite Toh Guan dormitory. The government expects cases to rise further as testing at the dorms continues, but hopes that the country’s partial lockdown until May 4, mandatory wearing of masks and strict social distancing will help curb the spread of the virus. (Ministry of Manpower Singapore via REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

Food distribution takes place at Westlite Toh Guan dormitory. The government expects cases to rise further as testing at the dorms continues, but hopes that the country’s partial lockdown until May 4, mandatory wearing of masks and strict social distancing will help curb the spread of the virus. (Ministry of Manpower Singapore via REUTERS)

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A housing construction site stands idle in the Punggol area of Singapore. National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said Sunday that many of the workers in the affected dormitories work in construction. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

A housing construction site stands idle in the Punggol area of Singapore. National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said Sunday that many of the workers in the affected dormitories work in construction. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

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A migrant worker walks among foundation pilings at a construction site. Labour advocates earlier warned that confinement en mass in dormitories may put the workers at greater risk. There are concerns about the pace of testing, reportedly less than 3,000 a day, and workers living outside the 43 registered dormitories. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

A migrant worker walks among foundation pilings at a construction site. Labour advocates earlier warned that confinement en mass in dormitories may put the workers at greater risk. There are concerns about the pace of testing, reportedly less than 3,000 a day, and workers living outside the 43 registered dormitories. (Edgar Su / REUTERS)

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A vendor prepares food at a food court in an arcade in Singapore. Wong said transmission across dormitories could have occurred at work sites or at places where the workers congregate on their days off. The government has ordered construction workers who live outside the dorms to be quarantined at home until May 4. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

A vendor prepares food at a food court in an arcade in Singapore. Wong said transmission across dormitories could have occurred at work sites or at places where the workers congregate on their days off. The government has ordered construction workers who live outside the dorms to be quarantined at home until May 4. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

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Vendors wait for customers in the Little India area of Singapore. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Saturday it will take time to break the chain of transmission in the dorms. He has said the vast majority of cases among migrant workers are mild since most of the men are young. Despite the high number of cases, Singapore has only recorded 11 deaths, among the lowest in the region. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

Updated on Apr 22, 2020 8:41 PM

Vendors wait for customers in the Little India area of Singapore. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Saturday it will take time to break the chain of transmission in the dorms. He has said the vast majority of cases among migrant workers are mild since most of the men are young. Despite the high number of cases, Singapore has only recorded 11 deaths, among the lowest in the region. (Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg)

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