(Apr 16): Singapore reported its highest daily increase of coronavirus cases on Wednesday as infections surge among low-wage foreign workers housed in dormitories.
Authorities said an additional 447 cases were confirmed as of noon Wednesday, bringing the total to 3,699 in the country. Of the new cases, more than 400 infections – about 90% -- are tied to facilities that house the migrant workers in close quarters, according to a government statement.
The city-state is grappling with a pace of infections that’s picking up among workers staying in the dormitories, at a time when it appears to be stabilizing elsewhere across the country. The government has tightened entry rules, mandated masks, poured billions of dollars into the economy and imposed a weeks-long partial lockdown to contain the outbreak.
Close to 80% of Singapore’s workforce is now working at home as the city-state enters its second week of “circuit-breaker” measures, including the closure of schools and most workplaces. Imported cases have been cut to zero the last several days, while daily numbers of community spread have levelled off in the last two weeks.
