Covid Surge: Singapore Back To Lockdown Mode For One Month After Discovering 24 Cases

Singapore: In a bid to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 infection, Singapore is returning to the lockdown-like conditions it imposed almost a year ago and in tune with the same has banned dining-in and limited the gatherings to two people.

As per the decision, the people will be allowed out in groups of only two beginning May 16 until June 13. Besides, the households will also not be permitted to receive more than two visitors per day with dining in prohibited.

The Singapore Health Ministry in a statement on Friday said working from home will be default, adding food places can only do takeaways and deliveries.

“A pattern of local unlinked community cases has emerged and is persisting…We need to act decisively to contain these risks as any one leak could result in an uncontrolled resurgence of cases,” the statement said, Bloomberg reported.

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The concerned officials, who are likely to review the measures after two weeks, have as of now categorically emphasized on staying at home and moving out only for absolutely necessary errands.

The new rules for the next month include fewer people will be allowed in shopping malls and showrooms, a maximum of 100 people to be permitted at business meetings and live performances with pre-event testing and up to 50 people without such testing, operating capacity at attractions cut to 25% from the current permissible capacity of 50% and wedding receptions will not be permitted.

This came as Singapore recorded 24 new virus cases locally on Friday, with more than half coming from a cluster originating from Changi Airport.

Earlier in April last year, a partial lockdown was imposed in the country during which the schools and most workplaces were closed except for essential services and key economic sectors.