Singapore will allow selected businesses to reopen on May 12 in a cautious rollback of a two-month partial lockdown despite rising coronavirus infections among foreign workers.
The city-state reported 447 new cases on Saturday to raise its total to 17,548. About 85 per cent of the confirmed infections are linked to foreign workers living in crowded dormitories, reports AP.
The Health Ministry said the daily infections among Singaporeans have dropped by more than half to 12 in the past week. Cases with unknown sources of infection have also fallen to an average of six a day.
The ministry said restrictions will be eased gradually to avoid a flareup of new infections.
Businesses including food manufacturing, food retail outlets, laundry services, barbers and pet supplies will be permitted to reopen on May 12. Home-based businesses can also reopen. Small groups of students will be allowed back to school on May 19.
A gradual reopening of the economy and work premises will be phased in, with strict health rules including a digital mobile app to speed up contact tracing, the health ministry said. Other lockdown measures remain, including confining more than 300,000 migrant workers in their dorms until the lockdown ends June 1.
In other developments around the Asia-Pacific region:
— 6 NEW CASES IN SOUTH KOREA: South Korea on Saturday reported six new cases of the coronavirus, continuing a monthlong streak of daily increases of less than 100, as infections continue to wane in the hardest-hit city of Daegu. South Korea has confirmed 10,780 confirmed cases, including 250 deaths. At least 1,081 cases have been linked to international arrivals, but those have also declined in recent weeks as the government strengthens border controls, such as enforcing 14-day quarantines on all overseas passengers.
— CHINA REPORTS 1 INFECTION: China, where the pandemic began in December, reported one new infection and no deaths in the 24 hours through midnight Friday. The country has reported a total of 82,875 confirmed cases and 4,633 deaths. The National Health Commission reported 43 people were released from hospitals Friday after being declared recovered, raising the total to 77,685. There were a total 557 people still hospitalised on the mainland.
— MALAYSIA MINISTER DEFENDS ARRESTS OF IMMIGRANTS: A Malaysian government minister has defended the government's mass arrests of immigrants without valid documents in coronavirus hot spots. Senior Minister Ismail Sabri said 586 immigrants were detained Friday in several buildings under lockdown in Kuala Lumpur. He said they all tested negative for the virus and were sent to detention camps for breaching immigration laws. Rights groups have slammed the government for breaking its promise not to take action against migrants who come out for virus screening. Ismail brushed off the criticism Saturday, saying authorities were acting within the law. Malaysia has confirmed 6,176 virus cases, including and 103 deaths.
