How Singapore went from being applauded for its coronavirus response to facing an alarming wave with thousands of new cases

Sophia AnkelApr 22, 2020, 20:14 IST

A man reading a newspaper sits on an unmarked safety distancing marker at a train station on April 21, 2020 in Singapore.Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

Singapore's quick and efficient response was widely hailed as a success story in the early stages of the world's coronavirus outbreak.
While other countries were imposing strict lockdowns, the city-state implemented a partial lockdown.
But in the last few weeks, it has witnessed the second wave in new coronavirus cases, reportedly coming from clusters found in cramped migrant dormitories.
Tens of thousands of migrant workers, who live in cramped dorm rooms, have been asked to quarantine in reportedly unhygienic conditions.
The rise in new infections has led the government to clamp down on people's movement even further, announcing this week that stricter measures would be put in place until at least June 1.
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As many countries around the world struggled to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Singapore seemed to be on top of the crisis.

For weeks, the Asian country recorded a low number of infections and implemented only a partial lockdown, which involved banning international arrivals and clamping down on large public gatherings, but keeping schools and restaurants open.

But at the beginning of April, things took a turn for the worse after new clusters of infections were found in cramped migrant dormitories in the city-state's outskirts.

Since then, Singapore has recorded more than 3,000 cases in the last four days alone, forcing the government to impose even stricter measures than before, according to The Guardian.

Scroll down for an overview of the country's response so far.

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On April 21, the country extended its lockdown measures to June 1. It does not appear to have controlled its surge yet.

General view of empty roads with the Singapore Flyer in the background on April 19, 2020. Ore Huiying/Getty Images

This includes closing all non-essential businesses, schools, and restaurants.

A man reading a newspaper on a social distancing marker at a Singapore train station on April 21, 2020. Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

As the country witnessed its new surge, the government intensified its lockdown. On April 3, it announced new "circuit breaker" measures, meaning new restrictions and rules to stem the outbreak.

A man walks through a hawker center, where the seats have been cordoned off, in Singapore's Chinatown on April 21, 2020. Catherine Lai/AFP via Getty Images

As the country witnessed its new surge, the government intensified its lockdown. On April 3, it announced new "circuit breaker" measures, meaning new restrictions and rules to stem the outbreak.

The "clusters" in the dorms account for more than 75% of Singapore's total number of infections right now.

Migrant workers are pictured outside their rooms at a dormitory in Singapore on April 21, 2020. Edgar Su/Reuters

While some workers praised the government's response, others complained about the lack of precautions and bad sanitation that remain in the dorms.

Snacks are packed for migrant workers at S11 Punggol in Singapore on April 15, 2020. Ministry of Manpower/Handout via Reuters

For most workers — many of whom work in construction and manufacturing — the days are now spent talking with family members back home and streaming movies on their phones.

People wearing face masks are seen in a quarantine room in Westlite Toh Guan dormitory, as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Singapore April 7, 2020 Ministry of Manpower Singapore/Handout via Reuters

For most workers — many of whom work in construction and manufacturing — the days are now spent talking with family members back home and streaming movies on their phones.

On April 5, this block, alongside 19 others, was put on quarantine. The men living there now get food delivered to them and are only allowed to leave their rooms to use the bathroom.

Workers pass a row of pairs of jeans hung to dry at Punggol S11 workers' dormitory in Singapore on April 6, 2020. Edgar Su/Reuters

On April 5, this block, alongside 19 others, was put on quarantine. The men living there now get food delivered to them and are only allowed to leave their rooms to use the bathroom.

One of the worst-affected dorms is a massive complex called S11 Punggol. The facility houses more than 300,000 migrant workers from Bangladesh and India, who live in cramped rooms with bunks for up to 20 men.

Migrant workers look out from their balconies at Punggol S11 dormitory in Singapore on April 6, 2020. Edgar Su/Reuters

One of the worst-affected dorms is a massive complex called S11 Punggol. The facility houses more than 300,000 migrant workers from Bangladesh and India, who live in cramped rooms with bunks for up to 20 men.

Many infections have been traced back to poorly-kept, crowded migrant dormitories located on the fringes of the city-state, which have been described as a "time bomb waiting to explode."

A general view of S11 Punggol dormitory in Singapore on April 7, 2020. Ministry of Manpower Singapore/Handout via Reuters

Many infections have been traced back to poorly-kept, crowded migrant dormitories located on the fringes of the city-state, which have been described as a "time bomb waiting to explode."

But in early April, it started witnessing a second wave of infections. In the last four days alone, more than 3,000 cases have been reported — making it the country with the highest number of cases in south-east Asia.

Singapore's Marina Bay Sands resort lights up in tribute to healthcare workers and people staying home to curb the spread of the coronavirus on April 10, 2020. REUTERS/Edgar Su

But in early April, it started witnessing a second wave of infections. In the last four days alone, more than 3,000 cases have been reported — making it the country with the highest number of cases in south-east Asia.

Until then, it seemed like Singapore — which has a population of 5.7 million and is only slightly larger than Texas — had mostly contained its initial wave of coronavirus cases.

People wearing protective masks stand apart from each other on the escalators in Singapore's Sim Lim Square, a popular consumer electronic mall, on April 6, 2020. Ore Huiying/Getty Images

Until then, it seemed like Singapore — which has a population of 5.7 million and is only slightly larger than Texas — had mostly contained its initial wave of coronavirus cases.

While other countries instituted strict lockdowns, Singapore's measures were fairly relaxed. Schools, restaurants, and some workplaces remained open.

People mingle over food and drinks at a restaurant on March 25, 2020 in Singapore. Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

If someone displayed even the mildest of coronavirus symptoms, they were immediately sent to a hospital and quarantined there.

An ambulance leaves Singapore's National Centre for Infectious Diseases, where coronavirus patients were being housed, on April 3, 2020. Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images

The city-state closed its borders to all foreigners, ramped up public awareness campaigns, and meticulously tracked anyone who might have the virus.

A traveller wearing a face mask walk towards the taxi stand at the arrival hall of Changi Airport on March 23, 2020 in Singapore Ore Huiying/Getty Images

After it recorded its first case on January 23, which came after a man from Wuhan traveled to Singapore, the country reacted quickly and aggressively.

A couple walk past a temperature screening check at Changi International Airport in Singapore on February 27, 2020. Getty Images

As the coronavirus spread around the world, Singapore — one of the first countries to report cases outside China — appeared to be on top of the crisis.

Tourists walk in a largely empty Chinatown in Singapore on February 21, 2020. Reuters/Edgar Su

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How Singapore went from being applauded for its coronavirus response to facing an alarming wave with thousands of new cases

On April 21, the country extended its lockdown measures to June 1. It does not appear to have controlled its surge yet.

This includes closing all non-essential businesses, schools, and restaurants.

As the country witnessed its new surge, the government intensified its lockdown. On April 3, it announced new "circuit breaker" measures, meaning new restrictions and rules to stem the outbreak.

The "clusters" in the dorms account for more than 75% of Singapore's total number of infections right now.

While some workers praised the government's response, others complained about the lack of precautions and bad sanitation that remain in the dorms.

For most workers — many of whom work in construction and manufacturing — the days are now spent talking with family members back home and streaming movies on their phones.

On April 5, this block, alongside 19 others, was put on quarantine. The men living there now get food delivered to them and are only allowed to leave their rooms to use the bathroom.

One of the worst-affected dorms is a massive complex called S11 Punggol. The facility houses more than 300,000 migrant workers from Bangladesh and India, who live in cramped rooms with bunks for up to 20 men.

Many infections have been traced back to poorly-kept, crowded migrant dormitories located on the fringes of the city-state, which have been described as a "time bomb waiting to explode."

But in early April, it started witnessing a second wave of infections. In the last four days alone, more than 3,000 cases have been reported — making it the country with the highest number of cases in south-east Asia.

Until then, it seemed like Singapore — which has a population of 5.7 million and is only slightly larger than Texas — had mostly contained its initial wave of coronavirus cases.

While other countries instituted strict lockdowns, Singapore's measures were fairly relaxed. Schools, restaurants, and some workplaces remained open.

If someone displayed even the mildest of coronavirus symptoms, they were immediately sent to a hospital and quarantined there.

The city-state closed its borders to all foreigners, ramped up public awareness campaigns, and meticulously tracked anyone who might have the virus.

After it recorded its first case on January 23, which came after a man from Wuhan traveled to Singapore, the country reacted quickly and aggressively.

As the coronavirus spread around the world, Singapore — one of the first countries to report cases outside China — appeared to be on top of the crisis.