Singapore expects ‘virtually entire economy’ to reopen by end of June
- Singapore is two weeks into the first of a three-phased easing of coronavirus lockdown measures
- But even as schools and more workplaces reopen, Singaporeans have to prepare for ‘major changes’ to social norms, says the minister for national development
Singapore is on track to lift more restrictions on companies and residents by the end of June, and expects practically the entire economy to reopen in that phase, according to a top minister.
“With the start of phase two, we expect virtually the entire economy to be reopened – shops, F&B, dining, social interactions – but there will be limits on the number of people who can get together,” Lawrence Wong, minister for national development, told Bloomberg TV’s Haslinda Amin on Friday.
After being praised by international health experts for its initial response to the virus in the early months of the pandemic, the city state – like many countries – was blindsided by how contagious Covid-19 is. An outbreak of infections in migrant worker dormitories saw Singapore become one of the most infected countries in Asia, with nearly 40,000 recorded total cases of infections as of Thursday.
Wong, who also co-chairs the government task force on fighting the virus, said the country has managed to bring coronavirus infections in the city state “under control” through aggressive testing and strict measures that were imposed on social distancing.
With adequate health care and quarantine capacity, there is more room to allow additional long-term work pass holders to return to the country, he said.
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Migrant workers in Singapore fear job loss after coronavirus quarantine ends
With Singapore imposing border restrictions, only just introducing fast-lane arrangements for business and official travellers with China, many expatriates who are employment pass holders have found themselves stuck outside the city state.