Coronavirus: Singapore nears 4,000 daily cases, extends curbs

The city state’s health ministry said hospitals were ‘under significant pressure and strain’ as cases rose by 3,994 and deaths rose to 246, with 71 patients in ICU

Elsewhere, travel restrictions between Australia’s two largest cities eased on Wednesday amid a rapid rise in vaccination levels

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Cyclists wearing faces masks pass near the Merlion statue in Singapore. Photo: AP

Published: 9:09am, 20 Oct 2021Updated: 11:08pm, 20 Oct 2021

Singapore will extend its social curbs to contain the spread of Covid-19 for around a month to ease the pressure on the health care system, the government said on Wednesday.

The city state in late September reimposed curbs that include limiting social interactions and dining out to two people to slow virus transmission. However, daily cases have continued to rise and hit a record 3,994 on Tuesday.

While Singapore has vaccinated more than 80 per cent of its 5.45 million population, asymptomatic or mild cases have been rising steadily, spreading the virus and mounting pressure on hospitals and medical staff.

“Nearly 90 per cent of isolation beds in our hospital system have been filled. More than two thirds of our ICU beds are already occupied,” said Lawrence Wong, co-chair of the government’s virus task force, during a media briefing.

“It’s not simply a matter of having extra beds or purchasing new equipment … our medical personnel are stretched and fatigued,” he added.

On Tuesday Singapore reported seven coronavirus-related deaths, while the number of patients in intensive care units rose by four overnight, to 71.