As Covid-19 spreads in Singapore, Chinese immigrants fear a repeat of mainland experience

Many who have lost family and friends to the outbreak are worried the city state is unprepared for a new wave of infections

Although Chinese residents of Singapore are heeding the government’s advice, ‘emotions are in a mess right now’

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People wearing surgical masks pray at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in the Chinatown district of Singapore. Photo: EPA

Published: 8:00am, 10 Mar 2020Updated: 8:00am, 10 Mar 2020

Singapore’s handling of the deadly coronavirus outbreak may have won plaudits from experts around the world, but Tao, a Chinese immigrant in the city state, is hoping that authorities do even more.

The 48-year-old recently lost his father to the Covid-19 illness caused by the virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan where some of his family and relatives live.

“My father died of pneumonia in Wuhan two days after the city was closed off, so I know how scary, pervasive and lethal the virus is,” he said, referring to the unprecedented lockdown of the capital of Hubei province and surrounding cities on January 23.

His father’s death has compounded Tao’s fears that a new wave of infections could hit Singapore.

“China’s methods to close off the affected cities have given Singapore some lead time to put in place measures, but there are new waves from South Korea and Europe that are about to come. They might have a greater impact on Singapore,” said the naturalised Singaporean, who asked to be identified only by his surname.

Like many Chinese immigrants living or working in the city state, Tao is anxious about the outbreak, which has crippled virus-hit communities in China and caused ripples felt thousands of miles away.