Coronavirus: Singapore PM says pandemic could last a year but city won’t be locked down

Lee Hsien Loong warned more imported cases and infection clusters were likely but said there were no plans to raise official alert to highest level

Singapore’s Ministry of Health also confirmed nine new cases, raising the number of infections to 187

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Singapore confirmed nine new cases, raising its total number of infections to 187. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:52pm, 12 Mar 2020Updated: 2:54am, 13 Mar 2020

Singapore has concluded that Covid-19 will be around for some time – possibly more than a year – and is planning measures to mitigate the impact of the outbreak, including rules on social distancing and help for unemployed workers. At this point, though, it will not raise its alert level or place the city state on lockdown, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday.

“We will have to tighten up further temporarily, though we cannot completely shut ourselves from the world,” he said during a nationally televised address.

Lee cautioned Singaporeans to expect more imported cases and infection clusters despite restrictions on travellers from countries including China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

Cases have spiked globally and rapidly, totalling more than 120,000 infections and 4,620 deaths worldwide. As a new wave of cases emerged in the US and Europe, Lee said he believed many countries would endure full-blown outbreaks with sustained community transmission, as has happened in South Korea and Italy.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: Handout

“Unlike Sars [severe acute respiratory syndrome], this outbreak will continue for some time – a year, and maybe longer,” Lee said.