Coronavirus: Singapore reports 120 new cases, locks down two foreign worker dorms

About 20,000 male workers living in S11 and Westlite Toh Guan dormitories will be quarantined in their rooms for 14 days

The largest-ever daily spike in infections takes Singapore’s total tally of cases to 1,309

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People wear face masks during the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:18pm, 5 Apr 2020Updated: 11:16pm, 5 Apr 2020

Singapore reported 120 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, its highest-ever daily increase, and announced a lockdown of two foreign worker dormitories after a spike in infections there.

Almost 20,000 male workers who are living in the S11 dormitory at Punggol and Westlite Toh Guan dormitory will have to stay in their rooms for 14 days under a quarantine order. Authorities will provide three meals a day to the labourers while monitoring their health.

The S11 dormitory at Punggol now has at least 62 infections, and Westlite Toh Guan dormitory has 28.

Singapore has seen a rise in locally transmitted infections in the past two weeks, with the national total hitting 1,309 on Sunday after rising close to tenfold over the month of March. From Tuesday, most workplaces except those providing essential services such as food supplies, health care and utilities, will close for a month, with schools following suit from Wednesday.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced these tougher measures to combat the outbreak last Friday, saying they were meant to be a “circuit-breaker” to bring down infection numbers. Foreign worker dormitories now make up at least six of more than 20 infection clusters in the city state.

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