Coronavirus: how Singapore went from hero to zero, and back to hero again
- When the virus ripped through Singapore’s migrant worker dormitories, the city’s golden image for disease control seemed to have taken a knockout blow
- Now it is back off the canvas, with a near-zero infection rate and plans to reopen nightclubs and host the World Economic Forum. Has it won the fight?
Cases rise, so they lock down. Cases fall, so they ease the measures. Then cases rise again and they lock down once more. Whenever a country thinks it has Covid-19 beat, it seems, it needs to think again.
While Germany, France and England are among countries to have imposed second lockdowns, Hong Kong has shut its schools and work places for a third time this year as the city enters its fourth wave. Even in China, where the virus has been largely contained, there have been flare-ups – such as an outbreak among airport cargo handlers in Shanghai in November.
Indeed, the only differences to the pre-Covid era are that people now are wearing masks, there is no alcohol after 10.30pm, nightclubs and karaoke bars remain closed, and social groups are restricted to five people who must keep a metre’s distance. Soon the differences will be even less noticeable; Singapore will further relax its restrictions on December 28, when groups of up to eight will be allowed.