Page 94 - Mariners Cricket Club (Singapore) - Souvenir Magazine 2020

Singapore followed in the footsteps of Asian neighbours like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
and South Korea, utilizing “aggressive but targeted” tactics. Close contacts of positive
COVID-19 cases were issued stay-home notices immediately, with severe penalties for

those who flout these notices. These targeted measures helped relieve pressure on the
healthcare system.

Furthermore, COVID-19 testing was free for suspected cases, and hospitalization
was provided free of charge for those who tested positive. The government was also
transparent with its messaging, providing constant updates to residents about the number
of community and imported cases every day, along with information on locations where

positive cases were confirmed to have visited. Mask-wearing was also made mandatory
when out in public.

These were supported by an already-robust healthcare system. In 2003, Asia, including
Singapore, had been badly shocked by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
outbreak. Since then, Singapore has assembled a task force that comprised prominent
leaders across multiple ministries to tackle future pandemics, resulting in the COVID-19
Task Force that was pivotal to managing the effects of the pandemic today.

Singapore also introduced lockdown measures in a gradual manner. The strictest level,
also known as the “circuit breaker”, saw non-essential workplaces and services closed
down. However, the circuit breaker was only implemented after the number of cases
skyrocketed due to Singaporeans returning from abroad, and was lifted in less than two
months.

Even after the circuit breaker was lifted and the country entered “Phase Two”, measures
still erred on the cautious side of things. Residents were only allowed to gather in groups

of up to five, and mask-wearing remained compulsory when out in public. Safe-distancing
measures continued to be enforced in places like dining outlets, cinemas, and places of
worship. The gradual rollout of the measures seems to have worked—there are talks of
entering Phase Three, which would see the relaxing of border control and social distancing
measures.

Furthermore, Singapore was quick to act whenever there was a spike in cases. In April,
there were as many as 1,400 cases a day, most of them within the migrant worker
community. However, the curve was quickly flattened due to strict quarantine measures.

Today, there are as few as 10 cases daily. Workplaces are opening up and non-essential
services are starting to resume, due to the effective and swift management of COVID-19
in the country.

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