SINGAPORE, March 25 — Singapore yesterday reported 49 additional positive cases of Covid-19, bringing the tally to 558, according to the Ministry of Health’s director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak.
At a Multi Taskforce on Covid-19’s press conference here yesterday, Mak said of these, 32 were imported cases involving 25 returning Singaporean citizens.
He added that at least 14 of the cases had a travel history to the United Kingdom, and five had travelled to the United States.
The Taskforce also announced yesterday several stricter measures to minimise further spread of Covid-19 in the republic.
Among others, any work pass holder or their dependant who leaves Singapore from March 27, 2020 will be deprioritised for entry approval.
This could see significant delays before they are allowed to return to Singapore if they persist on travelling abroad and return infected, it said.
Currently, all work pass holders and their dependents planning to enter or return to Singapore from any country are required to obtain the Ministry of Manpower’s approval before they can commence their journey.
Meanwhile, citing records from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said there are still about 1,000 Singapore residents and Long Term Pass holders who are travelling abroad daily despite the issuance of travel advisories.
“These individuals pose a risk to the health of fellow Singaporeans when they return,” he said.
Thus, any of them who leaves the republic from March 27, in disregard of the prevailing travel advisories, will be charged at unsubsidised rates for their in-patient stay at public hospitals, if they are admitted for suspected Covid-19 and have an onset of symptoms within 14 days of returning to Singapore.
— Bernama
