Singapore extends COVID-19 restrictions for another month

Singapore will extend its COVID-19restrictions for another month to curb the spread of the pandemic and reduce pressure on the health care system, the government has announced.

Pedestrians pass through a near empty Raffles Place in the central business district of Singapore (Photo: CNN)
Pedestrians pass through a near empty Raffles Place in the central business district of Singapore (Photo: CNN)

In the last 24 hours, Singapore logged 18 COVID-19 deaths, its highest daily number since the pandemic began, along with 3,862 new cases.

In late September, Singapore re-applied its restrictions amid a surge in cases. Under these measures, social gatherings are capped to a maximum of two, and workers are encouraged to stay at home.

However, new infections keep rising to reach the highest daily figure of 3,994 on October 19. Hospitals and medical workers are under huge pressure.

More than 80% of the country’s population of 5.45 million have been vaccinated.

Lawrence Wong, co-chair of Singapore's COVID-19 taskforce said that at the current situation, the country faces considerable risk of the healthcare system being overwhelmed.