Jubilee Post News & Views
# After initial control Singapore saw sudden spurt in cases
# Singapore plans test for over 3 lakh foreigners
Priyanka Parmaar
Singapore model was praised across the globe for containing coronavirus cases just a few weeks before and the world looked upon Singapore to know how this country has managed to control the infection spread. This situation remained till two months after the coronavirus initially spread across the boundaries but the picture changed suddenly.
The number of fresh cases that were between 10 to 20 saw a sudden spurt and it turned in to hundred. The next thing was a question, where the slackness happened?
COVID-19 after China had reached Singapore only but the country was on alert and ever since on January 23 the first case was reported the agencies started work on a war footing. Apart from screening and treatment of the patients those coming from other countries were put under strict screening. This resulted in to containing the infection spread to a maximum limit and all this happened without lockdown. But a small mistake has increased worries for Singapore.
It is said that humans first feed themselves before doing charity and this is what happened in Singapore. It focused upon its countrymen and treated them but it could not focus equally upon those coming from other countries, or rather it ignored them.
Singapore could not sense the danger from those working on construction sites, labours unloading goods at the port, cleaning staff in residential areas, and those making airports shine. The government agencies failed to understand that these people can also be infected.
Singapore has over three lakh workers from South Asian countries and they are the ones who make the Singapore shine like anything. The high-rise are constructed and even cleanliness is their responsibility.
Many times it has been read that governments do not look upon poor but they focus upon tax payers and industrialists. The government has so much trust upon the poor that they do not even think that poor can fall sick. The government thinks poor are robust and poor are resistant against infections, and also sickness. In fact this is a common belief.
The same happened in Singapore. The government didn’t gave a thought they the workers may be infected with coronavirus. By the time government became aware it was late. A large number of workers had been infected with COVID-19.
These labours share (dormitory) rooms in densely populated localities and at times one room has 16 occupants. Now such labours have been shifted to quarantine but several labours are being reported infected every day.
Over 32000 labours have been found infected and this is 10% of Singapore population. The Singapore government has decided to get 3.23 lakh labours/workers tested for the COVID-19 and all shall test gradually. Every day 3000 tests are being conducted here.
Singapore has reported 24671 cases till now and 21 have lost lives. Majority of those who died were labours.
(Priyanka stays in Singapore and works in IT sector)
