People arriving at Changi Airport on March 16, 2020. (Photo: straitstimes.com)Singapore (VNA) – Singapore on March 18confirmed 47 new COVID-19 cases, an all-time high, bringing the total number ofcases in the country to 313.
Of the new cases, 33 are imported, nine are linked toprevious cases and five have no established links yet.
Given the rapid increase in the number of COVID-19cases over the past 10 days, mostly imported ones, the Singaporean Ministry ofHealth has suggested people defer all travel overseas.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said at a pressconference on March 18 that Singapore’s health care system has sufficientflexibility and buffer to manage the expected increase in confirmed COVID-19cases in the coming weeks.
National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said as moreSingaporeans, such as students and workers, return home, the country has to bementally prepared that numbers could remain high in the coming days.
The Ministry of Education has encouraged Singaporeanstudents studying overseas to consider returning home soon.
Singaporean authorities are planning new measures forsocial distancing among people, especially among seniors and vulnerable peoplein the community, to further reduce risk of local transmission.
Singapore will not rule out a lockdown to tackle thegrowing threat of the coronavirus outbreak, but it is not an option currentlyon the cards, Lawrence Wong said./.
VNA
