The island nation Singapore has put in place its strictest measures yet to battle the pandemic, as its confirmed cases increase to more than 1,100. People will also no longer be discouraged from wearing face masks, a reversal of earlier advice from the government

Singapore will close schools from April 8 and most workplaces from April 7, to be opened again on May 5, its strictest measures yet to battle the Covid-19 pandemic that has led to more than 1,100 confirmed cases in the city state.
Essential services such as markets and supermarkets, clinics, hospitals, utilities, transport and banking services will remain open. While food establishments will remain open, diners can no longer eat at restaurants and will have to bring their food home.
All amusement parks, museums and casinos will also be closed, along with sports and recreation facilities such as public swimming pools, country clubs, gyms and fitness studios. All recreational facilities in hotels will also be closed.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday said instead of tightening measures incrementally over the next few weeks, Singapore should “make a decisive move now, to pre-empt escalating infections”.
“Looking at the trend, I am worried that unless we take further steps, things will gradually get worse, or another big cluster may push things over the edge,” Lee said, describing the new measures as a “circuit breaker”.
“It will help reduce the risk of a big outbreak occurring and it should also help to gradually bring our numbers down,” he said in a national address, his third since the Covid-19 outbreak.
Lee said more support for households and businesses was on the way, “over and above what was provided in the two earlier budgets”. The new stimulus measures will be announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in parliament on Monday.
Singapore will also no longer discourage people from wearing face masks, Lee said. This is a reversal of the city state’s earlier advice that masks should only be used when a person is sick and on his or her way to seek medical attention. The policy change comes from evidence that an infected person can show no symptoms but still pass on the virus to others.
Lee said the government would distribute reusable masks to all households from April 5, while conserving surgical masks for health care workers. Singapore had previously distributed four masks to each household but told residents to only use them if sick.