Singapore has recorded another 932 new infections for the past day, bringing the country’s total to more than 17,000. The city-state of fewer than six million people has by far the highest number of cases in all of South-east Asia.
The vast majority of new cases have for weeks been among foreign workers, who mostly work in construction and are housed in large dormitory complexes – which now are under quarantine. New infections among locals are often in the single-digit range.
Critics say authorities have underestimated the risk for the workers and failed to protect them from the outbreak, while the government insists it is now doing all it can to provide free treatment and additional housing for them.
