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Asia Minute: Singapore Tightens Pandemic Restrictions

AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim, File

Restrictions based on the pandemic continue to be relaxed in many parts of the country and the world, but they are tightening in some surprising locations including Singapore.

Singapore has some new rules when it comes to dealing with the coronavirus.

Starting this past weekend, temporary measures took effect to stop a recent rise in the case of local infections.

The restrictions will be in place for about three weeks and they range from a total ban on indoor gyms to fewer people allowed in museums and libraries, cutting capacity from 65% to 50%.

Large gatherings including church services will require pre-event testing if there are more than 100 people involved.

Weddings with more than 50 attendees will need to test the guests—who will be capped at 250 overall—and kept in separate “zones” of 50 each.

Singapore still has a relatively low number of cases compared to many locations, but last week health officials said new cases in the community spiked to 64—compared to 11 the week before.

When it comes to vaccinations, Singapore is doing better than many of its Indo Pacific neighbors, though trailing places like the United States.

Reuters cites government figures showing nearly 2.5 million vaccines have been administered, enough to cover roughly 20% of the population. 

Bill Dorman has been the news director at Hawaiʻi Public Radio since 2011.
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