305 COVID-19 Cases Today (18 May): Low Figure is Due to Fewer Tests Being Processed


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We’re now close to 2/3 into the month, and we’re now also close to the 30K mark.

Because today, while there are only 305 cases in Singapore, the lower number of cases today is partly due to fewer tests being processed as one testing laboratory is reviewing its processes following an earlier apparatus calibration issue, and will need time to ramp up its testing capacity.

This brings the total to 28,343 cases here in our tiny island.

Out of today’s cases, 2 are Singaporeans or Singapore PRs. Yesterday, this figure is at 4.

Majority of today’s cases are work permit holders residing in dormitories.

On average, based on yesterday’s numbers, the number of new cases in the community has decreased, from an average of 8 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 3 per day in the past week. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also decreased, from an average of 3 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 2 per day in the past week.

So would the Circuit Breaker end on 1 June 2020?

Well, yes and no, because while it officially ends, Minister Lawrence Wong said that “many” of the restrictions might still be in place.

Many Current Circuit Breaker Measures To Continue

Yesterday, Minister Lawrence Wong, the face for the fight against COVID-19, put up a Facebook post, saying that many Circuit Breaker measures will continue even after Circuit Breaker is lifted.

For example, he said that he expects only 5% of the construction workforce will start to work after 1 June on “selected” projects.

And  construction companies who are allowed to start work again must comply with new safeguards:

  • All workers within the same project must live together in the same dormitory
  • Periodic testing of the workers with at least 2 weeks intervals
  • Social distancing at work

Only after the industry starts to gain confidence and experience with the measures, will they start to scale up.

This is just an example, but you get the gist.

And like what the authorities have said again and again, “It won’t simply be a return to life before the circuit breaker.”

But at least we know it’ll be certain that PM Lee won’t go up to stage to tell us another piece of bad news in his blue shirt.

Here’s Minister Wong’s post:


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