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SINGAPORE: Nine new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore at noon on Friday (October 16), including eight imported infections.
The remaining case was discovered in a dormitory of foreign workers. No new cases were reported in the community.
The eight imported cases were placed on stay-at-home notices or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said in its daily preliminary update.
The new infections bring Singapore’s total number of COVID-19 cases to 57,901.
Details of the new cases will be released Friday evening, the Health Ministry said.
SAVING BUSINESSES AND JOBS
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said in Parliament on Thursday that with the scale of the COVID-19 crisis, the government may not be able to save all businesses and jobs, but will continue to support all workers.
Since some jobs “may never come back,” Heng urged mid-career professionals to consider switching industries and taking pay cuts to be “in a better position” after the crisis.
He also called on companies to be “receptive” to hiring mid-career workers, who come with his “wealth of experience.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has dragged Singapore’s economy into its most severe recession since independence, as the Ministry of Manpower recorded 11,350 layoffs in the first half of the year.
According to the ministry, this is higher than the 10,120 recorded during the SARS period, but still lower than other recessive peaks.
READ: The government may not be able to save all businesses and jobs amid the COVID-19 crisis, but it will support all workers: DPM Heng
On Thursday, the Transport Ministry also announced that Singapore and Hong Kong reached an agreement in principle to establish a bilateral air travel bubble.
READ: Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble to be suspended if COVID-19 cases rise: Ong Ye Kung
This means that those traveling under the bubble will have no restrictions on the purpose of their trip and will not need to have a controlled itinerary. Travelers will also not be subject to quarantine requirements or stay-at-home notice.
However, travelers will need to test negative on mutually recognized COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. They will also be required to fly dedicated flights to those traveling under the bubble.
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