Rachel Rosenthal, Columnist

Singapore Still Can’t Live With the Virus

Just weeks after issuing new guidelines for co-existing with low levels of Covid, the government has tightened curbs after an outbreak at a karaoke lounge.

July 18, 2021 at 9:56 PM EDT

By Rachel Rosenthal

Rachel Rosenthal is a member of the editorial board covering health care and an editor at Bloomberg Opinion. Previously, she covered markets and economics for the Wall Street Journal.

Kiss the night goodbye.
Photographer: Ore Huiying/Getty Images AsiaPac

Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal

LEARN MORE

This article is for subscribers only.

It was just a matter of time before Singapore’s commitment to live with Covid-19 would be tested. The only surprise is how quickly that moment came and how avoidable it was.

On Friday, Singapore announced it would tighten certain social-distancing measures and ramp up contact tracing and testing to contain a cluster that started at a karaoke lounge. The Ministry of Health said the outbreak will delay reopening plans, which could be rolled back significantly if virus numbers surge.

Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal

LEARN MORE