Passengers wearing face masks, amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, walks through the arrival area at Changi International Airport in Singapore on March 16, 2020.
Roslan Rahman | AFP | Getty Images
Singapore will bar entry and transit to all short-term visitors starting from 11:59 p.m. on Monday, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The health ministry also said that Singapore will also restrict reentry for long-term work pass holders and their dependents to workers who provide “essential services, such as in healthcare and transport.”
Citing the “heightened risk” of imported coronavirus cases, the ministry said these measures are meant to “conserve resources so we can focus on Singaporeans.”
In its statement, the health ministry said nearly 80% of cases in the past three days were imported from residents or long-term pass holders returning from overseas. Singapore has confirmed 228 imported cases, according to the ministry’s website.
As of noon Saturday,…
