The rising number of cases in these facilities, where more than 200,000 people live, has posed a challenge to Singapore’s containment strategy after accolades from health experts for its methodical virus response in the early days of the pandemic. While stringent social distancing measures have largely stabilized the spread in the wider community, the government has been looking for new ways to house workers who may be sharing living spaces with 10 or more people.
Singapore has converted military camps and vacant public housing into interim housing facilities for healthy workers. It is also considering the use of cruise ships to accommodate workers who have recovered from the coronavirus and tested negative.
