Singapore set to ease lockdown amid new virus cases

As Singapore is set to ease coronavirus-related restrictions for businesses from May 12, the country on Monday reported 573 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 18,788.

According to the official data, the death toll in the country stood at 18.

On Saturday, Singapore’s National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that some businesses will resume operations from May 12.

"We will allow selected services to resume operations," Chan said while addressing a virtual news conference.

The services include home-based food businesses, selected food retail outlets, food manufacturing firms, laundry services, barbers and pet services.

He added that authorities will begin bringing back “small number” of students to schools for face-to-face lessons from May 19.

In a brief statement, the Health Ministry said the vast majority of new infections was among work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.

Country's Trade Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Sunday that since the COVID-19 “circuit breaker” period started in early April, approximately 80,000 entities were working onsite which were further reduced to 45,000 with enhanced measures.

“When deciding which firms and sectors should resume operations first, we will consider factors such as their importance to the economy, contribution to local employment and ability to minimize risks of transmission at their worksites. Sectors that allow us to trade with the world and access critical supplies should restart first,” the trade minister added.

"Firms will open progressively from May 12 once they have put safe management practices in place," daily Straits Times quoted him saying.