After managing to keep on top of the first wave of coronavirus outbreaks, Singapore is grappling with an alarming rise in infections among migrant workers housed in crowded dormitories.

Virus clusters have emerged in nine of the privately-run dormitories that house up to 20 men per room, with shared toilets, cooking and other facilities, according to an AP report.

A foreign worker talks on the phone outside his room at the WestLite Toh Guan dormitory after it was declared an isolation area. — AP
A foreign worker talks on the phone outside his room at the WestLite Toh Guan dormitory after it was declared an isolation area. — AP

On one recent night, masked foreign workers laden with luggage got off buses, each keeping a small distance from the others, to be registered and screened before moving into a Singapore army camp.

The 1,300 workers moving into segregated facilities in two army camps will be required to observe strict health measures, stagger their meal times and maintain social distancing. They are due to stay in the camp until May 4.

Read more here.

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