Would S'pore have avoided a return to phase 2 if it had shut the borders early?

As new waves of Covid-19 cases and virulent variants surface, Insight looks at the challenges and trade-offs facing Singapore and other countries.

Safe distancing ambassadors in Little India in January. Singapore has reintroduced some measures as a new wave of Covid-19 infections spreads through the community.
Safe distancing ambassadors in Little India in January. Singapore has reintroduced some measures as a new wave of Covid-19 infections spreads through the community. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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Singapore has reintroduced some safety measures as a new wave of Covid-19 infections spreads through the community, fuelled by new and more contagious variants of the coronavirus, such as the B16172 "double mutant" strain first detected in India.

With 10 active clusters in the community and 43 people infected in the past week, the country is witnessing its worst outbreak in close to a year.

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