Singaporeans must go to jail if keeping a distance of less than 1 m in Covid-19

Singapore has been praised by the international community for handling the Covid-19 epidemic, including the use of police investigators and security cameras to help track suspected cases.

With the highest population density in the world, this week the state of Singapore has announced measures to "keep the distance" in more strict society such as: Close bars, limit gatherings to 10 people, as well as ban organize big events.

According to the update of the law on infectious diseases, anyone who deliberately sits less than 1 meter from another person or stands in a queue in public will be considered a criminal offense.

Singaporeans must go to jail if keeping a distance of less than 1 m in Covid-19 Picture 1

Singaporeans keep their distance when eating, the boundary is marked with yellow tape. Photo: Reuters

Offenders can be fined up to SGD 10,000, sentenced to 6 months or both.

The above rules are applied until April 30 for individuals and businesses.

Singapore authorities say more drastic measures could be taken, if local people are not serious about "keeping distance" in society.

By March 26, the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Singapore increased to 683 cases and two people died.

Meanwhile, Australia has deployed armed forces to ensure that all people have to comply with self-isolation measures.

On March 27, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that among Australians returning to the country there were more than 3,000 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, making it a major problem in the country.

"As time goes by, the risk of contracting viruses from people returning to Australia from other parts of the world is really increasing," Mr Morrison said at a brief news conference on television.

Australia has closed the border with everyone except Australian citizens or residents returning home. Those returning now will be isolated for 2 weeks in a hotel.

Singaporeans must go to jail if keeping a distance of less than 1 m in Covid-19 Picture 2

Workers clean the deserted area around the Sydney Opera House. Photo: Loren Elliott

The Australian Armed Forces (ADF) was sent to check if returnees obeyed the former order of home isolation. This is a rare job in a country where the army does not usually appear on the street.

To date, the rate of virus infection across Australia is still much less than in many other countries. However, officials are concerned that the number of cases has increased rapidly in the past week, especially in the most populous states such as New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria. There have been 13 deaths across the country.

Despite the relatively low number of infections, state lawmakers and health officials have in recent days emphasized the need to "keep a distance" in society.

The leaders of NSW and Victoria both said they were willing to take a step further with tighter management if people were not well disciplined.