Table 2.

the major epidemic prevention and control measures in Singapore

SN	Strategy	Key elements
1	Escalating border control measures	(1) Since Jan 3, 2020, temperature and health screening of incoming travelers from Wuhan and extended to all travelers since Jan 29, is in place at all ports of entry. (2) Since Feb 1, Singapore imposed entry restrictions on visitors from China; returning residents and long-term pass holders are subject to a 14-days quarantine. (3) Since March 24, prohibiting short-term visitors and cruise ship stops. (4) Since March 27, everyone who enters Singapore without a Stay Home Notice at a designated facility must wear an electronic tracker.
2	Established a Multi-Ministry Task Force	On Jan 23, the Singapore government set up a Multi-Ministry Task Force to provide central coordination for Whole-of-Government handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
3	Healthcare measures	(1) Launching the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), a 330-bed purpose-built infectious diseases management facility with integrated clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic functions, to isolate and treat the confirmed patients. (2) Activating a network of more than 800 Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) to enhance management of respiratory infections in the primary care setting and incentivize residents to seek care at these PHPCs. (3) Big Box was transformed into community care facilities to treat and isolate mild patients.
4	Surveillance and containment measures	(1) The MOH of Singapore established suspected cases of COVID-19 criteria and continuously updated them as the global COVID-19 situation evolved. (2) According to the time and distance of contact with the confirmed cases, the contacts were divided into two categories for observation and tracing: asymptomatic close contacts were placed under compulsory quarantine for 14 days, while lower-risk contacts were put on phone surveillance. (3) On March 20, the Singapore government launched the “Trace Together” APP to track close contacts of confirmed cases.
5	Strict community and social measures	(1) Issue a Stay-Home Notice to enforce residents’ isolation at home and cannot go out, breaching Stay-Home Notice will be facing a severe fine. (2) Before April 5, the government implemented regular community prevention and control measures: focusing on public health education; suspending large-scale activities, implementing holidays and home quarantine orders for different groups, and temperature detection. (3) After April 5, the government implemented strict community and social measures such as closed workplaces and schools, and encouraged people to telecommute.
6	Restored normal social life gradually	Normal social life gradually restored in three stages since June: safe reopening, security transition, and security state. Since June 2, Singapore relaxed the blockade measures and enter into a “safe reopening” phase.