Singapore (AFP)

Singapore announced on Friday a series of restrictions aimed at curbing a recent spike in Covid-19 cases in the city-state which, for months, recorded almost no cases of local contamination.

From Sunday, restaurants will no longer be able to serve customers on site, gatherings of more than two people outside will be banned and home visits will be limited to two diners, authorities said at a conference. hurry.

These measures, in force until June 13, are similar to those imposed last year during a partial containment which dealt a serious blow to the economy of the city-state, which entered the worst last year. recession in its history.

In recent weeks, the number of Covid-19 cases has increased and the authorities have recorded epidemic outbreaks, including one of 46 people at the airport, mostly employees.

After partial containment and a rigorous campaign of testing and contact tracing, Covid-19 had virtually disappeared in Singapore and almost no case of local transmission had been reported in recent months.

This increase in local contamination threatens the air "bubble" between Singapore and Hong Kong which is to be launched on May 26.

Long planned and postponed for the first time to the end of 2020, due to a fourth epidemic wave in Hong Kong, it should allow travelers from both destinations not to have to carry out quarantine on arrival.

Given the increase in cases, it is "very likely that Singapore will not be able to meet the criteria for resumption," said Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, adding that a decision will be taken on the matter. next week.

Singapore had already put in place restrictions last week, reducing the number of people who can congregate and closing gyms.

Authorities on Thursday banned non-passengers from entering the airport terminal and closed an adjoining shopping center as some 9,000 employees need to be traced.

Singapore, which has 5.7 million inhabitants, has recorded a total of 61,000 cases and 31 deaths linked to Covid-19, very low figures compared to those observed in the rest of the world.

© 2021 AFP