A man seen wearing a protective face mask at Chinatown, Singapore on Mar 11. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)

SINGAPORE: All workplaces except for those providing essential services and those able to operate remotely will be suspended from Apr 7 to May 4 during a month-long "circuit breaker" campaign to curb further spread of COVID-19, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo on Friday (Apr 3).

Previously, employers were still allowed to have some employees work physically at their premises if they implemented safe distancing measures, but now, Mrs Teo said, "we need all premises to close". "None of those workplace activities should continue," she added.

Companies able to conduct business operations while their employees work from home will be allowed to continue running.

Otherwise, operations will have to be reduced or to cease completely, she said.

Employers that fail to comply with these new regulations could be jailed or fined under the Infectious Diseases Act.

Companies that offer essential services or are strategic to the economy will still be allowed to continue as well, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said earlier in his speech on Friday.

Full story at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid19-workplaces-close-april-one-month-12606684