23 March

Singapore says it will ban all foreigners from entering the country following a series of imported cases of the new coronavirus.

The Singaporean government says the measure will go into effect late Monday night.

It says long-term visa holders who work in fields that provide essential services, including the medical and public transport sectors, will not be subject to the new step.

Singapore has already slapped an entry ban on people arriving from some countries. 

It has also been requiring those arriving from the rest of the world to stay home for 14 days to monitor their health.

Despite the measure, the government says more than 70 percent of 254 confirmed cases in the 10-day period up to Saturday were imported.

-NHK