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Coronavirus test kits, contact tracing app, telemedicine: how Singapore’s tech sector stepped up to the plate amid surge in cases
- Singapore’s biotech and research community became involved early on in the outbreak, developing tests for the virus
- The government launched the TraceTogether app to allow for more efficient quarantine measures, while telemedicine helped patients at home with minor problems
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Why you can trust SCMP
Singapore’s collective efforts in research and technology are helping it cope with a recent rise in Covid-19 infections that have stretched its health care resources.
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As of April 20, the city had reported just over 8,000 cases – more than any other southeast Asian country, and 11 related deaths.
Government initiatives in biotechnology and research kicked into high gear after the first case of the disease caused by the new coronavirus was diagnosed in the city state on January 23.
It focused on developing faster tests for the disease, tracing close contacts of those confirmed infected, and ongoing care of citizens with other health issues.
Testing
With infections springing up in crowded migrant worker dormitories – five new clusters and 544 new confirmed cases in workers were reported on April 19 – Singapore has ramped up testing, with about 2,900 done daily.
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