Govt support welcomed but businesses may need to change way they operate post-pandemic

MY heart sank when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the tough "circuit breaker" measures that took effect this past week to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Under split-team arrangements at The Business Times, I had already spent more than a month working from home, physically isolated from most other human beings. So, discovering that I would have to endure at least another month of even more strictly enforced solitude was disappointing to say the least.

During this circuit-breaker period, which will last until May 4, most places of work will be closed and schools will shift to "full home-based learning". There is even a ban on all social gatherings, both in public and private spaces. The point is to minimise social interactions and reduce the rate of Covid-19 infections, which has shown a worrying pick up in recent days.