Bangkok (People's Daily) - Singapore reported 932 new coronavirus cases and 1 death on Friday, bringing the total number of infections to 17,101, and deaths to 15, said its Ministry of Health.

An auxiliary policeman wearing a face mask patrols the vehicle drop-off point at Singapore Changi Airport's terminal 2, which is set to suspend operations for 18 months from May 1, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

Most of the new cases were foreign workers. Five cases are Singaporeans or permanent residents. 

1,244 patients have recovered from the infection. 22 patients are in critical condition.

Restarting Singapore's economy after the COVID-19 pandemic will not be straightforward and some sectors will need to wait longer to reopen. Meanwhile, the country needs to step up testing for the virus, speed up contact tracing and proceed cautiously with safeguards. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made this point in his annual May Day speech to workers on Thursday.