Singapore has lost control of COVID-19 for quite a time already. The number of local unlinked cases has risen sharply and it piles up to become a staggering mess of trouble. But Singapore government, being rational, has not taken the drastic steps already enforced in many other countries: lockdown.
There has been disruption though: retail outlets are to shut, dining out is forbidden and only takeaways and delivery are allowed. And while it does not encourage wearing masks, it does not discourage. Basically, you decide how you see it. Wear if you want to, don't wear if you want to. Previously the government straight out discourages wearing, but now it retracts it but it stopped short of encouraging it.
To be honest, Singapore has responded well. One thing about it is that Singapore, unlike Malaysia, does not need to enforce a lockdown. It cannot afford to, being such a small country so heavily reliant on trade, and it also really just does not seem to need to. All Singapore government needs to do is to stop public transport, shut the MRTs, and the country mobility would be basically incapacitated. Only a few crazy rich Asians would have private vehicles to move around, but such privileges only befall a minority of Singaporeans and therefore should suffice.
Singapore is a small country that can be easily controlled. Only when it becomes to times like this, Singapore does become extremely appealing and inspire confidence.
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