Foreign worker Yulia Endang says she is saddened by the quick growth of COVID-19 cases among foreigners in Singapore. The increase started in April. Endang says she believes poor housing conditions where foreign workers live likely led to the increase. But she hopes the bad news will warn the island nation of dangers ahead. “I hope the attention is not just attention but a signal that outside, there are more people aware of how actually migrant workers' life [is] like,” she said. At one point, Singapore had the most COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, even with its small population. It worked hard to flatten the curve. But later there was a surprising increase, mostly in dormitory rooms that house foreign workers. The rise was a reminder to Singaporeans that the wealth of their state depends, in part, on foreign laborers who often live in very poor conditions. In April, Singapore was reporting as many as 1,400 COVID-19 cases a day. It is now reporting as few as 200 new daily cases. Singapore acted to change the living conditions that increased the spread. The city-state announced a quarantine on foreign dormitories and tested every single person who lived in them. Singapore also plans to expand health services for foreign workers.

What does foreign laborer mean?
an exchange student
a person who travels to another country to work
someone who is unemployed
a travel agent
What island nation was featured in this article?
Indonesia
Singapore
Bahamas
Iceland
Singapore plans to expand health services for its foreign workers.
domestic pets
its foreign workers
farm animals
government employees