Healthy foreign workers in Singapore have been and will be moved from dormitories to army camps, vacant Housing Board flats and car parks, the Changi Exhibition Centre, and even a floating hotel.

This last accommodation option was mooted on April 9 as infection rates in dormitories got serious.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore shared a photo of the floating lodging on April 11:

It explained such lodgings typically have space for about 500 people.

The floating hotel is usually used by those in offshore and marine work.

Ready for use

And it appears the first floating hotel is ready for use.

A photo shared on Facebook by Sea Farmers at Ubin showed the lodging drifting past Pulau Ubin on April 12:

The massive lodging on water is nothing like a cruise ship, but is reminiscent of one.

The workers on board will receive catered meals.

A medical facility, manned by nurses and doctors from Fullerton Healthcare, will be set up nearby on land in case they are needed.

Background

This measure comes as the number of Covid-19 cases in foreign worker dormitories has surged.

The virus is believed to have spread very early on among foreign workers, but the indicators are only now being picked up on and acted upon.

Moving workers away from dorms is to prevent those who do not have the coronavirus from being infected by workers who have been tested with Covid-19.

More than 5,000 workers were initially moved out of dormitories to contain the spread, with thousands more subsequently relocated as well.

Top photo via Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore & Sea Farmers at Ubin