Singapore, along with Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea, has emerged as a global leader in the fight against coronavirus and it is not too late for Western countries to adopt some of their successful measures.

Passengers are screened on arrival at Singapore's Changi Airport. Credit:Bloomberg

Despite its strong trade ties, its proximity to China and its function as a major airline transit hub, the city-state of 5.7 million has, to date, kept the virus in check. It has done this through aggressive testing and intensive tracing of carriers.

The use of sophisticated technology to track the movements of carriers of COVID-19 and clear public messaging have been highly effective in containing the virus.

Like other countries in the region, its deadly brush with Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 meant Singapore was well prepared for the current pandemic.