2020 in Singapore

Incumbents

• President: Halimah Yacob
• Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong

  Events

January

• 1 January -
• *The smoking age increases to 20.
• *The Goods and Services Tax extends to digital services.
• *The Criminal Law Reform Act comes into force, amending laws in the Penal Code with a new fire offence to prevent improper disposal of lighted materials. Amendments to the Protection from Harassment Act also come into force.
• *Keppel Bay Tower becomes Singapore's first commercial building to be fully solar-powered.
• 2 January - CP: The Ministry of Health issued a health advisory and implements temperature checks for passengers arriving at Changi Airport from Wuhan the following day.
• 3 January -
• *An appeal by States Times Review to cancel the correction notices is rejected.
• *The Singapore Democratic Party appeals to cancel the correction notices issued the previous month, coming a day after it defended its posts. The request is rejected three days later.
• 4 January -
• *The Sembawang Hot Spring Park reopens with refreshed facilities, the only natural hot spring in Singapore.
• *CP: The first suspected case is reported, later negative and due to RSV.
• 6 January - Eunoia Junior College moves to its new campus in Bishan, making it Singapore's first high-rise Junior College. It is also integrated with the future Bishan North Community Club.
• 8 January - The Singapore Democratic Party appeals the correction in court, the first such court challenge. The SDP requests to have the case held in open court due to public interest, which is subsequently rejected in view of rules. After the hearing, the Attorney-General's Chambers said that SDP made misleading statements, which the SDP promised to correct later on.
• 10 January -
• *The United States government allows the sale of up to 12 F-35B jets.
• *CP: The second suspected case is reported, later negative.
• 15 January - The National Environment Agency warns of a dengue outbreak caused by the DENV-3 strain, not seen in Singapore the last three decades.
• 16 January - CP: The third suspected case is reported, later negative.
• 17 January -
• *Construction starts on the Punggol Digital District, with a new Open Digital Platform powering the area when completed.
• *CP: Two suspected cases are reported, bringing the number to five, both later negative.
• 18 January - CP: The sixth suspected case is reported, later negative.
• 20 January - CP: MOH extends temperature screening for all travellers coming from China and isolates individuals with symptoms in hospital. The seventh suspected case is also reported, later negative.
• 21 January - CP: MOH extends isolation measures to all travellers coming from China with symptoms from the next day.
• 22 January -
• *Lawyers for Liberty and three parties who shared LFL's posts are issued correction notices against false allegations on the death penalty. All parties complied except for LFL, causing the Infocomm Media Development Authority to block LFL website the following day. LFL has since filed a court case in Malaysia. The Online Citizen appealed the order, which is rejected on 24 January.
• *CP: Three suspected cases are detected, causing MOH to form a multi-ministry taskforce on the virus. People are advised to avoid non-essential travel to Wuhan.
• 23 January - CP: The first case is confirmed, with preliminary tests positive for another. Border control measures are tightened, with measures extended to land and sea checkpoints the following day. Earlier, the MOH advised against travel to Wuhan, later expanded to Hubei province. Scoot has cancelled flights to Wuhan between 23 and 26 January over the virus outbreak. Schools asked parents to declare their travel plans and monitor their children's health with other measures to ensure students safety. MINDEF issued two medical advisories to service personnel.
• 24 January - CP: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore implement temperature-taking from noon. Two cases are later confirmed, bringing the total to 3. Several holiday chalets and student hostels will be prepared as government quarantine centres. In addition, several companies have since taken more precautions against the virus. A Scoot flight was delayed for six hours after one passenger was sent for further tests, with the flight returning to Singapore three days later.
• 25 January - CP: No cases are confirmed. In addition, MOH only allows two visitors per hospital patient.
• 26 January - CP: Another case is confirmed, bringing the total to 4.
• 27 January -
• *CP: HardwareZone is issued a correction notice over an online post falsely claiming a death in Singapore from the coronavirus. The post is deleted a day before the notice is issued.
• *CP: A 14-day leave of absence is imposed for students and teachers, as well as those working with vulnerable sectors like pre-schools, healthcare and eldercare returning from mainland China with students doing home-based learning instead. Temperature screening for all flights will start from 29 January with additional checks on flights from China and passengers from Hubei. In addition, people who went to China the last 14 days will need to fill health and travel declarations and monitor their health with temperature checks for two weeks. MOH will now advise against travel to mainland China. Hostels in National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and Singapore Management University will also be designated as quarantine facilities.
• *CP: Another case is confirmed, bringing the total to 5.
• *CP: Taxi companies will waive cab rental fees should drivers get quarantined.
• 28 January -
• *The Payment Services Act comes into force.
• *CP: Two cases are confirmed, bringing the total to 7. Several new measures are announced, with quarantine for those returning from Hubei and those of higher risk, and no entry for those from Hubei and visitors who have been there for the last 14 days, starting from noon the next day. All forms of visas for Hubei travellers are suspended immediately. Those self-employed under quarantine will receive a $100 allowance per day, and home quarantine options are available. Hospital bills will be paid by MOH for all suspected and confirmed cases.
• *CP: The Ministry of Manpower rejects new applications for workers from Hubei immediately, with existing applications unaffected.
• *CP: Facebook is issued a correction notice over a post falsely claiming the closure of Woodlands station due to the virus.
• *CP: NSmen who went to China will be given 14 days leave with all appointments rescheduled.
• 29 January -
• *CP: Three cases are confirmed, bringing the total to 10.
• *CP: Singapore Airlines will suspend layovers from the next day for cabin crew and pilots to Beijing and Shanghai. Jetstar Asia will suspend flights to three cities in China until 31 March.
• *CP: Enterprise Singapore advised companies to defer trips to China and avoid Hubei province, along with travel, health checks and continuity plans. It will also work with Singapore Business Federation on a continuity plan guide for companies.
• *CP: Outward Bound Singapore camps in Pulau Ubin will be designated quarantine facilities.
• 30 January -
• *Mediacorp renames its digital media platforms Toggle, MeRadio and MeClub to meWatch, meListen and meRewards respectively.
• *The Ministry of Communications and Information will no longer exempt social media platforms, search engines and Internet intermediaries from following the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act from the next day, given the coronavirus situation.
• *CP: 92 Singaporeans reached Singapore after being evacuated from Wuhan, with some staying behind due to symptoms.
• *CP: All households will get four surgical masks each from 1 February, meant for use when unwell.
• *CP: The Ministry of Trade and Industry asked Deen Express to explain their mask prices, with Lazada, Carousell and Qoo10 ordered to reveal mask profiteers.
• *CP: Three cases are confirmed, bringing the total to 13.
• 31 January -
• *The first stage of the Thomson–East Coast MRT line opens. In addition, a new MRT map is rolled out at all stations with the Circle MRT line as a focus.
• *Cold Stone Creamery closes after being in Singapore for 10 years.
• *CP: Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will reduce China flights for February, with Scoot reducing flights to eight China cities and suspending 11 others. Scoot later announced a suspension of all China flights from 8 February due to the worsening situation.
• *CP: Two correction notices are issued over five infected Singaporeans and Singapore running out of masks respectively, since proven false.
• *CP: Those from mainland China and visitors who have been there for the last 14 days are not allowed entry from 1 February at 11.59pm. Holders of China passports may be allowed provided they did not visit China recently. All forms of visas for China travellers are suspended immediately. Those returning from China will be put on a 14-day leave of absence.
• *CP: The Ministry of Manpower rejects new applications for workers from China immediately, with existing applications unaffected. Work pass holders who return from China will be placed under a 14-day leave of absence.
• *CP: Three cases are confirmed including the first Singaporean, bringing the total to 16.

  February

• 4 February - CP: Six cases are confirmed, including the first cases of local transmission at Yong Thai Hang involving four people.
• 5 February - The Singapore Democratic Party lost the appeal, with the court ruling that a statement has to be proven false by the Government after a correction is issued.
• 7 February - CP: The Disease Outbreak Response System Condition level is raised from Yellow to Orange after more cases with unclear origins surfaced.

  March

• 10 March - An extension of the Cross Island MRT line is announced. Spanning from Pasir Ris to Punggol, the four-station extension will be completed by 2031.
• 13 March - General Elections: The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report is released. The 14th parliament will consist of 93 members from 31 constituencies, up from 89 seats from the current 29 constituencies. In addition, six-member GRCs will be abolished, with the maximum being five MPs in each GRC.
• 21 March - CP: The first two deaths are confirmed.
• 27 March - CP: Singapore invokes the Infectious Diseases movement control law, banning entertainment outlets, nightclubs and tuition centres, and restricting remaining building crowd density such as MRT and LRT stations, and shopping centres to one person per 16 square metres of space, failing which they will be asked to close.
• 31 March - Liang Court, a shopping mall in Clarke Quay, ceases operation.

  April

• 1 April - All e-scooters must undergo mandatory inspection.
• 3 April - CP: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a Circuit Breaker to curb COVID from 7 April until at least 4 May. All non-essential workplaces, including Singapore Pools, will be closed during this period. Schools will move to home-based learning, and preschools will close except to provide services for parents without alternative care arrangements, from 8 April to 4 May.
• 21 April - CP: Circuit Breaker measures are extended until 1 June.

  May

• 29 May - Two opposition members announce the registration of Red Dot United, subsequently approved on 15 June.

  June

• 9 June - Lotte Duty Free takes over DFS Group's Changi Airport liquor and tobacco stores with plans for a revamp soon. This comes after the latter ended its 39-year tenancy due to a challenging environment.
• 23 June - General Elections: The 13th Parliament is dissolved in a televised speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, outlining future challenges and stability of COVID-19 cases as a reason to hold elections.
• 24 June - Lee Hsien Yang joins Progress Singapore Party.
• 25 June -
• *Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced his retirement from politics after 44 years.
• *Former Workers Party chief Low Thia Khiang announced his retirement, along with MPs Chen Show Mao and Png Eng Huat.
• *Singaporeans First founder Tan Jee Say announced its dissolution.
• 26 June - Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan announced his retirement from politics after 19 years.
• 30 June - Nomination day for the General Elections: Once nominations closed, none of the constituencies are returned via walkover, the second such general election since 2015.

  July

• 1 July -
• *New tobacco measures collectively known as the SP measures take effect, including mandatory standardised packaging and no logos, among others.
• *New UL2272 certification rules for personal mobility devices take effect to prevent fires.
• 10 July - Polling day for the General Elections:
• *Polls closed two hours later at 10pm, as opposed to 8pm in previous years due to crowds.
• *The ruling People's Action Party, led by Lee Hsien Loong, retains its majority in the elections with 83 out of 93 seats, with an overall vote share of 61.24%.
• *Main opposition Workers' Party won the remaining 10 parliamentary seats from the other two constituencies, as well as Sengkang GRC, making it the second GRC to be won by the opposition.
• 11 July - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Pritam Singh will be officially designated as the Leader of the Opposition in view of a strong WP win. In addition, voting procedures will be reviewed too.
• 25 July - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a new Cabinet with several rotations and replacements, as well as continuation of some Ministers to deal with the ongoing pandemic.

  Predicted and scheduled events

• 9 August - NDP 2020 set to take place in decentralised venues due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
• Kallang Polyclinic, connected to Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital will open.
• The second stage of the Thomson–East Coast MRT line will open.

  Deaths

• 1 January - Ng Jui Ping, former Chief of Defence Force.
• 9 January -
• *Jo Heng, lyricist.
• *Yong Pung How - 2nd Chief Justice of Singapore.
• 27 April - Annabel Pennefather, athlete, lawyer.