Agree about Singapore, I have been there many times, and there is a particular culture and an acceptance of government control that means they have been particularly successful, and that would not necessarily work here. They told people to self isolate and work from home and people just did it, not just think “I feel fine” and carry on regardless of anyone else. People don’t even drop litter there, there is a sense of social responsibility completely lacking from our culture.
Seems to me I have heard lots of talk, but very little action from our government so far. For example, things I think they should do, in fact should have already done weeks ago:
Cancel all flights to known affected areas, immediately. As an absolute minimum all incoming passengers should be given a temperature screen - this was implemented many weeks ago at Singapore Changi airport. I would go further though and require mandatory testing before anyone gets on a flight to anywhere. Mandatory requirement for proof of a recent test for any non-UK citizen coming in to the UK. All UK citizens to be tested on return and required to self-quarantine until results are available.
All large group activities over 100 people to be cancelled or postponed for minimum of 1 month. This is a tough call, but while people need to go shopping, need to go to work and school, no-one “needs“to go to a gig, club, sports event, conference or whatever.
In fact and Italy-style action taken now might actually stop the virus in it’s tracks before we get to the level of infection and deaths seen there. With our generally older population, Britain is particularly vulnerable to this virus, if it really takes hold and strong action early will still be less painful than even stronger measures later.