While Singapore has until April 2021 to conduct its general elections, the Southeast Asian country might be heading to the polls sooner than later due to the recent release of its updated electoral boundaries, even as it continues to battle the coronavirus outbreak.

Last Friday, Singapore released its new electoral boundaries which, over the last few years, has signalled the start of the election process. In previous elections, the timing between the release of the report and the dissolution of Parliament has ranged from one day to one month and 26 days.

While elections must be held within three months from the dissolution of parliament, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (who has overseen three major elections – 2006, 2011 and 2015) has called for an election two to three months after changes in electoral boundaries were released, meaning the elections could take place as early as May 2020.

Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s Minister for National Development, while speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia”, explained that medical experts have warned that the virus might be on for a very long time, meaning that it could drag on for a year and beyond.

“So, whatever the timing of the election, because it has to be held by April 2021, it is very likely that it will have to be held when COVID-19 is still circulating in our midst — that’s the reality,” said Wong, who is also Second Finance Minister and co-chair of a multi-ministry task force set up to fight the spread of the new coronavirus disease in Singapore.

As the viral infection continues to move across the United States, Europe, and Asia, leaving in its wake a shaky global market, Singapore has reported over 200 coronavirus cases according to its Ministry of Health. However, no deaths have been recorded so far.