Using a web camera and television screen, visitors to the private hospital can talk to their loved ones in treatment there.

Over the course of one week, hospital authorities will monitor the new virtual visitation project to see if it is easy enough to use to become a regular feature at the hospital and a complement to ongoing tough measures to prevent the spread of the mysterious pneumonia.

Singapore health authorities said Sunday that visitors would be barred from public hospitals starting Monday to reduce the risk of wider transmission of the disease that has killed 21 and affected some 200 people in the city-state.

SPACE.WIRE