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SINGAPORE: Fifteen new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Singapore as of noon on Monday (September 28), bringing the national count to 57,715.
Thirteen of the new infections are asymptomatic and have been detected through proactive screening and surveillance, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said.
There were two community cases: both are holders of work passes. Case 57847 was tested as part of the screening of essential service workers living outside of dormitories.
The case of the 26-year-old Malaysian man is currently unrelated and he had gone to work at Singapore’s Changi Airport. It is a domestic contact of the other community infection, known as Case 57861.
When contacted by the health ministry on Sunday after case 57847 was confirmed to have a COVID-19 infection, the second Malaysian man reported he had symptoms and was immediately taken to a hospital for a swab.
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The Health Ministry said epidemiological investigations of the unrelated case are ongoing. All of his identified close contacts have also been isolated and quarantined. Serological tests will also be done for your other household contacts to determine if you might have been infected by them.
The Health Ministry said the total number of new cases in the community has remained stable at an average of less than one case per day in the past two weeks.
The number of unrelated cases in the community has also remained stable at an average of less than one case per day in the last two weeks.
There were also six imported infections, all of which were placed on a stay-at-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.
This includes a permanent resident who arrived from India on September 16. Three other cases are the holders of work passes and work permits who arrived from France, the Philippines and India on September 16.
The two remaining cases are holders of dependent passes. The three- and one-year-olds arrived from India on September 15 and are contacts for a previously confirmed COVID-19 case.
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Seven cases were detected among dormitory residents. Of these, four had previously been identified as contacts from previous cases and had already been quarantined to prevent further transmission.
The remaining three cases were detected through surveillance tests, such as the routine tests carried out by the Ministry of Health every two weeks of workers living in dormitories.
The Health Ministry said it has been monitoring existing clusters for any additional transmission.
As there have been no further cases involving the Changi Lodge II at 80 Tanah Merah Coast Road and the dormitories at 35 Kian Teck Way and 66 Tech Park Crescent during the last two incubation periods, the clusters have now been closed.
Of the new cases reported Monday, 93 percent are imported or linked to known cases or groups, while the rest are pending contact tracing. More details can be found in the daily situation report of the Ministry of Health.
The Health Ministry said 26 more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing Singapore’s total recoveries to 57,393.
There are 36 cases still in the hospital, most of which are stable or improving. Another 259 are isolated and cared for in community facilities.
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Singapore will ease further COVID-19 restrictions starting in October, authorities said last week.
This includes allowing up to 100 attendees at all worship services starting October 3, double the current limit of 50.
Live music can also be resumed at 16 religious organizations, as part of a Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) pilot program, while some places of worship may test services for up to 250 people.
The increased limit of 100 people will also apply to non-congregational religious activities, subject to the religious organization’s ability to adhere to safe distancing measures given its physical capacity, MCCY said.
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However, the existing limits of 30 people for funeral-related activities and 50 people for religious classes will be maintained.
All congregational worship and religious services were suspended in March when Singapore tried to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
They were allowed to resume in June, with up to 50 people at a time, in Phase 2 of the post-Singapore “breaker” reopening.
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