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SINGAPORE: Five new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Singapore at noon on Sunday (December 27), the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said in its preliminary daily update.
No new cases were found in the community or in the dormitories of foreign workers.
All five boxes were imported and all were put on stay-at-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, the ministry said.
This is Singapore’s lowest daily increase in COVID-19 cases in two weeks. Five cases, all imported, were previously reported on December 14.
Details of the new cases will be released Sunday evening, the Health Ministry said.
TWO MORE CASES LINKED TO MANDARIN ORCHARD
Two new imported cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the Mandarin Orchard hotel, where 13 people who delivered their stay-at-home notice at the hotel tested positive for the virus.
The Health Ministry said last week that it is investigating the 13 cases, which had “high genetic similarity” despite coming from different countries. This suggests that the cases were “likely infected from a similar source”, and transmission may have occurred during their hotel stay.
The two new cases reported on Friday and Saturday, a Singapore permanent resident who arrived from the Philippines and a Lebanese man who arrived from Qatar, served part of their stay-at-home notice in Mandarin Orchard. Both were transferred to another facility after the 13 cases were discovered.
The two new cases are also under investigation, the ministry said.
READ: 13 Imported COVID-19 Cases Delivering Admission Notice to Mandarin Orchard Hotel Investigated for ‘Possible Link’
SINGAPORE TO ENTER REOPENING PHASE 3
Singapore will enter Phase 3 of its reopening on Monday, with social gatherings of up to eight people allowed in public, up from five today. Also, homes can receive up to eight visitors.
Capacity limits will also be lowered in public places like shopping malls, attractions, and places of worship.
Up to 250 people, an increase from the current limit of 100, will be allowed in worship services.
Religious and support workers are not included in the limit, although “they should be kept to a minimum,” the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said in an advisory on Saturday.
Live performance elements will also be allowed during worship services, with secure management measures in place.
As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,524 COVID-19 cases, with 29 deaths from the disease.
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