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SINGAPORE: A new cluster of COVID-19 that emerged in Singapore’s largest dormitory after it was declared “completely free” of the disease has risen to 175 cases in a week.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday (Aug 28) reported 80 more cases in dormitories, of which 58 were from Sungei Tengah Lodge.
The dormitory on Choa Chu Kang Road, where more than 16,000 workers are housed, was previously declared “totally COVID-19 free” on July 21 by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). More than 2,200 cases were linked before the Health Ministry closed the group on July 18.
Sungei Tengah Lodge was listed as an isolation area on April 9, one of the first dormitories to be isolated under the Infectious Diseases Act. The notification was revoked on July 18.
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But last Saturday, a new group of 57 cases emerged in the bedroom. On Sunday, MOM, MOH and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said that around 4,800 workers had received stay-at-home notices as a precautionary measure, and that they would be evaluated over the “next few days.”
Since then, single-digit increases have been recorded almost every day at Sungei Tengah Lodge, through Thursday.
On Thursday, 48 new cases were linked to the dormitory group, increasing to 117 cases. By Friday, that group grew to 175 cases, with 58 new cases reported.
The Health Ministry said the 58 reported cases had already been quarantined. The “vast majority” of them were tested during quarantine to determine their status, or were collected during routine ministry tests.
He added that some 3,000 workers have been tested so far.
“We expect the number of bedroom cases to continue to be high in the coming days as we complete testing of the remaining quarantined workers.”
Sungei Tengah Lodge is not the only migrant worker dormitory where new clusters of COVID-19 have emerged, despite being eliminated from the disease.
A new cluster of five cases was reported at Homestay Lodge last Sunday, and it now has seven cases. Homestay Lodge, a bedroom at Kaki Bukit Avenue 3, was previously cleared of COVID-19 on August 4.
A new group of six cases was reported Monday in the Tuas View bedroom. The bedroom at Tuas South Avenue 1 was also previously cleared of COVID-19 on August 4.
More than 1,500 cases had been linked to the group in Tuas View Dormitory before it was declared free of COVID-19, making it one of the largest groups in Singapore.
It was listed as an isolation area on April 17 under the Infectious Diseases Act. That notification was revoked on August 4.
Foreign workers standing along the common corridor in the Tuas View dormitory on May 6, 2020. The Tuas View dormitory was listed as an isolation area to slow the spread of COVID-19. (Photo: Jeremy Long)
READ: New cluster found in Tuas View bedroom that was previously cleared of COVID-19
Human Resources Minister Josephine Teo said Wednesday that the new COVID-19 cases found in the dormitories of migrant workers are the result of routine tests, and these cases are emerging as “part of the plan.”
Under new measures to ensure the safe resumption of work for migrant workers, those living in dormitories, among others, must be tested for COVID-19 every 14 days.
READ: New cases of COVID-19 in bedrooms detected by routine tests are ‘part of the plan’, says Josephine Teo
“We have planned that each and every one of the construction, marine and process sectors, as well as the people who come into contact with them, undergo regular tests. So today’s findings are the result of those tests, ”Ms Teo said.
“That is what we are doing, it is part of the plan and it is emerging as part of the plan.”
With routine testing, clusters can be identified early, infected workers can receive proper care, and their close contacts can be quarantined to contain the spread, he said.
COVID-19 cases among migrant dormitory workers have made up the majority of infections in Singapore. Authorities took about four months to test more than 300,000 workers.
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