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SINGAPORE: A former member of the care staff at the Lee Ah Mooi Nursing Home at 148A Silat Avenue tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday (August 30) in the Philippines, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday.
As a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Health and the Integrated Care Agency (AIC) worked with the nursing home to evaluate 90 staff members and residents who were identified as possible contacts in the case.
The results of the 90 people were negative, the Health Ministry said.
The former staff member had not shown any symptoms of acute respiratory infection while at work and her last day at Lee Ah Mooi Nursing Home on Silat Avenue was Aug. 26, the Health Ministry said.
“She had been healthy and well during her employment for the past 24 months and was not showing any symptoms,” the nursing home said in a Facebook post on Monday.
She added that the former official had worn personal protective equipment during her shifts and moved back to the Philippines after completing her contract, where she was examined upon her return.
“We have reached out to her to offer our support. She shared that she is still feeling fine and has not shown any symptoms,” the nursing home said.
All physical visits to the Silat Avenue branch of the nursing home have been suspended and replaced by video calls.
The nursing home has also “thoroughly cleaned and disinfected” the ward and affected areas, and will improve the use of personal protective equipment among its staff, AIC said in a statement the same day.
The agency added that Lee Ah Mooi (Silat) has been complying with precautionary measures in line with the Health Ministry and its warnings since February 2020.
“These include taking the temperature twice daily of residents and staff, complying with the requirements of the divided zone, and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) by staff and visitors inside the nursing home. “AIC said.
On April 1, a group was identified at the Thomson Lane branch of the Lee Ah Mooi nursing home. Three residents of the Thomson Lane branch died after contracting the coronavirus.
On May 8, the group at the Thomson Lane branch was closed after no new cases were linked for the past 28 days.
TESTS FOR ALL NURSING HOME RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES
Earlier this year, the government announced that it would screen all residents and employees in nursing homes and other similar facilities that serve the elderly.
The additional measure covered nursing homes, social care homes, sheltered homes and homes for adults with disabilities.
This is because older people are at higher risk of developing serious health complications if they contract COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said.
The tests were extended after the “breaker” period to more staff members in the elderly care sector, including those who work in non-residential care services such as nursing homes and dialysis centers.
READ: Singapore reports 41 new COVID-19 cases, including 3 in the community
Singapore reported 41 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, including three in the community and seven imported cases.
“All new cases at present are asymptomatic and were detected through our evaluation and proactive surveillance,” the Ministry of Health said.
The community cases are a 36-year-old Malaysian and two 40- and 45-year-old Indian nationals whose infections are not linked.
The three men were detected as COVID-19 cases through routine tests listed on workers in the construction, marine and process sectors living outside of bedrooms, the Health Ministry said.
The seven imported cases comprise two Singaporeans, four permanent residents, and one work permit holder. All are asymptomatic and confirmed as COVID-19 cases on August 30.
The two Singaporeans are a 64-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man who traveled from India.
The remaining 31 cases are workers living in dormitories.
Singapore’s case count is 56,812, with 27 deaths.
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