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SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 10 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Tuesday (December 1), including two locally transmitted infections.
One of the local infections was in the community and involved a 66-year-old woman who works as a cleaner in the transit area of Terminal 3 of the Changi airport, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said.
The other case lives in a dormitory of foreign workers, the first such infection since November 10.
There were eight imported cases, all of which were placed on a stay-at-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.
COMMUNITY CASE
The Changi airport cleaner who contracted COVID-19 was asymptomatic.
His infection, which is currently not linked, was detected through routine biweekly testing of workers on the front line by authorities.
“His serological test result is negative, indicating a possible current infection,” the Ministry of Health said.
According to the ministry, the woman is staying on Yishun Ring Road with her husband, who is currently unemployed.
“At work, he puts on personal protective equipment, including a mask, face shield, gloves, and gown. The swabs that he previously performed as part of the RRT (Routine Tests Listed) were all negative,” the MOH said. .
All of his identified close contacts, including his family members and co-workers, have been isolated and quarantined. Tests will be done at the beginning and end of your quarantine period.
“We will also perform serological tests for close contacts to determine if the (case) could have been infected by them,” the Health Ministry said.
Last month, the Singapore Civil Aviation Authority said that security management measures at Changi Airport were improved to protect frontline workers after two people working at Terminal 3 tested positive for COVID- 19 in October.
For example, all airport workers who come into “close contact” with travelers from high-risk countries or regions will be required to wear full personal protective equipment. This includes masks, face shields or goggles, gloves, overshoes, and medical gowns, when necessary.
READ: Improved security management measures at Changi Airport after 2 workers tested positive for COVID-19
In September, a COVID-19 case became operational at Changi Airport. It was a family contact from another community case.
BEDROOM CASE
The bedroom case reported Tuesday was also asymptomatic and was detected through the ministry’s “proactive surveillance”.
He was taken to the hospital when his swab came back positive for COVID-19, and all of his close contacts in the bedroom and his workplace were isolated and quarantined.
IMPORTED CASES
Among the eight imported cases, one was a special pass holder who entered Singapore from Indonesia and was arrested by the Coast Guard Police for his alleged involvement in an earlier case.
They tested him for COVID-19 and isolated him until they took him to the hospital when he tested positive.
The other imported cases include a Japanese work pass holder and five Indonesian and Myanmar work permit holders.
Another case involved a holder of a long-term visitation pass: a one-year-old boy who arrived from Russia. It is a contact from a previous case.
DOWNLOADED CASES
Five more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing total recoveries to 58,139, the Health Ministry said.
There are 29 cases that are still in the hospital. Most are stable or improving and no one is in the intensive care unit.
Thirty-one are isolated and cared for in community facilities. These are those who have mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19.
As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported 58,828 COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths from the disease.
DEFERRED AIR TRAVEL BUBBLE
Singapore and Hong Kong said on Tuesday they will postpone the launch of an air travel bubble until next year amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Chinese city.
The travel bubble was scheduled to begin on November 22, but both cities had said a day before the initial launch that the start date would be delayed by two weeks.
A new start date for the travel bubble will be reviewed at the end of December, the Singapore aviation authority said.
READ: Singapore and Hong Kong to postpone launch of air travel bubble
Under the travel bubble, travelers between Singapore and Hong Kong will be subject to COVID-19 testing, rather than quarantine or stay-at-home notice. There will be no restrictions on the purpose of the trip and there will be no requirements for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.
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