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SINGAPORE: Eight more employees of the Mandarin Orchard hotel are likely to have been previously infected with COVID-19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday (December 21).
His serological tests were positive, indicating probable past infections. Along with the three announced on Sunday, it is now reported that 11 hotel staff members have likely had infections in the past.
“Epidemiological investigations of these 11 cases are in progress. In the meantime, we will test their identified close contacts as a precautionary measure, and we will also carry out serological tests to determine whether these people could have been infected by them,” the Health Ministry said.
This comes after Saturday’s announcement that 13 COVID-19 cases that had delivered their stay-at-home notice in November had “high genetic similarity” despite coming from different countries.
READ: Singapore reports 1 new community case of COVID-19, the first in more than 2 weeks
A total of 571 staff members were tested and 570 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results were negative for COVID-19 infection.
“The Health Ministry is facilitating testing for the remaining individual who has not yet had the PCR test done,” the Health Ministry said.
The 394 people who stayed at the hotel to deliver their stay-at-home notice have also been screened for COVID-19.
Three tested positive and were reported on Sunday, while the rest tested negative.
Given the recent travel history of the three positive cases, the ministry said they were likely infected abroad. But the National Public Health Laboratory will carry out genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to determine if they are related to the previous 13 cases.
POSITIVE RESULT OF THE SEROLOGICAL TEST EXCLUDED FROM THE CASE COUNT
The ministry said that only positive results from PCR tests are included in the case count, following the criteria of the World Health Organization.
The cases that Singapore reports and includes in its case count are those that are positive in a PCR test and are assessed to have an “acute infection”, in accordance with “international practice,” the Health Ministry said.
“This ensures consistency in case reporting between countries.
“The 11 (staff) cases whose serological tests have come back positive, but whose PCR test results are negative for COVID-19 infection, therefore are not included in our daily case count,” said the ministry.
Travelers entering Singapore are subject to border measures in place upon entry, including stay-at-home notice and COVID-19 testing, where applicable, the Health Ministry said.
Hotels that are used as dedicated stay-at-home notice facilities have strict protocols that all travelers subject to a stay-at-home notice must adhere to, he added.
“Regular checks are carried out at these hotels to ensure that safe management measures are followed and that security measures are in place.
“These measures have helped mitigate the risk of importation and transmission, but travelers must also remain vigilant and take all precautionary measures to protect themselves and their fellow travelers,” the ministry said.
The Mandarin Orchard hotel also stopped accepting new guests since Saturday, when the 13 cases were reported. All existing guests left by 9 p.m. Sunday, the Health Ministry said.
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