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SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 30 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Friday (January 1). These include three community cases, two of them linked to family groups that involve workers in the marine sector.
One of the community cases is a relative of the PSA Marine port pilot whose infection was reported on Dec. 31, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said in its preliminary daily update.
This cluster was confirmed on December 31 after the port pilot and two of his relatives tested positive for COVID-19.
Another new community case is a close contact of the marine surveyor at Lloyd’s Register Singapore and the 14-year-old Raffles Girls’ School student, who were among the confirmed infections on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, respectively.
The group linked to the marine surveyor now involves four people, as does the group linked to the port pilot.
The remaining 27 new cases were imported. All were put on a stay-at-home / isolated notice upon arrival in Singapore.
Five of them are Singaporean or permanent residents, while 14 are foreign domestic workers.
Details of the new cases will be released Friday evening, the Health Ministry said.
ADDITIONAL MEASURES FOR THE MARINE SECTOR AFTER INFORMING THE FAMILY GROUPS
Following the infections involving the marine surveyor and the port pilot, the Health Ministry announced Thursday that it would begin “special test operations” for those who had boarded vessels that had recently worked two COVID-19 cases.
Port pilots, marine surveyors and ship repair workers will also be screened for COVID-19 “in the coming days,” regardless of their routine testing schedule, the ministry added.
READ: Additional COVID-19 Measures for Marine Sector After Recent Cases Form Family Clusters
“The relevant authorities will also review the need to tighten our precautionary measures for these workers,” the ministry added.
Two of the harbor pilot’s relatives who tested positive, a 79-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man, live in Marine Crescent near the harbor pilot.
“On December 28, both cases developed symptoms of acute respiratory infection but did not seek medical treatment,” the Health Ministry said Thursday.
Both were quarantined on December 30 after being identified as close contacts of the port pilot and were taken to the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) because they were already symptomatic.
Family members of the marine surveyor were also among the community cases Thursday.
One is a 46-year-old freelance florist who was identified as a close contact on December 29 and placed in home quarantine the next day. She was taken to NCID after developing symptoms and tested positive on December 31.
The other case is that of the Raffles Girls’ School student who also tested positive on December 31. He started developing symptoms the same day.
Singapore has reported a total of 58,629 COVID-19 cases as of Friday.
READ: Singapore to restrict entry of some travelers from South Africa after reports of new COVID-19 strain
To prevent the spread of a potentially more contagious strain of the COVID-19 virus circulating in South Africa, Singapore will restrict the entry of some travelers from the country.
People with a history of travel to South Africa in the last 14 days will not be able to enter or transit through Singapore from Monday. This applies to long-term pass holders and short-term visitors, including those who have obtained prior approval to enter Singapore.
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