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SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 30 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Friday (January 15), the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said.
There is a case of local transmission in the community. None were in foreign workers’ dormitories.
The only case in the community, which is currently unrelated, is that of a 57-year-old Singaporean woman who is a homemaker.
The woman, known as Case 59321, is asymptomatic and was detected when she was tested for COVID-19 prior to departure on January 13 in preparation for a trip to Vietnam. Her result came back positive for COVID-19 infection the next day and she was taken to the National Center for Infectious Diseases in an ambulance.
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The Health Ministry said its polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test returned a high Ct value, which is indicative of a low viral load. His serological test result was also positive, indicating a probable past infection.
All of his close contacts, including members of his family, have been isolated and quarantined. The Health Ministry said they will also be tested for serology and COVID-19.
ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE SEA CREW AMONG IMPORTED CASES
The remaining 29 cases are imported infections and were placed on notice of admission or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.
They include a Singaporean and five permanent residents who returned from the United States, the United Kingdom, and India, as well as a long-term visit pass holder who arrived from India.
Thirteen are work permit holders who came from Bangladesh, India and Myanmar, of which five are foreign domestic workers.
Three of them, Cases 59315, 59316 and 59324, arrived from Bangladesh on December 24 and delivered a notice to stay at home in special facilities until January 7.
Swabs performed on January 4 during the stay-at-home advisory were negative for COVID-19 and subsequent tests on January 8 and 10 were also negative.
The Health Ministry said his tests on January 13 came back positive for COVID-19 infection, although the Ct values were very high, indicating a low viral load. The results of his serological tests have also come back positive.
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One is a member of the sea crew with a special pass who arrived from the United Arab Emirates aboard a ship on January 11. He had not disembarked from the ship and they tested him for COVID-19 and took him to the hospital when he tested positive.
Three other imported cases are holders of short-term visiting passes. Two had come from India and Myanmar to study in Singapore, while the remaining case came from India to visit their spouse, who is a permanent resident of Singapore.
The remaining five cases are work pass holders who came from India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
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Since these indicate a probable past infection, the Health Ministry said it has classified these cases as imported.
They are likely spreading tiny bits of the virus’ RNA, which are no longer communicable or infectious to others, the Health Ministry added.
The Ministry of Health also added several new locations to its list of public places visited by cases in the community during their infectious period.
These locations include various shopping and dining destinations in Downtown East and Tampines, as well as SingPost Center.
14 LOWEST PATIENTS
The Health Ministry said the total number of new cases in the community has dropped from eight cases in the previous week to two cases in the last week.
The number of unrelated cases in the community has also decreased from five cases in the previous week to two cases in the last week.
Fourteen more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing Singapore’s total recoveries to 58,771.
There are 51 cases still in the hospital. Most of them are stable or improving and none are in the intensive care unit. Another 208 are being isolated and cared for in community facilities.
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TESTS, VACCINES FOR THE MARINE SECTOR
About 27,000 employees ashore were tested for COVID-19 in a “single sweep” between Jan.2 and Jan.8, the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said Thursday.
“All were negative in the PCR test, except for one person who tested positive in the PCR test and serology positive, and has been assessed to have recovered from COVID-19 infection,” the authority said, referring to the polymerase chain reaction tests.
Ashore personnel include those who perform essential work on board ships in ports, such as loading and fueling operations, repairs and maintenance, as well as surveys and inspections.
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They were tested after recent COVID-19 cases in the industry, including a marine surveyor at Lloyd’s Register Singapore and a marine services engineer at Master Systems Marine, who have been linked to family groups.
COVID-19 vaccinations for ground personnel also began on Wednesday as part of the government’s measures to protect front-line workers, MPA said.
As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,059 COVID-19 cases.
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