[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 as of noon on Monday (January 18), the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said.
Two cases are in the community and there are no new cases in the dormitories of foreign workers.
Both community cases are linked to the Cluster Case 59280, which began after a police para-vet tested positive for COVID-19. They are both members of the family in case 59365, a 44-year-old Singaporean man who works as an administrative officer in the same place as the para-vet.
The first community case reported on Monday is that of a 43-year-old Singaporean woman known as Case 59393. She is the wife of Case 59365 and is a homemaker.
The Health Ministry said he developed a runny nose on January 10 and subsequently experienced a loss of taste, sore throat and diarrhea on January 12, but had not sought medical treatment.
As part of its contact tracing efforts, the Health Ministry said the woman was contacted on January 16 following the confirmation of Case 59365, and was tested for COVID-19 when she reported these symptoms.
LEE: What we know so far about the COVID-19 cluster linked to the police para-vet
Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection the next day and she was taken to the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in an ambulance. His serological test result came back negative, indicating that it was probably a current infection, the Health Ministry added.
The second case is that of a 66-year-old Malaysian woman known as Case 59395. She is a long-term visitor pass holder and has resided in Singapore since January 2020.
She is a retiree who is a member of the Case 59365 family. The Health Ministry said she developed symptoms of acute respiratory infection and diarrhea on January 9 and subsequently experienced a loss of taste on January 14, but that she had not sought medical treatment.
As she had been identified as a close contact for Case 59365, the Ministry of Health contacted her on January 16 and tested her for COVID-19 when she reported these symptoms. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection the next day, and she was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital in an ambulance.
His serological test result was positive. Along with his COVID-19 symptoms, this indicates a likely recent infection that began on January 9, the Health Ministry said.
The Case 59280 cluster now has a total of six confirmed infections.
READ: Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, cross 10 among places visited by COVID-19 cases during infectious period
Epidemiological investigations are ongoing and all identified close contacts of the cases, including their relatives, have been isolated and quarantined. Serological and COVID-19 tests will also be performed for them.
“We strongly urge everyone to do their part to reduce the risk of transmission. Those who are unwell, including those showing early / mild symptoms, should be socially responsible and seek immediate medical attention,” the MOH said.
The Health Ministry added that the total number of new cases in the community has risen from eight cases in the previous week to 10 cases in the last week.
The number of unrelated cases in the community has decreased from five cases in the previous week to four cases in the last week.
THE VIRUS STILL RUNS SILENTLY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY: LAWRENCE WONG
Education Minister Lawrence Wong said Monday that authorities are seeing more new infected cases in the community in recent days.
“For the first time in several months we have a local group linked to a police para-vet. Unfortunately, there were also several recent cases that did not seek medical treatment despite falling ill with flu-like symptoms, “he said in a Facebook post.
READ: All Travelers Including Singaporeans Must Take COVID-19 Test Upon Arrival In Singapore
Mr. Wong, who also co-chairs the COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force, said contact trackers are working hard to identify all possible contacts, “fence in” potential cases, and prevent further spread.
“We are also monitoring the situation carefully and considering whether additional measures are needed to ensure that the infection remains under control,” he said.
“In the meantime, please cooperate with all safe handling measures: wear your masks, consult a doctor when sick, and do your part to reduce the risks of transmission. The virus is still quietly circulating within our community and we cannot afford to lower the guard”.
2 CITIZENS BETWEEN IMPORTED CASES
The remaining 12 cases reported Monday are either imported and placed on a stay-at-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, the Health Ministry said.
They include two Singaporeans and four permanent residents who returned from India, Mexico, Pakistan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Four are work permit holders who came from Bangladesh, India and Malaysia.
READ: 37,000 frontline and maritime aviation workers will be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccine
The remaining cases are the pass holder of a dependent who arrived from India and the pass holder of a student who came from the Czech Republic.
The Ministry of Health also added several new places to its list of places visited by cases in the community during their infectious period. Among the locations are popular shopping destinations such as Lot One Shoppers’ Mall and Junction 10.
22 LOWEST PATIENTS
Twenty-two more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing Singapore’s total recoveries to 58,868.
There are still 44 cases in the hospital. Most of them are stable or improving and none are in the intensive care unit. Another 186 are being isolated and cared for in community facilities.
As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 59,127 COVID-19 cases.
Starting at 11:59 p.m. Monday, all Singaporeans and permanent residents returning from the UK and South Africa will be required to serve an additional seven days of self-isolation at their place of residence, after completing a 14-day home stay notice period in facilities.
This is part of the stricter border measures announced by the Health Ministry on Saturday to manage the risk of imported COVID-19 cases.
All travelers, including Singaporeans and permanent residents, will also need to undergo a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival in Singapore. This will take effect from 11:59 p.m. on January 24.
VACCINES FOR AVIATION BEGIN, MARITIME WORKERS
Plans to provide COVID-19 vaccines to 37,000 frontline workers in the aviation and maritime sectors began on Monday.
About 13,000 workers from the two sectors are already scheduled to be vaccinated this week in the framework of the Sea-Air Vaccination Exercise, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said.
Mr. Ong described the vaccination exercise as an important step towards the revival of Singapore’s airline industry.
READ: More than 10,000 frontline maritime workers will be vaccinated by the end of January: MPA
“Everyone knows that the aviation industry is decimated by COVID-19, but we must be determined that when the crisis passes, Singapore will once again be an aviation hub for the region and the world,” he said.
THE E-SPORTS TOURNAMENT ADVANCES
The M2 esports world championship proceeded as scheduled on Monday after three participants from Brazil tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
They tested positive after a swab at the end of their 14-day stay-at-home notice, event organizer MOONTON said in response to CNA inquiries.
READ: Singapore esports tournament to take place after 3 participants from Brazil tested positive for COVID-19
READ: New COVID-19 variants: Are the UK and South Africa virus strains posing a danger to Singapore?
“Each had had a PCR test for COVID-19 and tested negative before departing for Singapore,” MOONTON said in its statement.
His close contacts have been identified and are currently serving their quarantine in a dedicated facility, he added.
CHECK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
