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SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 10 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Wednesday (March 10), all imported infections.
No new cases were reported in the community or in the dormitories of migrant workers, the fourth consecutive day that there have been no cases of local transmission.
Two of the new cases are permanent residents who returned from India and Turkey.
There are three short-term pass holders, including a woman who came from Indonesia for a work project and a five-year-old girl from India who is a contact for a previous case.
Four are work permit holders who came from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, two of whom are foreign domestic workers.
The remaining case is a dependent’s pass holder who arrived from India.
Nine of the new cases are asymptomatic, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said, adding that all imported infections have already been placed on a stay-at-home notice upon arrival.
READ: Malaysian freight drivers welcome Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccination offer, hope congestion on Causeway can be alleviated
Six more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing Singapore’s total recoveries to 59,911.
There are still 25 cases in the hospital, most of which are stable or improving. One case remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Another 97 cases that have mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19 are isolated and cared for in community facilities.
Malaysian freight drivers eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Singapore will be selected based on the frequency of their trips between the two countries, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) told CNA on Tuesday.
“Vaccination is voluntary and the cost of vaccination will be borne by the Singapore government,” the MTI said.
Freight drivers perform an essential service to ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods between Malaysia and Singapore, he added.
“As they deliver in Singapore and have high points of contact with local communities in both countries, the vaccines will provide an additional layer of protection against COVID-19,” the ministry said.
The Health Ministry announced on Monday the decision to offer COVID-19 vaccines later this month to selected freight drivers and accompanying personnel entering the country from Malaysia on a regular basis.
Those who are not vaccinated can continue to enter Singapore, subject to infection control measures such as tests on arrival and safe handling measures.
As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,062 COVID-19 cases.
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