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SINGAPORE: Forty-three new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Singapore as of noon on Friday (April 2), all imported infections.
This is the highest daily count of new cases since January 30, when 58 new infections were reported.
All cases were placed on a stay-at-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.
No cases of local transmission were reported for the second consecutive day.
PERMANENT RESIDENT INITIALLY TESTED NEGATIVE
Among the imported cases was a permanent resident who returned from India. The woman, known as Case 61480, returned on March 17 and delivered a stay-at-home notice at a dedicated facility. His arrival test on March 17 was negative for COVID-19.
On March 20, the 46-year-old woman was quarantined as she had been identified as a close contact for Case 61047 during her flight to Singapore. His tests conducted during quarantine on March 21 and 30 were negative for COVID-19.
The Health Ministry said his quarantine ended on March 31 and he went home, where he remained until he sought medical treatment for an unrelated condition on April 1.
“Although she is asymptomatic, she was tested again, and this time her result was positive for COVID-19 infection and she was hospitalized. Her serological test result is pending. Given her recent travel history and exposure to one case. of COVID-19 during its flight, we have classified it as an imported case, “said the Ministry of Health.
2 CASES FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA WERE ON A CONTROLLED ROUTE
There were also two short-term visitor pass holders who arrived from Papua New Guinea on March 27 for work projects in Singapore: a 54-year-old man (Case 61461) and a 30-year-old man (Case 61470).
Both tested negative for COVID-19 upon arrival in Singapore and remained in isolation in a dedicated facility until testing negative again on March 29.
“From then on they were on a controlled itinerary, which was largely limited to their place of work and accommodation,” the Health Ministry said.
On March 30, they were quarantined as they had been identified as close contacts of Case 61360 during their flight to Singapore. Case 61461 developed a cough on the night of March 30, while case 61470 is asymptomatic.
They were tested for COVID-19 on March 31 and taken to separate hospitals when their results came back positive the next day.
“The results of his serological tests are pending. Given his recent travel history and exposure to a case of COVID-19 during his flight, we have classified these cases as imported,” the Health Ministry said.
5 FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS AMONG IMPORTED CASES
The other imported infections reported on Friday include a Singaporean and four permanent residents who returned from Germany, India and the United Kingdom.
Three are student pass holders who came from India and Myanmar, while three are work pass holders who came from India and the Philippines.
Twenty-five are work permit holders who came from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines, of which five are foreign domestic workers.
The remaining four cases are holders of short-term visitation passes. Three of them came from Indonesia and India for work projects in Singapore, while one came from Indonesia to visit his family members who are permanent residents.
INCREASE IN COMMUNITY CASES
The Health Ministry said the total number of new cases in the community has risen from one case in the previous week to two cases in the last week.
The number of unrelated cases in the community has also increased from one case in the previous week to two cases in the last week.
Among the 185 confirmed cases reported from March 27 to April 2, a total of 61 cases were positive in their serological tests, while 90 were negative. Another 34 serological test results are pending.
Fifteen more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing Singapore’s total recoveries to 60,176.
There are still 40 cases in the hospital. Most of them are stable or improving and one is in the intensive care unit. Another 204 are being isolated and cared for in community facilities.
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The foreign worker levies will not apply to all S Pass holders and work permits, including domestic workers, during the stay-at-home notice periods from January to September, the Labor Ministry said on Thursday.
“This is to help employers manage the higher costs associated with updated government measures to reduce the risk of importing COVID-19 into the community,” the ministry said.
Since January, the Government has implemented additional border measures including limiting entry approvals for work pass holders and requiring newly arrived S Pass and work permit holders to undergo COVID-19 testing upon arrival and submit notices of stay in the home.
As of Friday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,450 COVID-19 cases.
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