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SINGAPORE: New clusters of COVID-19 were identified in two more dormitories for foreign workers who had previously been eliminated from the disease.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported on Thursday (September 3) that new groups have emerged at Cochrane Lodge II on Admiralty Road West and Westlite Toh Guan dormitory on Toh Guan Road East.
Of the 48 new COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore on Thursday, 41 were dorm-living cases.
Eight of the new cases were linked to 10 previous cases to form a new group in the Westlite Toh Guan dormitory. It was declared free of COVID-19 on August 14 by the Ministry of Health. Before the cluster was closed, more than 1,200 COVID-19 cases were linked to it.
READ: New cases of COVID-19 in bedrooms detected by routine tests are ‘part of the plan’: Josephine Teo
The Westlite Toh Guan dormitory was listed as an isolation area on April 5 and was one of the first dormitories in Singapore where a cluster of COVID-19 was identified. The notification was revoked on August 14.
On Thursday, the Health Ministry reported that 14 previous cases were linked to form a new group at Cochrane Lodge II.
More than 450 COVID-19 cases were linked to the group in the bedroom before the Health Ministry declared it free of the disease on July 22. It was posted as an isolation area on April 13, and the notice was revoked on July 21.
Since August 22, there have been several new clusters of COVID-19 in bedrooms that were previously eliminated from the disease.
In addition to the two reported Thursday, new groups have also been identified at Sungei Tengah Lodge, Homestay Lodge, Tuas View Dormitory, Changi Lodge II, North Coast Lodge and Toh Guan Dormitory.
On Thursday, the Health Ministry reported that 10 additional cases were linked to Homestay Lodge, which now has a total of 17 confirmed cases. An additional case was linked to the group in Toh Guan Dormitory on Thursday, increasing the group there to eight cases.
Another case was linked to Tuas View Dormitory, which now has eight cases in total.
All foreign workers’ dormitories were declared COVID-19 free by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on August 19, including separate blocks in specially constructed dormitories that serve as isolation or quarantine facilities.
READ: 62,000 Workers Still Must Have Mandatory COVID-19 Test Scheduled Before Deadline
Human Resources Minister Josephine Teo said last week that the new COVID-19 cases found in bedrooms were the result of routine tests.
Dorm-housed workers and those in the construction, marine and process industries, as well as those going to workplaces, must undergo routine tests listed every 14 days.
Employers must also make sure their workers have completed a COVID-19 smear test in the last 14 days by Saturday, authorities said. Those who have not done so will not be able to go back to work.
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