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SINGAPORE: New COVID-19 clusters were identified in three other dormitories of foreign workers who had previously been eliminated from the disease.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported on Saturday (September 5) that new groups have emerged at Cochrane Lodge 1 at 51 Admiralty Road West, Mandai Lodge 1 at 460 Mandai Road, and Tuas South Dormitory at 1 Tuas South Street 12.
Of the 34 new COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore on Saturday, 29 were dormitory-living cases.
Nine previous cases were linked to form a new group at Cochrane Lodge 1. It was declared COVID-19 free on July 21 by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Before the cluster was shut down, there were more than 370 COVID-19 cases linked to it.
Cochrane Lodge 1 was listed as an area of isolation in April, along with Cochrane Lodge 2, which also saw a new group emerge on Thursday. The notice for Cochrane Lodge 1 was revoked on July 21.
READ: New cases of COVID-19 in bedrooms detected by routine tests are ‘part of the plan’: Josephine Teo
READ: New clusters of COVID-19 reported in 2 bedrooms previously cleared of disease
On Saturday, the Health Ministry also reported that 17 previous cases were linked to form a new group at Mandai Lodge 1.
The bedroom was declared COVID-19 free on July 14 by MOM.. Before the cluster was closed, more than 500 cases of COVID-19 were linked to it.
Mandai Lodge 1 was listed as an isolation area on April 16. It was the ninth foreign worker dormitory to be classified as an isolation area. The notification was revoked on July 14.
Eleven previously confirmed cases were linked to form a new group in Tuas South Dormitory, the Health Ministry said.
The bedroom at 1 Tuas South Street 12 was declared COVID-19 free on August 10. Before the group was closed, there were more than 1,300 COVID-19 cases linked to it.
Tuas South Dormitory was posted as an isolation area on April 24. The notification was revoked on August 10.
Since August 22, there have been several new clusters of COVID-19 in bedrooms that were previously eliminated from the disease.
New groups have also been identified at Sungei Tengah Lodge, Homestay Lodge, Tuas View Dormitory, Changi Lodge II, North Coast Lodge, Toh Guan Dormitory, Cochrane Lodge II, Westlite Toh Guan, and Blue Stars Dormitory.
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: 16,000 Workers Still Not Scheduled for Routine COVID-19 Testing Before Saturday 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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