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SINGAPORE: A total of 30 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Thursday (December 31), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its daily preliminary update.
Five community cases were reported and no new cases were found in the dormitories of foreign workers.
This is the highest number of community infections reported in approximately four months. The last time Singapore reported more than five community cases was on August 30, with eight community cases.
Of the five new community cases reported Thursday, two are related to a previous community case: a permanent Singapore resident who works as a marine surveyor at Lloyd’s Register Singapore. It was reported as a confirmed case on Wednesday.
He works aboard vessels docked at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard, the Health Ministry said Wednesday.
The man developed symptoms of an acute respiratory infection on December 27 and sought treatment at a general medicine clinic the next day, where he was tested for COVID-19.
He was confirmed to have COVID-19 on December 29 and was taken to the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID). His serological test result was negative.
The three remaining community cases reported Thursday are a family group involving a port pilot who was detected from listed routine tests.
Of the new cases, 25 were imported and given a stay-at-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore. Of the imported cases, five are Singaporean or permanent residents, while nine are foreign domestic workers.
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PROOF OF CLOSE CONTACTS OF COMMUNITY CASES
“We are aggressively tracking and testing close contacts of community cases to protect these cases and prevent further transmission,” the Health Ministry said.
The Health Ministry added that it will begin “special test operations” to test the people who boarded the ships that the port pilot and marine surveyor recently worked on.
Port pilots, marine surveyors and ship repair workers will also be screened in the coming days, regardless of their routine testing schedule, to determine their COVID-19 status, the Health Ministry said.
“In view of the recent cases involving the maritime sector, we will review the need to tighten our precautionary measures for these workers,” he added.
Details of the new cases will be released Thursday night, the Health Ministry said.
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Singapore began its COVID-19 vaccination exercise on Wednesday, and health workers from the National Center for Infectious Diseases were the first to receive the vaccines.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires two injections, given 21 days apart. Those who receive the first dose on Wednesday are scheduled to return for their second dose on January 20 of the next year.
Later, the vaccines will be extended to more health institutions.
This will be followed by vaccinations for the elderly, starting with those 70 and older, starting in February. Thereafter, other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible for vaccines can do so.
The vaccine will be free to all Singaporeans and long-term residents, including long-term work permit holders.
READ: NCID nurse becomes first person in Singapore to receive COVID-19 vaccine
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MORE COVID-19 MEASURES FOR AIR CREW
Singapore on Wednesday also further tightened COVID-19 measures for aircrew of Singapore carriers, including more frequent testing.
The move comes amid an increased risk of COVID-19 infection abroad, given the resurgence seen in various parts of the world, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Wednesday.
The move also follows recent COVID-19 cases involving a Singapore Airlines (SIA) manager and pilot.
Aircrew calling at “high-risk destinations” will have to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing three times: upon arrival in Singapore and on the third and seventh days after their return. The crew will also be required to isolate themselves until they receive a negative result from their 7th day PCR test.
In addition, stopover aircrews will need to further minimize their contact with locals when abroad.
As of Thursday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,599 COVID-19 cases.
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