Press Releases
Eight more cases discharged, eight new cases of COVID-19 infection confirmed
7 March 2020
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Eight more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospital today (Cases 43, 47, 74, 85, 86, 93, 96 and 110). In all, 90 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital.
2. As of 7 March 2020, 12pm, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed and verified eight more cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore. Of these:
Four are part of the cluster involving a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong (333 Boon Lay Way) on 15 February;
One is linked to the cluster at The Life Church and Missions Singapore (146B Paya Lebar Road);
Two are likely to be imported cases; and
One is currently unlinked.
Links between previous cases found
3. Further epidemiological investigations and contact tracing have uncovered links between previously announced and new cases. This was made possible with the assistance of the Singapore Police Force.
a) Seven of the locally transmitted confirmed cases (Cases 31, 33, 38, 83, 90, 91 and 138), as well as Cases 8 and 9, are linked to The Life Church and Missions Singapore. These cases are linked to another 23 confirmed cases (Cases 48, 49, 51, 53, 54, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 78, 80, 81, 84, 88) who are linked to the Grace Assembly of God.
b) Nine of the confirmed cases (Cases 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 28, 34 and 40) are linked to Yong Thai Hang.
c) Three of the confirmed cases (Cases 30, 36 and 39) are linked to the business meeting held at Grand Hyatt Singapore from 20 to 22 January.
d) Five of the confirmed cases (Cases 42, 47, 52, 56 and 69) are linked to the Seletar Aerospace Heights construction site.
e) 14 of the confirmed cases (Cases 93, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108 and 110) are linked to Wizlearn Technologies Pte Ltd.
f) 21 of the confirmed cases (Cases 94, 96, 107, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 122, 125, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134 and 137) are linked to a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong on 15 February.
4. Investigations on these clusters are ongoing. In addition to the clusters, our investigations have identified the following links between cases:
Case 44 is linked to Cases 13 and 26;
Case 72 is linked to Cases 59 and 79;
Case 50 is linked to Cases 55, 65 and 77;
Case 75 is linked to Case 41;
Case 86 is linked to Case 82; and
Case 126 is linked to Case 109.
5. Contact tracing is underway for the other 13 locally transmitted cases to establish any links to previous cases or travel history to affected countries or regions.
Precautionary measures in response to SAFRA Jurong cluster
6. The cases in the cluster linked to the private dinner function held at SAFRA Jurong on 15 February involved singing activities and classes conducted by the People’s Association (PA) at several community clubs and residents’ committees. In view of this, additional precautionary measures will be implemented from 7 March 2020 to reduce the risk of further transmission. These are:
a) 14-day suspension of all activities and classes attended by the confirmed cases at the affected community clubs and residents’ committees. These are mostly singing classes, but include a small number of other activities like line dancing and qigong.
b) 14-day suspension of all PA-organised singing classes at the affected community clubs and residents’ committees.
7. The current list of affected community clubs and residents’ committees is:
Community Clubs
Bukit Batok Community Club
Bukit Panjang Community Club
Chua Chu Kang Community Club
Jurong Green Community Club
Keat Hong Community Club
Nanyang Community Club
Zhenghua Community Club
Residents’ Committees
Ayer Rajah Zone 3 Residents’ Committee
Bukit Panjang Zone 4 Residents’ Committee
Bukit Panjang Zone 6 Residents’ Committee
Bukit Panjang Zone 7 Residents’ Committee
Hong Kah North Zone 4 Residents’ Committee
Nanyang Zone 4 Residents’ Committee
Teck Ghee Zone J Residents’ Committee
Yew Tee Zone 8 Residents’ Committee
8. Epidemiological investigations and contact tracing of the cluster are ongoing, and further measures may be taken as needed.
About the confirmed cases
Case 131
9. Case 131 is a 66 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH). He is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
10. He reported onset of symptoms on 2 March and had sought treatment at a general practitioner (GP) clinic on the same day and on 5 March. He presented at NTFGH on 5 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March afternoon.
11. Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work as a delivery personnel at Liang Guan Hak Kee (8 Pandan Crescent), and had visited Ayer Rajah Zone 3 Residents’ Committee (32 Teban Gardens Road). He stays at Pandan Gardens.
Case 132
12. Case 132 is likely to be an imported case involving a 37 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who had been in London from 23 February to 27 February. She is warded in an isolation room at the National University Hospital (NUH).
13. She reported onset of symptoms on 29 February and had sought treatment at two GP clinics on 29 February, 4 March and 5 March. She presented at the emergency department at NUH on 5 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March afternoon.
14. Prior to hospital admission, she had visited Camden Medical Centre (1 Orchard Boulevard) for an unrelated condition. She stays at Tanglin Road.
Case 133
15. Case 133 is a 62 year-old female Indonesian national who is a Singapore Social Visit Pass holder, and who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NUH. She is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
16. She reported onset of symptoms on 29 February and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on 1 March and at Pioneer Polyclinic on 4 March and 6 March. She was referred to the emergency department at NUH on 6 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March afternoon.
17. Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Jurong West Street 61.
Case 134
18. Case 134 is a 56 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions, but had been in Malaysia on 21 February. She is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). She is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
19. She reported onset of symptoms on 28 February and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on 6 March, and was referred to NCID on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March afternoon.
20. Prior to hospital admission, she had visited various community clubs and residents’ committees. She stays at Jurong West Street 71.
Case 135
21. Case 135 is a 40 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 6 March afternoon and is currently warded in an isolation room at Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Case 136
22. Case 136 is likely to be an imported case involving a 36 year-old male Italian national Singapore Work Pass holder who had recently travelled to the US from 7 February to 22 February, and to Italy from 23 February to 29 February. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 6 March afternoon and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.
Case 137
23. Case 137 is a 60 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 6 March afternoon and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
Case 138
24. Case 138 is a 26 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 6 March afternoon and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is a close contact of Case 66 and family member of Case 83, and is linked to the cluster at The Life Church and Missions Singapore.
Case 124 (Announced on 6 March)
25. Case 124 is likely to be an imported case, involving a 37 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who had been in Germany from 27 February to 5 March. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.
26. She reported onset of symptoms on 5 March, and presented at the emergency department at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March morning.
27. Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Admiralty Link.
Case 125 (Announced on 6 March)
28. Case 125 is a 65 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a family member of Case 128, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
29. She reported onset of symptoms on 5 March. As she had attended the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong on 15 February, she was referred by MOH to NCID on 5 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March morning.
30. Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Jurong West Street 72.
Case 126 (Announced on 6 March)
31. Case 126 is a 77 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.
32. He had been in same ward as Case 109 at SGH from 29 February to 1 March for an unrelated condition, before Case 109 had been confirmed to have COVID-19 infection. Case 126 was discharged from SGH on 1 March.As he had been identified as a close contact of Case 109, he had been issued a quarantine order on 4 March. He reported onset of symptoms on 5 March, and was conveyed to NCID in an ambulance. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March morning.
33. Prior to hospital admission, he had mostly stayed at his home at Eunos Crescent.
Case 127 (Announced on 6 March)
34. Case 127 is a 64 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a close contact of Case 117, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
35. She reported onset of symptoms on 5 March and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on the same day. She was referred to TTSH by the clinic on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March morning.
36. Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Bukit Panjang Road.
Case 128 (Announced on 6 March)
37. Case 128 is a 70 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is a family member of Case 125, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
38. He reported onset of symptoms on 5 March. As he had attended the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong on 15 February, he was referred by MOH to NCID on 5 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March morning.
39. Prior to hospital admission, he had mostly stayed at his home at Jurong West Street 72.
Case 129 (Announced on 6 March)
40. Case 129 is a 68 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NTFGH. She is a family member of Case 130, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
41. She reported onset of symptoms on 2 March and had sought treatment at Pioneer Polyclinic. She presented at NTFGH on 2 March and 4 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March morning.
42. Prior to hospital admission, she had visited a shop at 966 Jurong West Street 91. She works at Jurong Port Road Food Centre (29A Jurong Port Road) as a food handler, but had not been at work since onset of symptoms. She stays at Jurong West Street 71.
Case 130 (Announced on 6 March)
43. Case 130 is a 66 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NTFGH. He is a family member of Case 129, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
44. He reported onset of symptoms on 24 February and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on the same day, and on 29 February and 1 March. He presented at NTFGH on 4 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 6 March morning.
45. Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work at Jurong Port Road Food Centre as a food handler, and visited Bukit Batok Community Club (21 Bukit Batok Central). He stays at Jurong West Street 71.
Update on condition of confirmed cases
46. To date, a total of 90 cases have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital. Of the 48 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. Eight are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Update on contact tracing for confirmed cases
47. Contact tracing for the confirmed cases is ongoing. Once identified, MOH will closely monitor all close contacts. As a precautionary measure, they will be quarantined for 14 days from their last exposure to the patient. In addition, all other identified contacts who have a low risk of being infected will be under active surveillance, and will be contacted daily to monitor their health status.
48. As of 7 March 2020, 12pm, MOH has identified 3,452 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 446 are currently quarantined, and 3,006 have completed their quarantine.
Health advisory
49. Singaporeans are advised to defer all travel to Hubei Province and all non-essential travel to mainland China, Iran, northern Italy, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
50. All travellers should monitor their health closely for two weeks upon return to Singapore and seek medical attention promptly if they feel unwell. Travellers should inform their doctor of their travel history. If they have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath), they should wear a mask and call the clinic ahead of the visit.
51. Travellers and members of the public should adopt the following precautions at all times:
Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness;
Observe good personal hygiene;
Practise frequent hand washing with soap (e.g. before handling food or eating, after going to toilet, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing);
Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or shortness of breath;
Cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin immediately; and
Seek medical attention promptly if you are feeling unwell.
52. MOH will continue to monitor the situation closely. As medical practitioners are on the lookout for suspect cases, Singapore is likely to see more cases that will need to be investigated.