27 NEW CASES OF LOCALLY TRANSMITTED COVID-19 INFECTION

As of 20 May 2021, 12pm, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed and verified that there are 27 new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 infection, of whom 21 are linked to previous cases, and 6 are currently unlinked. Amongst them, 15 had already been placed on quarantine earlier. The cases are in the community, and there are no new cases in the dormitories. There are 14 imported cases, who had already been placed on Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore. Amongst the new cases today, 22 are asymptomatic, and were detected from our proactive screening and surveillance, while 19 were symptomatic.

Summary of new cases

2. Overall, the number of new cases in the community has increased from 71 cases in the week before to 190 cases in the past week. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from 11 cases in the week before to 52 cases in the past week. We will continue to closely monitor these numbers, as well as the cases detected through our surveillance programme.

3. Amongst the 277 confirmed cases reported from 14 May to 20 May, 63 cases have tested positive for their serology tests, 150 have tested negative, and 64 serology test results are pending.

Case Details

a) Cases in the community: 27

There are 27 cases in the community today, of whom 21 are linked to previous cases and 6 are currently unlinked. 

Currently unlinked cases 

Detected through surveillance:

Case 63466 is a 59 year-old female Singaporean who works at Mary Fashion and Trading (338 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1). She developed a cough on 15 May, and sought medical treatment at a General Practitioner (GP) clinic on 17 May night, and was tested for COVID-19 the next day. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending. Case 63466 received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 21 March and the second dose on 11 April.

Case 63479 is a 49 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who is a homemaker. She developed a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and loss of taste and smell on 14 May but did not seek medical treatment until 18 May, when she went to a GP clinic and was tested for COVID-19. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending.

Case 63480 is a 41 year-old male Singaporean who works as a customer service personnel at Times Bookstore but had not gone to work since 30 April. He developed a fever on 17 May, and a runny nose and body aches the next day. He sought medical treatment at a GP clinic on 18 May, and his test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. His serology test result is pending. 

Case 63482 is a 54 year-old female Malaysia national who works at Seagate Singapore International Headquarters Pte Ltd. She developed a runny nose on 16 May, and anosmia on 17 May. On 19 May, she sought medical treatment at a GP clinic, where she tested positive for her antigen rapid test (ART), as well as her polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on the same day. Her serology test result is pending. Case 63482 received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 16 April and the second dose on 9 May.

Case 63487 is a 19 year-old female Malaysia national who is a student at Singapore Polytechnic and had last gone to school on 15 May. She developed a fever on 19 May, and sought medical treatment at a GP clinic on the same day, where she tested positive for her ART and PCR test on the same day. Her serology test result is pending.

Case 63497 is a 69 year-old male Singaporean who works as a cleaner employed by Weishen Industrial Services Pte Ltd. He developed a fever on 17 May, and a runny nose, cough and body aches the next day. He sought medical treatment at a polyclinic on 19 May, where he was tested for COVID-19. His test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 20 May. His serology test result is pending. Case 63497 received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 16 March and the second dose on 6 April.

Changi Airport Terminal 3 cluster

Already quarantined:

Case 63459 is a 63 year-old male Singaporean who is employed by Certis Cisco as an aviation security officer at Changi Airport Terminal 3. He is asymptomatic, and was detected when he was tested on 16 May as part of Rostered Routine Testing (RRT). On the same day, as he had been identified as a family member and household contact of Case 63347¹, he was placed on quarantine. His pooled test result came back positive for COVID-19 on 17 May. An individual test was done on 18 May, and his test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. His serology test result is negative for the N antigen, which suggests the presence of early infection. Case 63459 received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 21 January, and the second dose on 14 February.

Case 63464 is a 43 year-old female Singaporean who works as an administrative personnel at Glory Ship Management Pte Ltd and had last gone to work on 7 May. She is a family member and household contact of Case 63146² and was placed on quarantine on 12 May. She was tested for COVID-19 on 15 May and her test result came back negative on the same day. She developed a cough and sore throat on 18 May, and was tested for COVID-19 when she reported her symptoms. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is negative. 

Case 63473 is a 14 year-old female Singaporean who is a student at Madrasah Al-Ma’arif Al-Islamiah and had last gone to school on 7 May. She is a family member and household contact of Cases 63347, 63459 and 63474. As she had been identified as a close contact of Case 63347, she was placed on quarantine on 16 May. She developed a cough on 18 May and was tested for COVID-19 when she reported her symptom. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending.

Case 63474 is an 8 year-old female Singaporean who is a student at Madrasah Al-Ma’arif Al-Islamiah and had last gone to school on 4 May. She is a family member and household contact of Cases 63347, 63459 and 63473. As she had been identified as a close contact of Case 63347, she was placed on quarantine on 16 May. She is asymptomatic and was tested for COVID-19 on 18 May during quarantine. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending.

Learning Point cluster

Already quarantined:

Case 63481 is a 38 year-old female Singaporean who works as a legal service officer at Legal Service Commission. She is a family member and household contact of Case 63400³ and was placed on quarantine on 17 May. She developed a runny nose and body aches on 18 May and was tested for COVID-19 when she reported her symptoms. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 on 19 May. Her serology test result is negative for the N antigen, which suggests the presence of early infection. Case 63481 received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 19 April, and the second dose on 10 May.

Changi Prison Complex cluster 

Already quarantined:

Case 63491 is a 41 year-old male Singaporean who is an inmate at Changi Prison Complex. He is a close contact of Case 63160⁴ and was placed on quarantine on 13 May. He was tested for COVID-19 on the same day, and his test result came back negative. He developed a runny nose, sore throat, headache and body aches on 19 May, and was tested again. His test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. His serology test result is negative. 

Jin Tai Tong Food Industries cluster

Already quarantined:

Case 63468 is a 32 year-old male China national who works as a warehouse assistant at Jin Tai Tong Warehouse. He is a workplace contact of Case 63271⁵, and was placed on quarantine on 15 May. He developed a fever on 17 May. He was tested for COVID-19 on 18 May and his test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. His serology test result is pending.

Detected through surveillance:

Case 63477 is a 53 year-old female Singaporean who is a packing assistant at Jin Tai Mart. She developed an itchy throat on 11 May but did not seek medical treatment. She was detected when she was tested on 18 May as part of our testing operations for those who had visited White Sands. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May, and she developed diarrhoea on the same day. Her serology test result is pending. Case 63477 received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 9 May.

Case 63461 is a 40 year-old male China national who works as a store assistant at Jin Tai Mart. He is asymptomatic, and was detected when he was tested on 19 May and his test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on the same day. His serology test result is pending.

Sms Infocomm cluster

Detected through surveillance:

Case 63462 is a 49 year-old female Singaporean who works as a factory operator at Sms Infocomm (Singapore) Pte Ltd, and is a close contact of Case 63273⁶. She developed a sore throat on 16 May and sought medical treatment at a GP clinic on 17 May, where she was tested for COVID-19. On the same day, she was placed on quarantine. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending. 

Case 63357 cluster⁷

Already quarantined:

Case 63469 is a 60 year-old female Singaporean who is employed by Jonguil Asia Cleaning Pte Ltd and deployed as a cleaner at The Cascadia. As she had been identified as a close contact of Case 63357, she was placed on quarantine on 17 May. She is asymptomatic and was detected when she was tested for COVID-19 on 18 May during quarantine. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is negative. 

Case 63470 is a 59 year-old male Singaporean who is employed by White Guard Security Pte Ltd as a security officer. As he had been identified as a close contact of Case 63357, he was placed on quarantine on 17 May. He was tested for COVID-19 on 18 May during quarantine, and his test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. On the same day, he developed a fever. His serology test result is pending.

Case 63471 is a 33 year-old male Singaporean who works as a technician at PSA Singapore (Tanjong Pagar Terminal). As he had been identified as a close contact of Case 63357, he was placed on quarantine on 16 May. He is asymptomatic and was detected when he was tested for COVID-19 on 18 May during quarantine. His test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. His serology test result is negative for the N antigen, which suggests the presence of early infection. Case 63471 received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 18 March, and the second dose on 8 April.

Case 63472 is a 32 year-old female Singaporean who works as a clinic assistant at Etern Medical Clinic (Punggol MRT). As she had been identified as a close contact of Case 63357, she was placed on quarantine on 16 May. She is asymptomatic and was detected when she was tested for COVID-19 on 18 May during quarantine. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is negative for the N antigen, which suggests the presence of early infection. Case 63472 received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 18 March, and the second dose on 12 April.

Case 63463 is a 3 year-old female Singaporean who is a student at Skool4kidz Centre at Punggol Way. As she had been identified as a close contact of Case 63357, she was placed on quarantine on 16 May. She is asymptomatic and was detected when she was tested for COVID-19 on 18 May during quarantine. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is negative.

Detected through surveillance:

Case 63488 is a 36 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who works as a service staff at KFC at Jalan Mas Puteh. She is a family member of Case 63357. She developed a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and headache on 17 May night and sought medical treatment at a GP clinic the next day, where she underwent both an ART and PCR test. Her ART came back positive on 18 May and she was immediately isolated. Her PCR test result came back positive on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending.

Other linked cases

Already quarantined:

Case 63484 is a 39 year-old male Malaysia national who works as an electrician at Yew Hock Automation Service & Control Pte Ltd. He is a household contact of Case 63334⁸, and was placed on quarantine on 15 May. He is asymptomatic, and was detected when he was tested for COVID-19 on 18 May during quarantine. His test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. His serology test result is pending.

Case 63476 is a 12 year-old male Singaporean who is a student at Anglo-Chinese School (Junior). He is a family member and household contact of Case 63376⁹, and was placed on quarantine on 17 May. He developed a fever, cough and runny nose on 18 May, and was tested for COVID-19 on the same day. His test result came back positive on 19 May. His serology test result is pending.

Case 63478 is a 32 year-old female Philippines national who is a foreign domestic worker. She is a household contact of Case 63147¹⁰, and was placed on quarantine on 13 May. She was tested for COVID-19 on 14 May during quarantine and her test result was negative. She developed a fever, back aches and vomiting on 18 May night, and reported her symptoms the next day. She was tested for COVID-19, and her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending.

Detected through surveillance:

Case 63460 is a 38 year-old female Singaporean who works at Pacific Law Corporation, and is a workplace contact of Case 63335¹¹. She developed a runny nose, cough and headache on 16 May, and sought medical treatment at a GP clinic the next day, where she was tested for COVID-19. As she had been identified as a close contact of Case 63335, she was placed on quarantine on 17 May. Her test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending.

Case 63485 is a 15 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who is a student at Yuan Ching Secondary School, but had not gone to school after onset of symptoms. She is a family member and household contact of Case 63479. She developed a sore throat on 17 May evening, and sought medical treatment at a GP clinic the next day, where she was tested for COVID-19. Her test result came back positive on 19 May. Her serology test result is pending.

b) Cases residing in dormitories: 0

There are no cases residing in dormitories today. 

c) Imported cases: 14

Amongst the 14 imported cases, 

• 7 (Cases 63483, 63489, 63494, 63499, 63502, 63503 and 63504) are Singaporeans and 3 (Cases 63490, 63500 and 63501) are Singapore Permanent Residents who returned from India and Indonesia.
• 2 (Cases 63467 and 63492) are Dependant’s Pass holders who arrived from Germany and Sri Lanka. 
• 2 (Cases 63465 and 63486) are Work Pass holders who arrived from Nepal and the Philippines.

They had all already been placed on SHN upon arrival in Singapore and were tested while serving SHN. The arrivals from the Indian sub-continent had already come into Singapore before the restrictions on travel were imposed¹².

4. Please refer to the Annexes and MOH’s daily Situation Report (www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/situation-report) for details. 

5. Epidemiological investigations are in progress. In the meantime, all the identified close contacts of the cases have been isolated and placed on quarantine, and will be tested at the start and end of their quarantine period so that we can detect asymptomatic cases. We will also conduct serological tests for the close contacts to determine if the cases could have been infected by them.

Additional Precautionary Measures for Residents of 506 Hougang Avenue 8 

6. Our epidemiological investigations have found that a few COVID-19 cases reside at 506 Hougang Avenue 8. As a precautionary measure, we will conduct mandatory COVID-19 tests for all residents of the block. For the convenience of the residents, the testing operations will be conducted at the void deck at 506 Hougang Avenue 8 on 21 May and 22 May 2021. We have distributed leaflets to affected residents, and will also send them an SMS notification. Residents of 506 Hougang Avenue 8 are also advised to monitor their health closely and consult a doctor immediately if they feel unwell. 

Update on condition of confirmed cases

7. 46 more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 61,229 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospitals or community care facilities. 

8. There are currently 240 confirmed cases who are still in hospital. Of these, most are stable or improving, and 4 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. 229 are isolated and cared for at community facilities. These are those who have mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19. 32 have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection. 

9. Case 62687, a 70 year-old male Singaporean, has passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection on 20 May 2021. He had been warded in TTSH Ward 9D on 22 April, and was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 30 April. He had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, and had a history of lung cancer and atrial fibrillation. The National Centre for Infectious Diseases has reached out to his family and is extending assistance to them.

[1] Case 63347 is a 45 year-old female Indonesia national who is employed by Clean Hub Facility Pte Ltd as a cleaner at EuHabitat. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 16 May.

[2] Case 63146 is a 44 year-old male Singaporean who works as a private hire car driver with GoJek. He visited Changi Airport Terminal 3 on 6 May. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 12 May.

[3] Case 63400 is a 7 year-old female Singaporean who is a student at CHIJ (Katong) Primary School and had last gone to school on 11 May. She also attends student care at Seedlings World Student Care @ Frankel. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 17 May.

[4] Case 63160 is a 39 year-old male China national who is employed by SATS Food Services Pte Ltd as a chef at Changi Prison Complex. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 13 May

[5] Case 63271 is a 55 year-old male Singaporean who works as a warehouse assistant at Jin Tai Mart. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 15 May.

[6] Case 63273 is a 54 year-old female Malaysia national who works at Sms Infocomm (Singapore) Pte Ltd. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 15 May.

[7] Case 63357 is a 32 year-old male Singaporean who works as an IT engineer at AbbVie Operations Singapore Pte Ltd. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 16 May.

[8] Case 63334 is a 76 year-old female Singaporean who is a retiree. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 16 May.

[9] Case 63376 is a 46 year-old female Singaporean who is an investment banker at DBS. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 17 May.

[10] Case 63147 is a 51 year-old female Philippines national who is a foreign domestic worker. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 13 May.

[11] Case 63335 is a 57 year-old female Singaporean who works as an administrative personnel at Pacific Law Corporation. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 16 May.

[12] From 23 April 2021, 2359 hours, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history (including transit) to India within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore. From 1 May 2021, 2359 hours, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history (including transit) to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore.