Seven more confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection in Singapore

               As of 8 February 2020, 12pm, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed seven additional cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection in Singapore. Of these, five are linked to previously announced cases.

2.            Among the new confirmed cases are a taxi driver and a private hire car driver. MOH will continue to work with the Ministry of Transport to reach out to all taxi and private hire car drivers on the steps they should take to protect themselves in the course of their work. For the general public, the risk of infection from transient contact, such as on public transport or in public places, is assessed to be low.

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)     Cases 8 and 9^[1], as well as Cases 31, 33 and 38, are linked to The Life Church and Missions Singapore (146B Paya Lebar Road). This is a possible cluster involving five cases (Cases 8, 9, 31, 33 and 38).
b)     Nine of the confirmed cases (Cases 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 28, 34 and 40) are linked to the cluster associated with Yong Thai Hang (24 Cavan Road).
c)     Three of the confirmed cases (Cases 30, 36 and 39) are linked to the private business meeting held at Grand Hyatt Singapore from 20 to 22 January.

Investigations on these clusters are ongoing.

4.            Contact tracing is underway for the other four locally transmitted cases to establish any links to previous cases or travel history to mainland China.

About the confirmed cases

Case 34

5.            Case 34 is a 40-year-old female Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China. She is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

6.            She reported onset of symptoms on 27 January, and had visited two general practitioner (GP) clinics on 27 January and 1 February respectively. As she works at Yong Thai Hang, she was identified as a close contact of Cases 19 and 20, and placed under home quarantine on 4 February. She was admitted to NCID on 6 February, and subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on 7 February afternoon.

7.            Prior to hospital admission, she had gone to work at Yong Thai Hang, and stays at Sin Ming Road.

Case 35

8.            Case 35 is a 64-year-old male Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China. He is currently warded in an isolation room at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

9.            He reported onset of symptoms on 30 January, and had visited Bukit Merah Polyclinic on 31 January. He was admitted to SGH on 6 February. Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on 7 February afternoon.

10.           Prior to hospital admission, he worked as a taxi driver and had largely stayed at his home at Henderson Crescent after onset of symptoms, except to visit Redhill Market and a hawker centre at Bukit Merah for meals.

Case 36

11.           Case 36 is a 38 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident with no recent travel history to China but had been in Johor Bahru from 25 to 28 January. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

12.           She reported onset of symptoms on 24 January, and had visited a GP clinic on 1 February. She was isolated and admitted to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital on 4 February. Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on 7 February afternoon.

13.           Prior to hospital admission, she had attended the same private business meeting as Cases 30 and 39 at Grand Hyatt Singapore from 20 to 22 January, and visited a family member at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH). She stays at Bukit Batok Street 31.

Case 37

14.           Case 37 is a 53 year-old male Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

15.           He reported onset of symptoms on 30 January, and had visited two GP clinics on 1 February and 3 February respectively. He was admitted to NTFGH on 6February, and transferred to NCID on 8 February. Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on 7 February afternoon.

16.           Prior to hospital admission, he worked as a private hire car driver and stays at Jurong East Street 32.

Case 38

17.           Case 38 is a 52 year-old female Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

18.           She reported onset of symptoms on 3 February and visited Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic on 4 February. She was admitted to NCID on 7 February. Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on 8 February morning.

19.           Prior to hospital admission, she had visited The Life Church and Missions Singapore, Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown and Plaza Singapura and had travelled by public transport. She stays at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3.

Case 39

20.           Case 39 is a 51 year-old male Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China, but who had travelled to Malaysia from 23 January to 2 February. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

21.           He reported onset of symptoms on 29 January, and had visited two GP clinics on 3 and 5 February respectively. He was admitted to NCID on 6 February. Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on 8 February morning.

22.           Prior to hospital admission, he had attended the same private business meeting as Cases 30 and 36 at Grand Hyatt Singapore from 20 to 22 January, and stays at Jurong West Central.

Case 40

23.           Case 40 is a 36-year-old male Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

24.           He reported onset of symptoms on 30 January, and had visited a GP clinic on the same day. As he works at Yong Thai Hang (24 Cavan Road), he was identified as a close contact of Cases 19 and 20, and placed under home quarantine on 4 February. He was admitted to NCID on 7 February. Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on 8 February morning.

25.           Prior to hospital admission, he went to work at Yong Thai Hang and stays at Bedok North Street.

Update on condition of confirmed cases

26.           Amongst the confirmed cases, two have been discharged. Of the remaining 38, most are stable or improving. Four are in critical condition in the intensive care unit, and one requires additional oxygen support.

Update on suspect cases

27.           As of 8 February 2020, 12pm, 438 of the suspect cases have tested negative for 2019 novel coronavirus, and 40 have tested positive. Test results for the remaining 181 cases are pending.

Update on contact tracing for confirmed cases

28.           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.

29.           As of 8 February 2020, 12pm, MOH has identified 758 close contacts. Of the 663 who are still in Singapore, 647 have been contacted and are being quarantined or isolated. Efforts are ongoing to contact the remaining 16 close contacts.

Health advisory

30.           Singaporeans are advised to defer all travel to Hubei Province and all non-essential travel to Mainland China.

31.           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.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.

32.           MOH will continue to monitor the situation closely. As medical practitioners are on the lookout for suspect cases who have recently been in China, Singapore is likely to see more cases that will need to be investigated.

^[1]Cases 8 and 9, a 56 year-old female and 56 year-old male married couple, are Chinese nationals from Wuhan who arrived in Singapore on 19 January. They were tested positive for 2019-nCoV on 28 and 29 January respectively.