UPDATE ON LOCAL COVID-19 SITUATION (17 JULY 2021)

As of 17 July 2021, 12pm, Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed and verified that there are 60 cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 infection, of which 29 belong to the KTV cluster. Of the 60 cases today, 33 are linked to previous cases, and have already been placed on quarantine. 25 are linked to previous cases and were detected through surveillance. 2 are currently unlinked.¹  There are 8 imported cases, who have already been placed on Stay-Home Notice (SHN) or isolated upon arrival in Singapore. 1 was detected upon arrival in Singapore, while 7 developed the illness during SHN or isolation. In total, there are 68 new cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore today. There are currently 5 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and 1 in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Figure 1: Number of Community Unlinked Cases, and Linked Cases by Already Quarantined/ Detected through Surveillance, and Dormitory Resident Cases²

Summary of trends for local cases

2. Overall, the number of new cases in the community has increased from 17 cases in the week before to 239 cases in the past week. We are likely to see rising cases in the coming days as we step up efforts to detect them to contain their spread in the community. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from 8 cases in the week before to 22 cases in the past week. The 7-day moving average number of all linked community cases and all unlinked community cases are 31.0 and 3.1 respectively.

Figure 2: 7 Day Moving Average Number of Community Unlinked and Linked Cases³

Summary of trends for imported cases

3. There are a total of 8 imported cases today. 1 was detected upon arrival in Singapore, while 7 developed the illness during SHN or isolation. 

Figure 3: Number of Imported Cases by Detected Upon Arrival/ Detected during SHN or Isolation

Active clusters under monitoring

4. There are 3 new clusters today. In total, there are currently 29 active clusters, ranging between 3 and 148 infections. MOH has been monitoring existing clusters for any further transmission. As there have been no more cases linked to the Case 64263 cluster for the past two incubation periods (i.e. 28 days), the cluster has now been closed. 

Figure 4: Number of Active Clusters

Figure 5: List of Active Clusters

Additional measures to ringfence clusters 

5. We have uncovered clusters involving markets and food centres. These clusters are likely seeded by fishmongers who visited the Jurong Fishery Port to collect their stock and sell at the markets. We announced the cluster at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre yesterday, and MOH is now investigating 2 cases who work in or visited Chong Boon Market & Food Centre (453A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10), with 3 more cases pending confirmation. To break the chain of transmission and enable deep cleaning of the premises, Chong Boon Market & Food Centre will be closed to all members of the public from 18 July to 1 August 2021. All individuals who work in the market and food centre will be placed on quarantine, and tested during quarantine.  

6. MOH has also detected cases amongst fishmongers working at Amoy Street Food Centre, Chong Pang Market & Food Centre, Whampoa Wet Market, Telok Blangah Crescent Block 11, Taman Jurong Market, Redhill Market, Geylang Serai Malay Market, Geylang Bahru Market, 527 Ang Mo Kio Market, 726 West Coast Wet Market and Bukit Timah Wet Market.  Most are tested positive via Antigen Rapid Tests (ART) and are being confirmed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Our epidemiological investigations found that they are likely to have been infected through contact with stallholders at Jurong Fishery Port.

7. Testing of fishmongers is still ongoing. As there is risk of transmission to other markets and food centres, we are conducting aggressive contact tracing, quarantine and testing to ringfence the cases and prevent further spread. Fishmongers from all markets will receive an SMS Health Risk Warning on 18 July, and will be required under the law to get tested at  designated testing centres and self-isolate until they receive a negative test from their first PCR test. They will be issued with self-test ART kits and are required to self-administer an ART test on the seventh day from the last exposure. They will also be required to undergo another PCR test at designated testing centres around the 14th day from their date of last known exposure. 

8. MOH therefore advises all visitors to the markets and food centres to avoid crowds and to do your marketing during off-peak hours, or at supermarkets, and to strictly observe the safe management measures.

Ongoing transmission at KTV clubs/lounges

9. MOH is investigating cases of COVID-19 infection amongst social hostesses who had frequented KTV lounges or clubs currently operating as F&B outlets, and their close social contacts. Our epidemiological investigations have found that there is likely ongoing transmission at the following KTV lounges/clubs: 

• Quinn KTV (207A Syed Alwi Road);
• Club AURA (442 Orchard Road);
• Club Ion (271 Bukit Timah Road); 
• Icon II (35 Selegie Road);
• Club Lucky Thai (5001 Beach Road); and
• M. Sakhon (5001 Beach Road). 

10. All visitors to the affected premises are advised to monitor their health closely, and minimise social interactions as far as possible, for 14 days from their date of visit or interaction. They are encouraged to see a doctor immediately if they feel unwell.

Condition of confirmed cases

11. 196 cases are currently warded in hospital.  Most are well and under observation. There are currently 5 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and 1 in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU). None amongst these 6 cases is fully vaccinated. 

Figure 6: Number of Active Cases in ICU or Requiring Oxygen Supplementation

Figure 7: Deaths and Active Cases in ICU or Requiring Oxygen Supplementation, by Age Group

12. There is continuing evidence that vaccination helps to prevent serious disease when one gets infected. Over the last 28 days, 14 local cases required oxygen supplementation, were admitted to ICU or passed away. 10 are unvaccinated, 4 are partially vaccinated and none was fully vaccinated. 

Figure 8: Local Cases in the Last 28 Days by Vaccination Status and Severity of Condition⁵  

Figure 9: Deaths and Active Cases in ICU or Requiring Oxygen Supplementation, 
by Vaccination Status⁵

Progress of national vaccination programme

13. As of 16 July 2021, we have administered a total of 6,650,677, doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the national vaccination programme. The total number of doses administered was 6,650,677, covering 4,118,334 individuals. 2,609,367 individuals have completed the full vaccination regimen, consisting of 77,024 recovered persons who received at least one dose and 2,532,343 who received their second dose.

Figure 10: Progress of National Vaccination Programme

Figure 11: Percentage of Vaccinated Individuals who Received At Least First Dose by Age Group⁶

Figure 12: Percentage of Individuals who Completed Full Regimen⁷ of COVID-19 Vaccine by Age Group

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

[1]  This is updated from the afternoon press release as 3 more cases have been linked to previous cases following epidemiological investigations. 

[2] Incorporates re-classifications of earlier reported cases.

[3] Incorporates re-classifications of earlier reported cases.

[4] Includes new cases added today.

[5] Fully vaccinated - more than 14 days after completing vaccination regimen (both doses of the vaccine or one dose for recovered individuals). Partially vaccinated – received 1 dose of 2-dose vaccine or COVID-positive within 14 days of completing vaccination regimen.

[6] Based on National Immunisation Registry data. 

[7] Full regimen refers to individuals who have received both doses of the vaccine or one dose for vaccinated recovered individuals.