Three More Cases Discharged; Two New Cases of COVID-19 Infection Confirmed

            Three more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospital today (Cases 52, 79 and 89). In all, 69 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital.

2.           As of 28 February 2020, 12pm, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed and verified two more cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore. Both cases are linked to a new cluster at Wizlearn Technologies Pte Ltd (10 Science Park Road).

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.

• Six of the locally transmitted confirmed cases (Cases 31, 33, 38, 83, 90 and 91), as well as Cases 8 and 9, are linked to The Life Church and Missions Singapore. These six 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.
  

• Nine of the confirmed cases (Cases 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 28, 34 and 40) are linked to Yong Thai Hang. 
  

• 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. 
  

• Five of the confirmed cases (Cases 42, 47, 52, 56 and 69) are linked to the Seletar Aerospace Heights construction site. 
  

• Four of the confirmed cases (Cases 93, 95, 97 and 98) are linked to Wizlearn Technologies Pte Ltd.

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 96 is linked to Case 94.

5.         Contact tracing is underway for the other 10 locally transmitted cases to establish any links to previous cases or travel history to mainland China, Daegu or Cheongdo.

About the confirmed cases 

Case 97 

6.            Case 97 is a 44 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. She is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). She is linked to Cases 93 [1] and 95.

7.           She reported onset of symptoms on 20 February and had sought treatment at a general practitioner (GP) clinic on the same day. As she had been identified as a close contact of Case 93, she was referred by MOH to NCID on 27 February and immediately isolated. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 27 February afternoon.

8.           Prior to hospital admission, she had gone to work at Wizlearn Technologies Pte Ltd and attended a business meeting at the Agency for Integrated Care (5 Maxwell Road). She stays at Choa Chu Kang North 5. 

Case 98

9.          Case 98 is a 24 year-old male Singapore Permanent Resident who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 28 February morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is linked to Cases 93, 95 and 97. 

Case 95 (Announced on 27 February)

10.          Case 95 is a 44 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is linked to Case 93.

11.         He reported onset of symptoms on 22 February and had sought treatment at two GP clinics on 25 February and 26 February. He was referred to NCID on 26 February and was immediately isolated. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 27 February morning.

12.         Prior to hospital admission, he had attended business meetings at Sport Singapore (3 Stadium Drive), Singapore Aviation Academy (1 Aviation Drive) and Toa Payoh Hub (490 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh), and visited Toa Payoh Sport Centre (297 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh). He stays at Choa Chu Kang Crescent. 

Case 96 (Announced on 27 February)

13.        Case 96 is a 12 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. He is currently warded in an isolation room at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH). He is a family member of Case 94 [2].

14.        He reported onset of symptoms on 21 February and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on 22 February. As he had been identified as a close contact of Case 94, he was referred by MOH to KKH on 26 February and was immediately isolated. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 27 February afternoon. 

15.         He is a student at Raffles Institution and stays in the Jalan Jurong Kechil area. 

Update on condition of confirmed cases

16.         To date, a total of 69 cases have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital. Of the 29 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. Seven are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. 

Update on contact tracing for confirmed cases

17.          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. 

18.          As of 28 February 2020, 12pm, MOH has identified 2,940 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 191 are currently quarantined, and 2,749 have completed their quarantine. 

Health advisory

19.            Singaporeans are advised to defer all travel to Hubei Province and all non-essential travel to Mainland China, and Daegu and Cheongdo in the Republic of Korea. MOH also reminds the public to continue to exercise caution when travelling to the rest of the Republic of Korea.

20.           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.

21.          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.

  
  

22.         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.

[1] Case 93 is a 38 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 26 February.

[2] Case 94 is a 64 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 26 February afternoon