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917 new COVID cases, 2 more fatalities reported in Singapore

People wearing protective mask exercise at a park on September 20, 2021 in Singapore.  (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
People wearing protective masks exercise at a park on 20 September, 2021 in Singapore. (PHOTO: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (20 September) confirmed 917 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, taking the country's total case count to 78,721.

The ministry also confirmed two coronavirus-related deaths. The city-state's 61st and 62nd fatalities from the COVID-19 complications are Singaporean men, aged 84 and 85, who both died on Sunday.

The younger man, who was fully vaccinated against COVID-19, had a history of heart disease, hypertension, and high cholesterol "which, together with his advanced age, made him more susceptible to severe illness", said the MOH. He was conveyed to the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital on 13 September with symptoms, and tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day.

The older man had been partially vaccinated and had no known medical conditions. He tested positive for COVID-19 on 16 September and was conveyed to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital two days later.

Of Monday's 917 cases, 910 are local infections: 832 are in the community, while 78 are dormitory residents. Among the local cases are 230 people above the age of 60, said the MOH.

The remaining seven cases are imported, of whom three were detected upon their arrival in Singapore, while four developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation period.

Sixteen active COVID-19 clusters in Singapore are being closely monitored, said the MOH. Three of them are linked to staff members at bus interchanges in Toa Payoh, Tampines, and Clementi.

Of the list of monitored clusters, the highest number of 10 new cases was added to a cluster at Avery Lodge dorm. The cluster now has 131 cases infected by an "intra-dormitory transmission" among residents, said the MOH.

The ministry added that the residents have been placed on a movement restriction order and are being tested. Nine new cases were also added to the cluster at Blue Stars dorm, totalling 120 infections.

Daily new cases in Singapore are expected to rise to 2,000 by early October, if the current rate of infection persists, authorities here have said.

128 require oxygen supplementation; 18 in ICU

Over 66,600 cases in Singapore, or some 99 per cent of the overall total, have fully recovered from their infection and have been discharged from the hospital.

As of Monday, 1,055 cases are currently warded, most of whom are well and under observation.

There are currently 128 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation and 18 in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Of those who have fallen very ill, 122 are patients above the age of 60, said the MOH.

Apart from the 62 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 15 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack and another four whose deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease.

Over the last 28 days, the percentage of local cases who were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms is 98 per cent. Over the same period, 210 cases required oxygen supplementation, 21 had been in the ICU, and six died.

As of Sunday, about 8.96 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme. Some 4.58 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with some 4.45 million having completed the full vaccination regimen.

Separately, 183,409 doses of other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) have been administered as of Sunday, covering 87,084 individuals.

This means that 82 per cent of the population have completed their full regimen, or received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and 84 per cent have received at least one dose.

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