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COVID-19: Singapore confirmed six new cases, three from SAFRA Jurong cluster

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (10 March) confirmed six new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Singapore, bringing the total to 166.

Of the new cases, three are part of the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong on 15 February, two are linked to a previous case; and one is currently unlinked.

The total number of those who have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged remains at 93, more than half of the total confirmed cases.

Cases 161, 164, 166: Linked with SAFRA Jurong cluster

Case 161 is a 73-year-old male Singaporean who is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). He is a family member of Case 107 (a 68-year-old female Singaporean), and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

He reported onset of symptoms on 27 February. As he had been identified as a contact of Case 107, he was referred by MOH to NCID on 1 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday afternoon. He stays at Bishan Street 13.

Case 164 is a 57-year-old female permanent resident who was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Tuesday morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

She is a contact of Case 134 (a 56-year-old female Singaporean) and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

Case 166 is a 55-year-old female Singaporean who was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Tuesday morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH). She is also a contact of Case 134, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

Cases 162, 163: Linked with Case 142

Case 162 is a 28-year-old male Singaporean who had been in Indonesia from 29 February to 2 March. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is linked to Case 142, a 26-year-old male Singaporean.

He reported onset of symptoms on Saturday. As he had been identified as a contact of Case 142, he was referred by MOH to NCID on Monday. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday afternoon.

Prior to hospital admission, he had visited a shop at Jalan Membina. He stays at Kim Tian Road.

Case 163 is a 27-year-old female Singaporean who is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is also linked to Case 142.

She reported onset of symptoms on Sunday. As she had been identified as a contact of Case 142, she was referred by MOH to NCID on Mondy. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday afternoon.

Prior to hospital admission, she had visited Funan Mall and PUB Recreation Club. She stays at Redhill Road.

Case 165: Travel history in France

Case 165 is a 30-year-old male Singaporean who had been in France from 15 February to 7 March.

He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Tuesday morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

Updates on previous reported cases 154-160

Case 154 is an imported case involving a 52-year-old male British national. He had been in Switzerland from 26 February to 28 February and in Britain from 29 February to 5 March. He arrived in Singapore on 6 March.

He reported onset of symptoms on Sunday and presented at Raffles Hospital on the same day and was referred to NCID. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday morning and he is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. Prior to hospitalisation, he mostly stayed at his room in Raffles Hotel.

Case 155, a 47-year-old female Malaysian national who is a Singapore work pass holder, reported onset of symptoms on 4 March 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 128, she was referred by MOH to NCID on Sunday. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday morning. Prior to hospital admission, she mostly stayed at home at Boon Lay Place.

Case 156, a 50-year-old female Singapore permanent resident, reported onset of symptoms on 7 March and was conveyed by ambulance to NCID on Sunday. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday morning. Prior to hospital admission, she mostly stayed at her home at Jurong West Street 74.

Case 157, a 54-year-old female Singapore permanent resident, reported onset of symptoms on Sunday. As she had been identified as a close contact of Case 137, she was referred by MOH to NCID on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday morning. Prior to hospital admission, she mostly stayed at her home at Jurong West Street 81.

Case 158, a 53-year-old female Singaporean, reported onset of symptoms on 5 March. She presented at NTFGH on Sunday, and subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday morning. Prior to hospital admission, she had sought treatment at Farrer Park Hospital for an unrelated condition. She stays at Pending Road.

Case 159, a 59-year-old male Singaporean who is a family member of Case 158, also reported onset of symptoms on 5 March. He presented at NTFGH on Sunday, and subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday morning. Prior to hospital admission, he had also gone to Farrer Park Hospital with Case 158 for an unrelated matter. He stays at Pending Road.

Case 160, a five-year-old male Singaporean, reported onset of symptoms on 7 March. As he had been identified as a contact of Case 145, he was referred by MOH to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. on Sunday. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Monday morning.

He stays at Teck Whye Lane and is a student at The Orange Tree Preschool@Choa Chu Kang. However, he had not gone to his pre-school since onset of symptoms.

12 in ICU; most remaining cases stable

On Wednesday, MOH said that most of the 73 remaining patients in the hospital are stable or improving. Twelve remain in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

As of noon, the ministry has identified 4,004 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 872 are currently quarantined, and 3,132 have completed their quarantine.

MOH advises Singaporeans to defer all travel to Hubei province, home to Wuhan where the virus originated, and all non-essential travel to mainland China, South Korea, northern Italy, Iran and Japan.

COVID-19’s death toll surpasses SARS epidemic

The novel strain belongs to the same family of coronaviruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people globally during a 2002-2003 outbreak and also started in China.

It likely originated from Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Market, where live animals or products – such as foxes, wolf puppies, giant salamanders, snakes, porcupines, and camel meat – are sold.

Declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 has spread to 114 territories beyond mainland China. The WHO also said that cases being transmitted by people who have never travelled to China could be the "tip of the iceberg".

To date, the virus has left more than 3,100 people in China dead and sickened over 114,000 globally. A total of 895 deaths related to the outbreak have been reported outside mainland China.

At 9,172 confirmed infections including 463 deaths, Italy has the second-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases after mainland China, as well as the most deaths outside mainland China.

South Korea has the third-highest number with 7,513 cases (54 deaths), while Iran has the fourth highest number with 7,161 cases (237 deaths).

The global tally also includes cruise ship Diamond Princess, moored off Japan, which accounted for 696 cases, including seven related deaths so far. Five Singaporeans who were on board the quarantined cruise ship have been allowed to disembark it.

Patients suffering from the new strain may exhibit fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness – such as coughing or difficulty in breathing – as well as pneumonia-like symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat, and headache.

However, some who have died from it have not displayed symptoms of fever, according to details released by China’s National Health Commission, potentially complicating global efforts to check for infected travellers as they arrive at airports and other travel hubs.

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