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COVID-19: S'pore confirms 158 new cases – including nine in the community – and one unrelated death

SINGAPORE - JULY 07:  People shop for pants on sale without observing social distancing on July 7, 2020 in Singapore. As of July 7, Singapore reported 157 of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, seeing an increase in the average number of COVID-19 infections within the community after the country lifted its partial lockdown. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 45,140. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
People shopping in groups in Singapore. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed 158 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (8 July), bringing the total to 45,298, as well as an additional death of a patient with the infection.

The 69-year-old Singaporean man, Case 45227, was confirmed to have COVID-19 on the same day of his death on Tuesday. The preliminary cause of death is cardiorespiratory failure, pending further investigations by the coroner.

The man had been found unresponsive at his place of residence and was conveyed to Sengkang General Hospital’s emergency department on Tuesday. He had a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, hypothyroidism, and chronic kidney disease.

The ministry also announced an additional cluster of nine cases linked to a dormitory at 12 Kian Teck Crescent.

Of the new cases, nine are classified as cases in the community. Three others are imported cases, while the remaining are foreign workers living in dorms.

Overall, 96 per cent are linked to known clusters, while the rest are pending contact tracing.

Of the nine cases in the community, three are linked to previous cases or clusters. Of these, two (Cases 45250 and 45307) had been identified as contacts of previously confirmed cases, and had been tested during their quarantine to determine their status. The remaining case (Case 45288) is asymptomatic, and was detected as a result of our proactive screening of workers in essential services.

Of the six community cases which are currently unlinked, three cases (Cases 45290, 45289 and 45291) were tested as they work in essential services, even though they are asymptomatic.

The remaining three (Cases 45183, 45227 and 45242) were swabbed under the community testing to test all individuals aged 13 and above who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection at first presentation to a doctor. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing for these cases.

The number of new cases in the community has increased, from an average of eight cases per day in the week before, to an average of 14 per day in the past week. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from an average of four cases per day in the week before, to an average of six per day in the past week.

Amongst the three imported cases, two (Cases 45196 and 45197) are Indian nationals who are Dependant’s Pass holders, and have returned to Singapore from India on 26 June. The remaining case (Case 45241) is a Singaporean who returned to Singapore from the Philippines on 26 June. All of them had been placed on 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore, and had been tested while serving their SHN.

The following dormitories have been cleared, and now house only recovered individuals and those who have recently tested negative for COVID-19 infection. As such, the clusters have now been closed.

  •  10 Tuas South Street 12;

  •  109 Ubi Avenue 4;

  •  11 Defu Lane 1;

  •  12 Kwong Min Road;

  •  18 Woodlands Industrial Park E1;

  •  55 Genting Lane; and

  •  6 Tuas View Square.

The Ministry of Manpower said in a media release that 384 more dormitories have been cleared of COVID-19 with effect from Tuesday.

These comprise one purpose-built dormitory, 345 factory-converted dormitories and 38 construction temporary quarters. In addition, 23 blocks for recovered workers in 5 purpose-built dormitories have been cleared.

This takes the total number to 625 dormitories and 44 blocks for recovered workers in 17 purpose-built dormitories cleared of COVID-19.

Over 90% have fully recovered

With 321 more patients discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities on Wednesday, 41,323 cases – over 90 per cent of the total tally – have fully recovered from the infection.

Most of the 215 hospitalised cases are stable or improving, while one is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

A total of 3,734 patients with mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

Apart from 26 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 13 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes.

“Only cases where the attending doctor or pathologist attributes the primary or underlying cause of death as due to COVID-19 infection will be added to the COVID-19 death count,” said the MOH in previous press releases, adding that the method of assessment is consistent with international practices for classifying deaths.

As of 29 June, the ministry has conducted 757,746 swab tests, of which 414,396 were done on unique individuals. This translates to around 132,900 swabs conducted per 1 million total population, and about 72,700 unique individuals swabbed per 1 million total population.

Singapore entered Phase 2 of its reopening – with various safe distancing measures still in place – on 19 June. This phase is expected to last up to six months or longer, according to authorities.

Singapore’s General Election will take place on 10 July during this phase.

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