COVID-19: Singapore confirms 2 new cases including female Filipino; total 108
SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (2 March) confirmed two new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Singapore.
Of these, one is linked to the cluster at Wizlearn Technologies.
Four more patients have been discharged from the hospital. This brings the total of those who have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged to 78.
Case 107 : Went to Jakarta last month
The 68 year-old Singaporean woman has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo but had been in Jakarta, Indonesia from 11 February to 14 February. She is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). She is linked to Case 94, a 64-year-old Singaporean woman.
She reported onset of symptoms on 16 February and had sought treatment at two general practitioner (GP) clinics on 20 February, 23 February and 25 February.
She presented at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on 27 February and was immediately isolated. Subsequent test results confirmed her COVID-19 infection on Sunday afternoon.
Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Bishan Street 13.
Case 108: Female Filipino national
The 34 year-old female Filipino national is a Singapore Work Pass holder who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. The case is linked to the Wizlearn Technologies cluster.
She is a foreign domestic worker employed by Case 101, a 61-year-old Singaporean man and works in the same household as Case 102, a 41-year-old Filipino. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Monday morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.
More details on Case 106, 54-year-old male Japanese national
The 54 year-old male Japanese national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo, or to Japan. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Changi General Hospital (CGH).
He is linked to the cluster at Wizlearn Technologies.
He reported onset of symptoms on 23 February and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on 24 February, 26 February and 28 February. He presented at CGH on 29 February, and was immediately isolated.
Subsequent test results confirmed his COVID-19 infection on Sunday morning.
Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work at WinTech Nano-Technology Services, which is located on the same floor as Wizlearn Technologies. He stays at Tampines Street 45.
6 in ICU; most remaining cases stable
Of the 30 confirmed cases who are still in hospital on Monday (2 March), most are stable or improving. Six are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
As of noon, the ministry MOH has identified 3,140 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 335 are currently quarantined, and 2,805 have completed their quarantine.
It reiterated its advice for Singaporeans to defer all travel to Hubei province, home to Wuhan where the virus originated, and all non-essential travel to mainland China.
In addition, the MOH advised members of the public to avoid non-essential travel to Daegu city and Cheongdo county in South Korea following a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the country.
It also reminded the public to continue to exercise caution when travelling to the rest of South Korea.
A total of 31 cases are linked to the The Life Church and Missions Singapore and the Grace Assembly of God.
Nine of the confirmed cases are linked to Yong Thai Hang.
Three of the confirmed cases are linked to the business meeting held at Grand Hyatt Singapore from 20 to 22 January.
Five of the confirmed cases are linked to the Seletar Aerospace Heights construction site.
13 of the confirmed cases are linked to Wizlearn Technologies.
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 69 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 2,900 people in China dead and sickened over 89,000 globally. Over 150 deaths related to the outbreak have been reported outside mainland China.
At 4,335 confirmed infections including 26 deaths, South Korea has the second-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases after mainland China. Italy has the third-highest number with 1,704 cases, including 41 deaths. Iran has the most deaths outside of China with 66.
The global tally also includes cruise ship Diamond Princess, moored off Japan, which accounted for 705 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.
Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
Related stories:
COVID-19: Singapore confirms 2 new cases, total at 98; new cluster of 4 cases
COVID-19: NS men can book IPPT again as FCCs resume operations
President, political office holders to take 1 month pay cut: DPM Heng
