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Of 172 new COVID cases in S'pore, 136 linked to Jurong Fishery Port and KTV clusters

Healthcare workers wait to assist residents for their mandatory coronavirus disease (COVID-19) swab tests after some residents were tested positive for the virus, at a public housing estate in Singapore May 21, 2021. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Healthcare workers wait to assist with swab tests on 21 May, 2021. (PHOTO: Reuters)

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (19 July) confirmed 172 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, taking the country's total case count to 63,245.

This marks the highest number of daily cases reported this year in the city-state.

Of them, 163 are local transmissions, of whom 116 are linked to the fast-growing Jurong Fishery port cluster and 20 are part of the KTV lounges/club cluster. This brings the total number of cases linked to each cluster to 179 and 193, respectively.

The two clusters, both the largest and second-largest reported in Singapore's community to date, are among the 28 active COVID-19 clusters in Singapore. The MOH on Tuesday also announced the closure of the cluster at 121 Bukit Merah View, which was linked to five cases.

Of the remaining community cases that are linked, seven were added to the "Case 64697" cluster – now linked to 44 infections – and one was added to the "Case 64752" cluster linked to seven infections.

Separately, seventeen local cases are currently unlinked. Among them is one senior above 70 years who is unvaccinated and is at risk of serious illness.

The nine remaining cases are imported, of whom four were detected upon their arrival here, while five developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation period.

Shortly before Monday's daily case update, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on a Facebook post said that the two COVID-19 clusters at the KTV lounges and the Jurong Fishery Port are linked.

He did not specify how the clusters were linked but noted that ongoing phylogenetic studies conducted by scientists revealed that the cases in them "genetically differ from the Delta variant that infected Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Changi Airport".

Rather, they are closer to what has been detected in imported cases from Indonesia, Ong added.

10 more markets with cases; 2 more KTV outlets with 'likely ongoing transmission'

The MOH on Monday said that cases have also been detected among fishmongers working at 10 other markets. They are:

  • Albert Centre Market & Food Centre

  • Ang Mo Kio Central Market & Food Centre

  • 630 Bedok Reservoir Road Market & Food Centre

  • 497 Jurong West Street 41 Market

  • 505 Jurong West Street 52 Market

  • Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre

  • Mayflower Wet Market & Food Centre

  • Teck Ghee Market & Food Centre

  • 146 Teck Whye Avenue Market

  • Tekka Centre

This is in addition to 16 others – including Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, Chong Boon Market & Food Centre, Haig Road Market & Cooked Food Centre, Jurong Central Plaza, and Shunfu Mart – announced over the weekend.

The MOH added that epidemiological investigations into the KTV cluster found that there is "likely ongoing transmission"of COVID-19 at Dynasty Classic KTV at 1 Sophia Road and True Love at 211 Geylang Road.

The addition means that there is likely ongoing transmission of COVID-19 at at least 21 such premises.

The ministry also noted that the number of new cases in the community has increased from 19 in the week before to 480 in the past week. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from eifhr cases in the week before to 45 cases in the past week.

It added that the seven-day moving average number of all linked community cases and all unlinked community cases are 62.1 and 6.4 respectively.

5 require oxygen supplementation; 1 in ICU

Over 62,532 cases in Singapore, or over 99 per cent of the total tally, have fully recovered from their infection and have been discharged from the hospital.

As of Monday, 289 cases are currently warded, most of whom are well and under observation.

There are currently five cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, with one is in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU). All six are aged above 60 years old and none of them are fully vaccinated.

Apart from the 36 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, 12 local cases required oxygen supplementation, were admitted to the ICU, or passed away. Of them, eight are unvaccinated, four are partially vaccinated and none are fully vaccinated.

As of Sunday, 6.79 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme. Some 4.15 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Of some 2.75 million who have completed the full vaccination regimen, 106,238 are individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and have received at least one dose while the remaining are those who have received two doses.

The MOH guidelines state that recovered individuals – who are likely to have a strong immune response against COVID-19 within the first six months after their infection – are recommended to receive a single dose of vaccine to further boost their immunity against the disease.

Those who have received the Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine locally are not included in Singapore's national vaccination numbers. As of 3 July, 17,296 people here have received one dose of the Chinese-made vaccine.

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