S'pore records 960 new COVID cases as infection growth rate further drops to 1.43

SINGAPORE — Singapore's weekly COVID-19 infection growth rate on Thursday (13 January) dropped to 1.43 from 1.6 a day before, as the city-state records 960 new cases.

This comes two days after Singapore recorded its first dip in the rate – the ratio of community cases for the past week over the week before – since 24 December last year.

Of the 960 new cases, 481 are local infections. This brings the country's total case count to 289,085.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) also confirmed 549 more Omicron cases among past reported infections, of whom 67 per cent – or 366 – are local.

No COVID-19 related deaths were recorded on Thursday. A total of 839 people have succumbed to the disease here.

A total of 850 cases were discharged, while 172 remain warded. Of those still hospitalised, 14 require oxygen supplementation, while nine are in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The MOH did not provide Thursday's overall ICU utilisation rate. Over the last 28 days, of the 7,239 infected individuals, 99.1 per cent had no or mild symptoms.

As of Wednesday, the total number of individuals who have completed their full regimen or received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines is 91 per cent of the eligible population.

Among the total population, 87 per cent have done so, while 89 per cent have received at least one dose, and 49 per cent have received their booster shots.

More than 5,000 children aged five to six have also been registered by their parents or guardians for COVID-19 vaccination as of Wednesday.

Singapore's vaccination drive for children aged five to 11 began on 27 December. The programme will be open to over 300,000 children here, who are Singaporeans, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders.

Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine approved for the age group.

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