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Singapore

Migrant worker who tested positive for COVID-19 completed vaccination

Migrant worker who tested positive for COVID-19 completed vaccination

The majority of Singapore's COVID-19 cases have been among migrant workers living in dormitories. (File photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: The sole dormitory case in Singapore on Sunday (Apr 11) had completed the full COVID-19 vaccination regimen and the case is a reminder that "it is possible for vaccinated individuals to get infected", said MOH. 

The 23-year-old man from India, identified as Case 61822, is a lashing specialist employed by Seafront Support Company. He resides in a dormitory located at Brani Terminal Avenue.

The man, who is asymptomatic, was detected when he was tested on Apr 7 as part of rostered routine testing. The man's pooled rostered routine testing result came back positive for COVID-19 on Apr 8 and he was immediately isolated, said MOH.

An individual test was done on Apr 9 and it came back positive the following day. He was taken to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases by ambulance.

"His serology test result has come back positive but we have assessed that this is likely a current infection," said MOH. 

The man received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Jan 25 and the second dose on Feb 17. 

READ: 1 dormitory resident among 20 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore; first such case in 6 weeks

"This likely accounts for his lack of symptoms, and positive serology test as he has produced antibodies following the vaccination," said the ministry. 

"This case is a reminder that it is possible for vaccinated individuals to get infected. But the vaccine is effective in preventing symptomatic disease for the vast majority of those vaccinated."

The man's earlier tests from the rostered routine testing - the last being on Mar 24 - were all negative for COVID-19. 

"WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LET OUR GUARD DOWN"

MOH added that further research is required to determine if vaccination will prevent onward transmission of the infection.

"That is why we cannot afford to let our guard down," MOH said. "Our existing key enablers – safe management measures, testing, and contact tracing – continue to be necessary and effective in helping us to mitigate spread and keep community transmission low."

Epidemiological investigations are underway, while all identified close contacts of the man have been isolated and placed on quarantine.

They will be tested at the start and end of their quarantine period to detect any asymptomatic cases, said MOH. 

"We will also conduct serological tests for the close contacts to determine if the case could have been infected by them," added the Health Ministry.

The work permit holder is the first COVID-19 infection reported in a foreign worker dormitory in six weeks - the last such case was reported on Feb 28.

The dormitory resident is the only locally transmitted case among 20 new infections reported on Sunday. The remaining 19 cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.

The Singapore Flyer and Time Capsule at 30 Raffles Avenue was added to the list of places visited by COVID-19 cases during their infectious period.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,653 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities.




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Source: CNA/kg/ec

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