6 cases found in Covid-19 surveillance testing at 4 HDB blocks

SINGAPORE — A total of six Covid-19 cases were detected during mandatory testing for residents at four public housing blocks, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday (Aug 9).

In an update, MOH said that it had concluded testing operations at these Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks:

• Block 556 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 

• Block 237 Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 

• Block 51 Chin Swee Road

• Block 683 Tessensohn Road

 Compulsory testing of all residents there were done to investigate likely coronavirus transmission within the blocks after several cases were detected. 

In each of the blocks, several residents across different households were found to be infected, prompting the probe.

Block 556 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10

A testing operation was first held at the block on Aug 1. A total of 532 people were tested and 11 cases were found. 

A second round of testing was called to detect those who may have been incubating the virus during the earlier round.

After the latest round, which was held on Sunday, two people tested positive for Covid-19 while 472 others tested negative. 

Testing at the three other blocks was conducted on Saturday. 

Block 237 Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 

One person was found to have Covid-19 while 46 others tested negative. 

Block 51 Chin Swee Road

Three people were found to have Covid-19 while 507 others tested negative. 

Block 683 Tessensohn Road

All 452 who were tested did not have Covid-19. 

Earlier on Monday, MOH preliminarily confirmed 72 new Covid-19 cases, three of which were imported. 

The total number of Covid-19 cases in Singapore is now 65,836.