124 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore; Boon Lay Bus Interchange among 2 new clusters

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 124 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections as of noon on Sunday (Aug 29), including a new cluster linked to staff members at Boon Lay Bus Interchange and another at a dormitory in Pioneer.

There are now seven active COVID-19 clusters involving staff at bus interchanges.

The cluster at Boon Lay Bus Interchange now has 15 cases, while the dormitory cluster at 119 Neythal Road in Pioneer has four infections. 

Of Sunday's cases, another 21 infections were linked to the Bugis Junction cluster, which now has a total 198 cases.

Of the remaining 103 locally transmitted infections, 37 were linked to previous cases and had been placed in quarantine, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Another 32 linked cases were detected through surveillance testing. 

Thirty-four infections were currently unlinked, added the ministry. 

Among the new cases, one is above the age of 70 and is partially vaccinated and at risk of serious illness, said MOH.

There were also nine imported cases, who were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival. 

In total, Singapore reported 133 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.

BUS INTERCHANGE CLUSTERS GROW

Previously identified COVID-19 clusters involving staff at four bus interchanges grew on Sunday.

Seventeen cases were added to the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange staff cluster, bringing its total to 51 infections.

Six new cases were identified in Clementi Bus Interchange staff cluster, taking its tally to 14 infections.

Four cases were added to the Jurong East Bus Interchange staff cluster, bringing its total to 21 infections.

Three cases were also added to the Punggol Bus Interchange staff cluster, leaving it at 25 infections.

One cluster was closed on Sunday. There are currently 67 active clusters in Singapore, ranging in size from three to 1,155 infections.

SIX IN CRITICAL CONDITION

A total of 414 cases were warded in hospital. There were six cases in critical condition in the intensive care unit and 14 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation.

Of those who have fallen very ill, 14 people were above the age of 60, of whom nine were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, said MOH.

"There is continuing evidence that almost all fully-vaccinated individuals do not suffer serious disease when infected, unless if they had underlying medical conditions that made them more susceptible," the Health Ministry added.

Over the last 28 days, the percentage of unvaccinated who became severely ill or died is 9.2 per cent, while that for the fully vaccinated was 1.3 per cent.

Overall, the number of new cases in the community has increased from 240 cases in the week before to 634 cases in the past week.

The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from 86 cases in the week before to 152 cases in the past week.

VACCINATION MILESTONE 

Eighty per cent of Singapore’s population have received their full COVID-19 vaccination regimen of two doses, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.

Crossing this milestone means Singapore has taken another step forward in making itself more resilient to COVID-19, he said in a Facebook post on Sunday. 

Mr Ong also said that home vaccination efforts are continuing quickly, with more than 4,300 homebound individuals having received their jab. 

As the Health Ministry continues to receive about 700 requests for home vaccinations each week, it has tripled the number of home vaccination teams from 11 to 33 teams to meet the demand, Mr Ong added. 

MOH aims to complete all home vaccinations by the end of September.

More than 8.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme, with more than 4.3 million people having completed the full vaccination regimen as of Saturday.

In addition, 165,981 doses of other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organization’s emergency use listing have been administered as of Saturday, covering 85,5577 people.

In total, 80 per cent of Singapore's population has completed the full regimen or received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, while 83 per cent has received at least one dose.

Singapore has reported a total of 67,304 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday and 55 deaths from the disease.