60 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore, Chong Boon market closed for 2 weeks
Chong Boon Market & Food Centre. (Photo: Google Street View)
SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 60 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday (Jul 17), of which 29 belonged to the KTV cluster.
There are now a total of 148 cases linked to the KTV cluster.
Of the 60 new cases, 33 were linked to previous cases and were already in quarantine, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.
Twenty-five cases were linked to previous infections and were detected through surveillance testing.
Two cases were unlinked, added MOH.
There were also eight imported cases, who were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival. One of these infections was detected upon arrival in Singapore, while seven developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation, said MOH.
In total, Singapore reported 68 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday.
CHONG BOON MARKET CLOSED FOR 2 WEEKS
MOH has uncovered clusters involving markets and food centres.
According to the ministry, the clusters are likely seeded by fishmongers who visited the Jurong Fishery Port to collect their stock and sell at the markets.
Two cases who work in or visited Chong Boon Market & Food Centre (453A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10) are now being investigated, with three more cases pending confirmation.
"To break the chain of transmission and enable deep cleaning of the premises, Chong Boon Market & Food Centre will be closed to all members of the public from Jul 18 to Aug 1," said MOH.
All individuals who work in the market and food centre will be placed on quarantine, and tested during quarantine.
Cases have also been detected amongst fishmongers working in at least 11 markets.
As such, the ministry is conducting aggressive contact tracing, quarantine and testing to ringfence the cases and prevent further spread.
READ: COVID-19 cases detected among fishmongers in at least 11 markets
ONGOING TRANSMISSION AT KTV CLUBS/LOUNGES
MOH has identified likely ongoing transmission at the following KTV lounges and clubs:
- Quinn KTV (207A Syed Alwi Road)
- Club AURA (442 Orchard Road)
- Club Ion (271 Bukit Timah Road)
- Icon II (35 Selegie Road)
- Club Lucky Thai (5001 Beach Road)
- M. Sakhon (5001 Beach Road).
All visitors to the affected premises are advised to monitor their health closely, and minimise social interactions as far as possible, for 14 days from their date of visit or interaction.
They are encouraged to see a doctor immediately if they feel unwell.
3 NEW CLUSTERS
Three new clusters have been identified, said MOH.
The clusters, with a total of three cases each, are linked to Case 64782, Case 64850, and PSC Express, a sea cargo company.
Details of the individual cases were not provided.
In total, there are currently 29 active clusters, ranging between 3 and 148 infections.
INCREASE IN COMMUNITY CASES
MOH said the overall number of new cases in the community has increased from 17 cases in the week before to 239 cases in the past week.
"We are likely to see rising cases in the coming days as we step up efforts to detect them to contain their spread in the community," it said.
The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from eight cases in the week before to 22 cases in the past week.
The Health Ministry said there are currently 196 cases warded in hospital, with most well and under observation.
There are currently five cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and one in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
“There is continuing evidence that vaccination helps to prevent serious disease when one gets infected. Over the last 28 days, 14 local cases required oxygen supplementation, were admitted to ICU or passed away. Ten are unvaccinated, four are partially vaccinated and none was fully vaccinated,” added MOH.
READ: Some disappointed, some aggrieved: Pivoted nightlife venues cope with two-week suspension
TIGHTENED COVID-19 RULES AMID GROWING KTV CLUSTER
From Monday, dining-in at food and beverage establishments will be reduced to groups of two for people who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who are fully vaccinated can continue to dine-in in groups of five.
This, and other tightened measures for higher-risk indoor, mask-off settings will be in effect from Jul 19 to Aug 8.
READ: COVID-19: Dining-in group size back to 2; groups of 5 only if all fully vaccinated
MOH also announced that all nightlife establishments that had pivoted to operating as F&B outlets will have to suspend business for two weeks from Friday.
These new measures come amid the growing KTV cluster. Co-chair of COVID-19 multi ministry task force Gan Kim Yong said on Friday the KTV cluster was a "major setback" in Singapore's journey to recovery.
As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 62,981 COVID-19 cases.
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