88 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore, 67 linked to KTV and Jurong Fishery Port clusters
Jurong Fishery Port (left) and Tuberose KTV in Parklane Shopping Mall. (Images: Screengrab from Google Maps, Try Sutrisno Foo)
SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 88 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases as of noon on Sunday (Jul 18), with 67 infections linked to clusters in KTV lounges and Jurong Fishery Port.
Of the new cases, 42 were linked to the cluster at Jurong Fishery Port. Twenty-five cases were linked to the KTV cluster, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its update on Sunday night.
Thirty cases were linked to previous infections and had already been placed on quarantine, with another 48 detected through surveillance testing.
Ten cases were unlinked, added MOH on Sunday night.
Four of the cases were seniors above the age of 70 who were unvaccinated and were at risk of serious illness, the ministry said.
There were also four imported cases, who were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival. One of these infections were detected upon arrival in Singapore, while three developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation, said MOH.
In total, Singapore reported 92 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the highest daily total since Aug 28 last year, where 94 cases were reported.
Additional COVID-19 cases were reported among fishmongers working at Haig Road Market and Cooked Food Centre, Jurong Central Plaza and Shunfu Mart.
ONGOING TRANSMISSION AT KTV CLUBS/LOUNGES
MOH has identified likely ongoing transmission at the following KTV lounges and clubs:
- Maze Club (2 Aliwal Street)
- China Doll (1 Sophia Road)
- Club Myth (1 Coleman Street)
- Martell W Ktv Chivas (6 Foch Road)
All visitors to the affected premises were advised to monitor their health closely, and to minimise social interactions as far as possible, for 14 days from their date of visit or interaction.
They were encouraged to see a doctor immediately if they feel unwell.
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 325 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 31 cases in the past week.
The Health Ministry said there were 243 cases warded in hospital, with most well and under observation.
There were five cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and one in critical condition in the intensive care unit. None of these six cases was fully vaccinated, said MOH.
“There is continuing evidence that vaccination helps to prevent serious disease when one gets infected. Over the last 28 days, 11 local cases required oxygen supplementation, were admitted to ICU or passed away. Seven are unvaccinated, four are partially vaccinated and none was fully vaccinated,” added MOH.
UPDATES ON VACCINATION PROGRAMME
MOH also provided an update on the nation's vaccination programme. A total of 6,726,540, doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered under the national vaccination programme as of Jul 17. The total number of doses administered covers 4,136,551 people.
A total of 2,676,171 people have completed the full vaccination regimen, consisting of 86,182 recovered cases who received at least one dose and 2,589,989 who received their second dose.
UNVACCINATED SENIORS URGED TO STAY HOME
MOH on Sunday urged individuals, especially the elderly, who have yet to be vaccinated to "stay home as much as possible" and avoid going out for non-essential reasons.
The ministry also urged vaccinated people who have unvaccinated seniors at home to avoid crowds or "extensive social interactions" to minimise the risk of bringing COVID-19 home.
The multi-ministry task force will also limit group sizes at hawker centres, food courts, and coffee shops to two as a default from Monday.
Mandatory SafeEntry check-ins and fencing will be progressively implemented at markets where COVID-19 cases have been detected among stallholders or assistants.
FISHMONGER MARKET CLUSTERS
The authorities have been testing fishmongers at all markets, after a COVID-19 cluster was initially discovered at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre and Jurong Fishery Port. Test kits will also be distributed to the fishmongers so that they can monitor themselves, said MOH.
MOH on Sunday night said COVID-19 cases have been detected among fishmongers working in at least 16 markets across Singapore.
Clusters have been detected at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre and Chong Boon Market & Food Centre.
The cases and clusters involving markets and food centres are "likely seeded by fishmongers who visited Jurong Fishery Port to collect their stock and sell at the markets and food centres", said MOH.
READ: Fresh fish and seafood stalls ordered to stop operating; stallholders to undergo COVID-19 test
MOH and the National Environment Agency (NEA) also announced on Sunday that fresh fish and seafood stallholders at markets operated by the agency or its appointed operators were ordered to stop operations as a precautionary measure.
Affected stallholders will be asked to undergo mandatory COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at designated centres and self-isolate until they are confirmed to be negative. Those who test negative will be allowed to resume business immediately.
COVID-19 testing will also be conducted for all stallholders and stall assistants of market stalls and cooked food stalls at hawker centres and markets managed by NEA or its appointed operators.
As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 63,073 COVID-19 cases and 36 deaths from the disease.
BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
