2 new COVID-19 clusters at Bukit Merah View; FairPrice staff at Bukit Merah Central outlet to be tested

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 13 new COVID-19 cases in the community on Monday (Jun 21), as well as one death.

Three of the community infections were not linked to previous cases. Among the 10 that were, five were already in quarantine and five were detected through surveillance testing.

MOH also reported one death - the 35th fatality in Singapore linked to COVID-19. The 44-year-old man had not been vaccinated against the coronavirus and had a history of diabetes mellitus. 

READ: 44-year-old man with history of diabetes dies from COVID-19 complications, Singapore’s death toll now 35

TWO NEW CLUSTERS AT BUKIT MERAH VIEW

Two new clusters were identified at 119 Bukit Merah View and 121 Bukit Merah View. 

The 119 Bukit Merah View cluster involved two of the new community cases. They were a 63-year-old man employed by CSP Maintenance as a cleaner at Enabling Village at 20 Lengkok Bahru, and a 62-year-old homemaker. 

Both were detected through community surveillance testing for residents of the Bukit Merah View area, said MOH.

There were a total of five cases in this cluster as of Monday.

The 121 Bukit Merah View cluster comprised three previously reported cases that were now linked - Cases 64330, 64342 and 64345. All are retirees aged 86, 83 and 80 respectively.

Case 64330's infection was detected through community surveillance testing for visitors to 115 and 116 Bukit Merah View. Her infection was confirmed on Jun 18.

Cases 64342 developed a fever and cough on Jun 16 and sought medical treatment on Jun 18, when she was taken to the National University Hospital and tested positive for COVID-19 the next day.

Case 64345 was taken to the Singapore General Hospital for an unrelated condition on Jun 19 and found to have a fever. She tested positive for COVID-19 the same day.

115 BUKIT MERAH VIEW CLUSTER GROWS

Five more cases were linked to 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre, bringing the total cases in the cluster to 78.

The new cases included a 37-year-old chef at Holiday Inn Atrium who is also a part-time delivery driver for Lalamove Singapore, a 23-year-old stall assistant at Tiong Bahru Yong Tao Hu on Eng Hoon Street, a 71-year-old retiree and a 57-year-old woman who is unemployed.

These cases were contacts of previously confirmed cases and were already quarantined, said MOH.

Another case involving a 75-year-old retiree was detected through surveillance testing.

TESTING FOR BUKIT MERAH CENTRAL FAIRPRICE OUTLET

MOH said it was investigating cases of COVID-19 among people who had visited the NTUC FairPrice at 166 Bukit Merah Central.

"In order to disrupt any wider, undetected community transmission, we will conduct special testing operations for all staff who have been working at the premise," said the ministry.

Free COVID-19 testing will also be offered to members of the public who visited the supermarket between Jun 3 and Jun 21.

All visitors during the specified dates should monitor their health closely and minimise social interactions as far as possible, for 14 days from the date of their visit, said MOH. They were also encouraged to see a doctor immediately if they felt unwell.

READ: Residents of 7 HDB blocks in Redhill to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing

UNLINKED CASES

The three unlinked cases in the community included a 33-year-old nurse at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital who was not involved in direct patient care, said MOH. She was last at work on Jun 17.

The nurse was fully vaccinated. She developed a sore throat and runny nose on Jun 18, and sought treatment at a general practitioner clinic the next day.

An antigen rapid test (ART) she underwent at the clinic came back negative. Her polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result came back positive on Jun 20. Her serology test result was pending.

The second unlinked case was a 38-year-old foreign domestic worker who developed a fever, cough and sore throat on Jun 18, and sought treatment on Jun 20.

She was immediately isolated when her ART result came back positive. Her PCR test result also came back positive on Jun 20. Her serology test result was pending.

The third unlinked case was a 29-year-old delivery rider with FoodPanda. He developed a fever and headache on Jun 20, and sought treatment at a general practitioner clinic on the same day.

He was immediately isolated when the ART he took at the clinic came back positive. His PCR test result also came back positive on Jun 21. His serology test result was pending.

OTHER LINKED CASES

Two of the linked cases were associated with the Case 64264 cluster.

A 28-year-old sales representative at Top Employment in Katong Shopping Centre was identified as a contact of a previously confirmed case and placed on quarantine, when she tested positive.

A 26-year-old marketing executive at Central Recruitment Solutions developed a fever, sore throat and runny nose on Jun 18 but did not seek medical attention.

As she had been identified as a contact of an earlier case, she was placed on phone surveillance on Jun 19 and reported her symptoms. She tested positive for COVID-19 the next day.

The remaining linked case was a 47-year-old foreign domestic worker who was a close contact of a previously confirmed case. She developed a fever, sore throat and headache, sought treatment at a general practitioner clinic and tested positive for COVID-19.

MORE LOCATIONS VISITED BY COMMUNITY CASES

Katong Shopping Centre, where two of the new cases worked, appeared multiple times on MOH's list of public places visited by community cases during their infectious period.

Equilibrium Mixed Martial Arts at *SCAPE, a Livewire betting venue at China Square and two supermarkets were also among new locations added to the list.

The full list of new locations is as follows: