Singapore reports 1,443 new COVID-19 cases; 3 more fatalities take national death toll to 76

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 1,443 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday (Sep 25), marking the fifth consecutive day new infections have exceeded the 1,000 mark. 

The 1,424 local infections, comprising 1,053 community cases and 371 dormitory residents, include 280 seniors above the age of 60.

There were also 19 imported cases, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in an update released to the media at about 11pm. 

MOH also announced three more fatalities, taking the national death toll to 76. 

There have been 21 deaths in September so far, a new monthly record. 

The first fatality is Case 71506, a 62-year-old Singaporean. The man tested positive for COVID-19 infection on Sep 6 and died from complications due to the disease on Saturday.

He had been partially vaccinated against COVID-19, and had a history of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. 

The second fatality, Case 72277, is a 71-year-old Singaporean who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sep 8. He died from complications due to the disease on Friday. 

MOH said he had been vaccinated against COVID-19, and had a history of atrial fibrillation, thyrotoxicosis and hyperlipidaemia which, together with his advanced age, made him more susceptible to severe illness.

The third fatality is Case 76462. The 71-year-old Singaporean died from complications due to COVID-19 infection on Saturday. She had tested positive on Sep 14. 

The Health Ministry said the woman had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, and had a history of diabetes, end stage renal failure, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 85,953 COVID-19 cases. 

CASES OF SERIOUS ILLNESS

There are 1,142 patients warded in hospital. Most of them are well and under observation, said MOH.

A total of 165 cases of serious illness require oxygen supplementation, and 27 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Among those who fell very ill are 158 seniors above the age of 60.

Over the last 28 days, 97.9 per cent of the local cases were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.

There were 326 cases who needed oxygen supplementation and 37 had been in the ICU. Of these, 52.9 per cent were fully vaccinated and 47.1 per cent were either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated.

NO NEW CLUSTERS REPORTED

MOH said it was currently "closely monitoring" seven large clusters with new cases. No new clusters were added to the list on Saturday. 

The existing cluster at Blue Stars Dormitory has grown to 243 after 24 more cases were linked to it. Four more cases were also linked to the Woodlands Dormitory cluster, which now has 68 cases. 

Both clusters were caused by intra-dormitory transmission among residents, with no evidence of spread beyond the dormitory, said MOH. 

There are also two pre-schools among the clusters - Maple Bear Preschool at Orchard Road and My Little Campus in Yishun with a total of 13 and 40 cases respectively. 

Both clusters involved transmission among staff members and students, MOH added. 

VACCINATIONS

MOH said 82 per cent of Singapore's population has completed their full vaccination regimen or received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while 84 per cent has received at least one dose as of Friday.

More than 9 million doses have been administered under the national vaccination programme covering about 4.59 million people, with 4.47 million having completed the full regimen of two doses.

Another 190,738 doses of other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organization's emergency use listing have been administered, covering 87,701 people.

SENIORS "STRONGLY DISCOURAGED" FROM ATTENDING RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES 

People who are 60 years old and above are "strongly discouraged" from attending or supporting religious activities in the next one month, even if they are vaccinated, said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth on Saturday afternoon. 

"Seniors should also take their vaccination booster shot if they are eligible," said the ministry in its updated guideline for activities in places of worship.

This comes a day after the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force announced the tightening of community safe management measures, including a two-person group limit for dining-in at F&B outlets. 

The tighter measures comes among a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, which is “of concern” and putting "serious strain" on hospital resources despite the shift to community and home care, said co-chair of the multi-ministry task force Gan Kim Yong on Friday.