Singapore reports 28th COVID-19 death, 4 new infections

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported four new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Monday (Oct 12) and recorded one more death, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). 

This brings the total new infections in Singapore to 57,880, with the number of fatalities at 28.

The 64-year-old male permanent resident is the first COVID-19 fatality in Singapore in almost three months. The last coronavirus-related death was reported on Jul 14.

The man, known as Case 57960, had a history of hypertension. He had been working in India since December last year and returned to Singapore on Sep 23, MOH said.

He was placed on stay-home notice when he arrived in Singapore.

The man was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Oct 4 and had an onset of symptoms on Sep 30. 

"Singapore General Hospital has reached out to his family and is extending assistance to them," the ministry said.

COMMUNITY CASE IS ONE-YEAR-OLD INFANT

Monday's case count includes one in the community, a one-year-old infant girl who is linked to previously confirmed cases, said MOH. 

The Indian national is a family member of two previously confirmed cases - Cases 57860 and 57933 - and had been placed on quarantine earlier.

All three cases had arrived in Singapore on Sep 16 and were placed on stay-home notice at a dedicated facility, said MOH.

Cases 57860 and 57933 subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on Sep 27 and Oct 1 respectively.

The infant was tested during quarantine to determine her status, even though she is asymptomatic.

PERMANENT RESIDENT AND WORK PASS HOLDER AMONG IMPORTED CASES

Two imported cases were also reported. They are a 26-year-old permanent resident who returned from the Philippines and a 29-year-old work pass holder who had travel history to India and the United Arab Emirates.

Both imported cases had been placed on stay-home notice upon their arrival in Singapore.

The remaining case lives in a dormitory, and had been identified as a contact of previous cases. He was tested during quarantine to determine his status.

Epidemiological investigations into the cases are in progress, said MOH. All the identified close contacts of the cases have also been isolated and placed on quarantine, and will be tested at the start and end of their quarantine period.

"We will also conduct serological tests for the close contacts to determine if the cases could have been infected by them," said the ministry.

Overall, the number of new cases in the community has decreased from an average of one case per day in the week before, to an average of fewer than one per day in the past week.

The number of unlinked cases in the community has also decreased from an average of fewer than one case per day in the week before, to none in the past week.

"We will continue to closely monitor these numbers, as well as the cases detected through our surveillance programme," said MOH.

CLUSTER AT 9 SUNGEI KADUT AVENUE DORMITORY CLOSED

There have been no more cases linked to the dormitory at 9 Sungei Kadut Avenue for the past two incubation periods (28 days) said MOH, adding that the cluster has now been closed.

One additional case is linked to the cluster at Tuas South Dormitory at 1 Tuas South Street 12, which has a total of 37 confirmed COVID-19 cases now, said the ministry.

Twenty-three more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities.

In all, 57,728 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospitals or community care facilities.

There are currently 48 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, said MOH. Of these, most are stable or improving, and none is in the intensive care unit.

Seventy-six cases are isolated and cared for at community facilities. These are cases who have mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19.

READ: 233 swab samples 'accidentally discarded' before COVID-19 testing due to 'compliance lapses' at Quest Laboratories

BORDER MEASURES TIGHTENED FOR SOME COUNTRIES

From Wednesday, all travellers to Singapore with travel history to Sabah in the past 14 days will be required to serve a 14-day stay-home notice at dedicated facilities.

The requirement applies to all travellers entering Singapore from 11.59pm on Oct 14.

This follows a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Sabah, said MOH in its statement about the measures on Monday afternoon.

"We are monitoring the situation across other states and federal territories closely, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya. For now, travellers from all other parts of Malaysia (except Sabah), will continue to serve a seven-day stay-home notice at their place of residence," the ministry said.

READ: Stricter COVID-19 requirements for travellers from Sabah, Indonesia and Philippines; rules for Hong Kong eased​​​​​​​

In addition, from 11.59pm on Oct 19, travellers from Indonesia and the Philippines who are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents will need to show a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result as a condition of approval to enter or transfer through Singapore.

As for travellers from Hong Kong, border measures will ease from Wednesday, as they will be allowed to serve a reduced seven-day stay-home notice at their place of residence.

This follows Hong Kong's addition to a list of low-risk countries and regions for COVID-19, MOH said.

SINGAPORE, INDONESIA TO LAUNCH GREEN LANE

Singapore and Indonesia have agreed to set up a reciprocal green lane (RGL) for essential business and official travel between both countries.

Applications for the RGL will open on Oct 26 and travel will start soon after, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier on Monday. 

Indonesian citizens, as well as Singapore citizens and residents, are eligible to apply for the RGL. 

READ: Singapore, Indonesia agree to launch green lane for essential business and official travellers

Travellers will have to abide by COVID-19 prevention measures agreed by both countries, including pre-departure and post-arrival swab tests at health institutions recognised by both countries.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said at a press conference that the country will have two points of entry for the RGL: Batam's ferry terminal and Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

The two entry points for Singapore will be Tanah Merah ferry terminal and Changi Airport. 

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