Wuhan coronavirus: Second infected S'porean among 2 new cases, no evidence of community spread, says MOH
The second Singaporean to be infected was found to have a fever upon arrival at Changi Airport and was conveyed to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (pictured), said MOH.
SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (Feb 1) confirmed two additional imported cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, bringing the total to 18 cases.
Both cases have recent travel history to Wuhan and there is currently no evidence of community spread in Singapore, MOH added.
"The two new cases are stable currently, and we are continuing to monitor their health. As for the 16 previously announced cases, none is critically ill. All of them remain in stable condition, and most are improving," MOH said in a statement.
The 17th case is a 47 year-old female Singaporean who travelled to Wuhan.
"She was one of the Singaporeans evacuated from Wuhan on Jan 30, and arrived in Singapore on the same day. She was asymptomatic when she boarded the flight," MOH said.
"Upon arrival at Changi Airport, she was found to have a fever during medical screening, and was conveyed to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID)."
The woman then tested positive for Wuhan coronavirus infection on Jan 31 at about 11pm. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.
She is the second Singaporean to test postive for the virus.
MOH had announced on Friday that another 47-year-old Singaporean woman was the 15th confirmed case here. She was also one of the 92 Singaporeans evacuated via a Scoot flight from Wuhan on Thursday and had tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday at about 2pm and is warded in an isolation room at NCID.
The 18th case is a 31-year-old female Chinese national who arrived in Singapore from Wuhan on Jan 22.
She tested positive for infection on Feb 1 at about 2pm and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.
MOH said that it has initiated epidemiological investigations and contact tracing to identify individuals who had close contact with the cases.
In an update on the 16th confirmed case, which was announced on Jan 31, MOH said the 38-year-old male Chinese national arrived in Singapore from Wuhan on Jan 22.
He is currently warded in an isolation room at the Singapore General Hospital. The man reported that he was asymptomatic during his flight to Singapore and subsequently developed symptoms on Jan 23.
He reported that he had stayed at his home at Nathan Road until Jan 29, when he took a taxi to SGH. He was classified as a suspect case and immediately isolated.
Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on Jan 31 at about 2pm, MOH said.
Singapore on Friday announced that it will widen travel restrictions to include all new visitors with recent travel history to China.
China also said it will send charter planes to bring home citizens from Hubei who are overseas "as soon as possible".
The announcement came as a number of airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Scoot, announced they were halting or reducing flights to China as the country tackles the spread of the virus.
In a bid to contain the possible spread of the virus, a total of 967 students and employees from schools in Singapore have been placed on leave of absence because of their recent travel history to China.
On Saturday, authorities began distributing packs of four surgical masks for each Singapore household. There have been long queues for masks at pharmacies and retailers across the country.
Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Thursday reassured people that Singapore will have enough masks, provided the supply is managed "appropriately". CNA
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