Advertisement

COVID-19: Singapore confirms 15 new infections, 3 children among imported cases

A woman pushes a baby stroller below Supertree Grove skyway at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore on September 9, 2020, after the popular tourist attraction was reopened to the public on September 7 following closures due to restrictions to halt the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP) (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The Supertree Grove skyway at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. (PHOTO: Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed 15 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of Saturday (19 September) noon, bringing the country’s total to 57,558.

Among the new cases, the MOH said in a press release, 13 are asymptomatic, and were detected from its proactive screening and surveillance, while two were symptomatic.

There is one case in the community – a Singaporean – and five imported cases, all of whom had been placed on Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore.

The sole community case – No. 57699 , a 22-year-old man – is currently unlinked. He was detected under the enhanced community testing to test all individuals aged 13 and above who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection (ARI) at first presentation to a doctor. Epidemiological investigations of the case are in progress, the ministry said.

Among the imported cases, Case 57700 is a work permit holder currently employed in Singapore who arrived from India on 8 September. Cases 57691 and 57694 – a one-year-old boy – are long-term visit pass holders who arrived from India on 6 September. Case 57689 – a one-year-old girl – is a dependant’s pass holder who arrived from Iran on 15 September, and Case 57692 – a six-year-old girl – is a student’s pass holder who arrived from India on 6 September.

They were all tested while serving SHN at dedicated facilities.

Overall, the number of new cases in the community has decreased, from an average of two cases per day in the week before, to an average of one per day in the past week, the MOH said. The number of unlinked cases in the community has remained stable at an average of one case per day in the past two weeks.

Cases residing in dormitories

Among the nine cases residing in dormitories, six had been identified earlier as contacts of previous cases, and had already been quarantined to prevent further transmission. They were tested during quarantine to determine their status.

“The remaining three cases were detected through surveillance testing, such as our biweekly Rostered Routine Testing of workers living in dormitories,” the health ministry said.

99% of total cases have recovered

With 71 more patients discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities on Saturday, 57,142 cases – or 99.3 per cent of the total – have fully recovered from the infection.

Most of the 27 hospitalised cases are stable or improving, while none is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

A total of 362 patients with mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

Apart from 27 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 15 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack and another four, whose deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

More Singapore stories:

Sembawang temple fire: S'pore-designed responders' performance vehicle deployed for the first time

Ong Ye Kung: No one hurt at God of Wealth Temple fire, deities 'miraculously' unharmed

Huge fire breaks out at Sembawang God of Wealth Temple, residents at elderly home evacuated

EPL PREVIEW: Key clash with Liverpool may be too soon for Chelsea's recruits