Covid-19: 42 more cases in Singapore, new cluster emerges at Yishun bridal salon

SINGAPORE — Singapore has confirmed another 42 new cases of Covid-19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Sunday (March 29), with a new cluster emerging at a bridal salon in Yishun.

The total number of people infected with the disease is now 844.

The MOH also said that a nurse from Sengkang General Hospital is one of the 70 cases reported on Saturday.

Referred to as Case 741, she is a 42-year-old Singapore permanent resident who has no travel history to affected countries or regions.

She reported onset of symptoms on March 24, and later tested positive for the coronavirus on March 27 in the afternoon. She is warded in an isolation room at Sengkang General Hospital.

Of the new cases reported on Sunday, 24 are imported, with travel history to Europe, North America, Middle East, Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states and other parts of Asia.

The other 18 domestic cases have no recent travel history abroad.

Eight cases are linked to previous cases, while 10 have no links established yet and contact tracing is ongoing, said MOH.

To date, 212 patients have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged, including 14 on Sunday.

Of the 423 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, 19 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) while the others are mostly stable or improving.

There are 206 cases who are clinically well but still test positive for the coronavirus. They are isolated at Concord International Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital and the Community Isolation Facility at D’Resort NTUC.

On Sunday, Singapore reported its third death related to Covid-19.

The victim, who had a history of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, is a 70-year-old male Singaporean with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He developed serious complications and succumbed to the infection after 27 days in ICU, said MOH.

LINKS BETWEEN PREVIOUS CASES

Further epidemiological investigations and contact tracing have uncovered links between previously announced and new cases. This was made possible with the assistance of the Singapore Police Force, added MOH.

Forty-seven of the confirmed cases (Cases 94, 96, 107, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 122, 125, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 137, 139, 140, 142, 144, 145, 146, 148, 149, 150, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 164, 166, 174, 179, 185, 186, 196, 201, 218 and 224) are linked to a private dinner function at Safra Jurong on Feb 15.

Two (Cases 142 and 144) are linked to Boulder+ Gym at Aperia Mall in Kallang and Church of Singapore (Bukit Timah).

Three of the confirmed cases (Cases 183, 252 and 310) are linked to Masjid Al-Muttaqin (5140 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6).

Twenty-six of the confirmed cases are linked to a cluster at PCF Sparkletots preschool at Fengshan (126 Bedok North Street 2). Sixteen of the cases are staff members at the preschool, and 106 are family members of Case 601, its principal.

Seven of the confirmed cases (Cases 556, 618, 626, 662, 686, 713, 729 and 761) are linked to a cluster at Dover Court International School (301 Dover Road). Seven are staff at the school and Case 729 is a contact of Case 618.

Five of the confirmed cases (Cases 581, 689, 724, 740 and 796) are linked to a cluster at SingPost Centre (10 Eunos Road 8).

Three of the confirmed cases (Cases 745, 802 and 810) are linked to a new cluster at The Wedding Brocade bridal shop (1 Yishun Industrial Street 1).

MOH said contact tracing is underway for 71 locally transmitted cases to establish any links to previous cases or travel history to affected countries or regions.