Covid-19: 52 new infections in Singapore, PCF Fengshan cluster grows to 20 cases

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday (March 26) that there are 52 new cases of Covid-19 and 20 people are now linked to the new cluster at preschool PCF Fengshan.

This brings the total number of cases in Singapore to 683. 

Of the 52 new cases, 28 are imported, having travelled recently to Europe, North America, Middle East, Asean (Association of the Southeast Asian Nations), and other parts of Asia.

Except for two cases, 26 were returning residents and long-term pass holders, MOH said. 

For the rest of the 24 new cases, 10 are linked to identified clusters or previous cases, and 14 cases do not have known links yet. 

One of the cases with no links established yet is Case 666, a 32 year-old Singaporean woman with no travel history to affected countries or regions. She works as an associate consultant at the National Skin Centre and had gone to work before she was warded in an isolation room at the Singapore General Hospital.

She developed symptoms on Tuesday and tested positive on Thursday morning, MOH said, adding that contact tracing is ongoing. 

So far, 172 of the 683 cases reported in Singapore have been discharged from hospital, including 12 on Thursday.

For the 422 patients still hospitalised, most are stable and improving, while 18 still remain in critical condition under intensive care. 

There are 87 patients who are clinically well but still test positive for Covid-19 and they have been transferred to Concord International Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospital and the Community Isolation Facility at D’Resort NTUC for isolation and care. 

Two people have died from complications due to the infection.

LINKS BETWEEN PREVIOUS CASES

MOH said that 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, it added.

Fourteen of the confirmed cases (Cases 93, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108 and 110) are linked to Wizlearn Technologies at Science Park.

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. 

Six of the confirmed cases (Cases 142, 162, 163, 305, 345 and 443) are linked to Boulder+ Gym at Aperia Mall (12 Kallang Avenue).

Five of the confirmed cases (Cases 144, 208, 214, 235 and 283) are linked to the Church of Singapore (Bukit Timah) near Upper Bukit Tomah Road (2B Hindhede Road).

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

Twenty of the confirmed cases (Cases 516, 521, 566, 567, 572, 583, 584, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 609, 610, 612, 614, 617, 624, 638 and 660) are linked to a new cluster at PCF Sparkletots Preschool at Fengshan (Block 126 Bedok North Street 2). Out of this, 15 are employees at the preschool, and five (Cases 521, 566, 567, 572 and 638) are family members of the school’s principal (Case 601). 

Four of the confirmed cases (Cases 556, 618, 626 and 662) are linked to a new cluster at Dover Court International School (301 Dover Road). All four are staff members at the school.

MOH said that contact tracing is underway for 42 locally transmitted cases to establish any links to previous cases or travel history to affected countries or regions.