SINGAPORE — Two patients died of Covid-19 on Saturday (March 21), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said, a 75-year-old Singaporean woman and a 64-year-old Indonesian man.

The woman, Case 90, was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on Feb 23 for pneumonia and was confirmed to have the disease on the same day.

She had been in the intensive care unit (ICU) since her admission to the NCID.

She developed serious complications and eventually succumbed to the infection after 26 days in the ICU on Saturday at 7.52am.

She had a history of chronic heart disease and hypertension.

She was linked to the cluster at The Life Church and Missions Singapore in Paya Lebar.

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The man, Case 212, was admitted in critical condition to the ICU at NCID on March 13, after arriving in Singapore from Indonesia on the same day.

He was confirmed to have Covid-19 the next day.

He developed serious complications and succumbed to the infection after nine days in the ICU on Saturday at 10.15am.

Before his arrival in Singapore, he had been hospitalised in Indonesia for pneumonia and had a history of heart disease.

Writing on Facebook, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that as Singapore gets more Covid-19 cases, more patients will need ICU care.

"We must brace ourselves for more losses," he added.

"Our healthcare workers are doing their best to care for their patients. So far, 131 of 385 cases have been discharged. Most are gradually improving. The Government is doing all we can to slow the spread of the virus, but everyone needs to support and comply with the measures we have put in place. We must work together to keep ourselves, our families, and Singapore safe."

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said: “We are deeply saddened by their passing. Our thoughts are with their families during this difficult time." 

He added: "I know Singaporeans will be worried and anxious. We must take courage and not give in to our fears. We announced a series of safe-distancing measures yesterday and we must all take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and our families safe. We must stay united, work together, support one another and look out for each other.

"This way, by staying together, we will be able to prevail and overcome the Covid-19 infection."

MOH and NCID have reached out to the families of the deceased and are extending assistance to them.