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KTV, Jurong Fishery Port clusters linked, Covid-19 strain genetically closer to cases imported from Indonesia: Ong Ye Kung

SINGAPORE — The two large Covid-19 clusters at KTV establishments and Jurong Fishery Port have been found to be linked and the strain appears to be closer to that detected among cases imported from Indonesia while differing from the Delta variant seen at two other outbreaks here, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Monday (July 19).

A view of an entrance to Jurong Fishery Port on July 19, 2021.

A view of an entrance to Jurong Fishery Port on July 19, 2021.

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  • The KTV, Jurong Fishery Port Covid-19 clusters are linked, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said
  • The coronavirus strain appears to be closer to that found from cases imported from Indonesia, he said
  • The strain differed from the Delta variant that infected people from TTSH and Changi Airport clusters

 

SINGAPORE — The two large Covid-19 clusters at KTV nightclubs and Jurong Fishery Port have been found to be linked and the coronavirus strain appears to be closer to that detected among cases imported from Indonesia while differing from the Delta variant seen at two other outbreaks here, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Monday (July 19).

In a Facebook post addressing the clusters and the 88 locally transmitted Covid-19 cases reported on Sunday, the highest in a single day for this year, Mr Ong said that scientists are conducting the phylogenetic studies and have found that both clusters are linked.

“Genetically, they differ from the Delta variant that infected (people in the) Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Changi Airport (clusters), but are closer to what we have detected in imported cases from Indonesia,” he wrote.

“Studies are ongoing. When MOH (the Ministry of Health) has more conclusive results, we will explain our findings to the public. One thing is clear — when countries in the region have big outbreaks, we are always at risk,” he added.

While he noted that the KTV cluster is “settling down” with more than 5,000 workers, hostesses and patrons tested, and the yield is trending down day by day, he said that the Jurong Fishery Port cluster is “rising worryingly, because it is seeding cases in various markets and the communities around them”.

The Government has thus drawn up four rings of defences, Mr Ong said.

The first ring includes the 700 workers at the Jurong Fishery Port who have all been quarantined. Several cases have been uncovered from this group.

The second ring includes more than 860 fishmongers and delivery drivers who had visited the Jurong Fishery Port and who have been issued health-risk warnings, which require them to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and isolate themselves until they receive results.

“We have more or less completed testing and detected 26 cases among them. It is a high number,” Mr Ong wrote.

The third ring includes other stallholders of all other markets and as a precaution, the Government has sent notifications to these stallholders to get themselves tested. They are scheduled to go to regional screening centres to be tested.

The fourth ring includes residents who live around the market who have been advised to minimise their movements and social interactions and to do their marketing during off-peak hours.

Mr Ong added that the National Environment Agency is setting up wastewater testing in as many locations as practicable and MOH will be mounting special operations in these estates.

“As we do our best to detect cases and suppress the spread of the virus, it is very important that those who are unvaccinated, especially the elderly, stay home as much as possible,” Mr Ong said.

He added that vaccination is gathering pace and over the past few weeks, up to 80,000 people a day are getting vaccinated.

“Demand has flipped towards second doses, which now account for about 70 per cent of all doses.

“This means many more people are getting fully vaccinated. By the end of today or tomorrow, we should reach 50 per cent of our population having two doses.”

Related topics

Covid-19 coronavirus Delta variant Jurong Fishery Port vaccination KTV

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