14 new community Covid-19 cases in Singapore, including 11 linked to TTSH cluster

SINGAPORE confirmed 39 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the Republic's total to 61,218. It has also delayed plans to relax restrictions on the movements of migrant workers.

Among the latest cases, 14 are from the community, including 11 that have been linked to a nurse at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and were detected from the Ministry of Health's (MOH) proactive testing of patients, visitors and staff at the hospital.

The TTSH cluster has now grown to 27 Covid-19 cases, since the first was identified last Tuesday, and is the largest of nine active clusters in the country.

As for the other three community cases on Sunday, two are linked to previous cases and one is currently unlinked. None were from the migrant workers' dormitories.

In addition, there were 25 imported cases, who were placed on stay-home notices or isolated upon arrival in Singapore. Of these, 10 are Singaporeans or permanent residents, and three are foreign domestic workers.

Second Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng on Sunday noted that a pilot scheme for migrant workers to return to the community once a month would be put on hold, given the recent dormitory cluster and rise in infections in some of the workers' home countries, The Straits Times (ST) reported.

"It's important because our responsibility is, first and foremost, to protect the lives and health of all of us - migrant workers, the industry and livelihoods," said Dr Tan, the incoming Manpower Minister. Pre-emptive Covid-19 tests are being carried out in dormitories and work sites, after a cluster emerged at Westlite Woodlands Dormitory.

Hopes for a strong consumer rebound were dampened after the authorities introduced fresh curbs on social activities last week, although business leaders acknowledged that restrictions were necessary amid a new domestic Covid-19 outbreak.

On Friday, MOH announced that all public places visited by the Covid-19 cases in the TTSH cluster during their likely-infectious periods would be closed for two days. This was a break from the ministry's usual advice, which is that there is no need to avoid places visited by confirmed cases.

The authorities are also tightening access to public spaces until May 14. Companies have been told to let staff work from home (WFH) if possible, mere weeks after the MOH allowed a return to workplaces and ended WFH as the default on April 5.

Members of the public are urged to avoid crowds and to stay home where possible. They should also limit social interactions to just two meetings a day.

The Singapore Business Federation's chief executive Lam Yi Young warned of a short-term business impact from the tightened measures, particularly for retail, food and beverage, and attractions.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said at a briefing by the multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) on Friday evening: "We are monitoring this particular cluster at Tan Tock Seng Hospital very closely. The next few days will be critical. If we find many more cases that suggest widespread transmission, we will have to introduce more measures to break the chain of transmission."

On Saturday, an 88-year-old Singaporean woman, who was a TTSH patient, died from Covid-19 complications. MOH on Saturday confirmed seven new community cases, including three linked to the TTSH cluster. In addition, there were two new cases reported in the dormitories and 25 imported cases.

Meanwhile, plans for Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to visit Singapore and meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday were postponed due to the increase in Covid-19 cases in both countries, ST reported.

The visit was intended to discuss the gradual resumption of cross-border travel, said Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Malaysian counterpart Hishammuddin Hussein as they announced the postponement on Sunday.

Separately, the Ministry of Education on Saturday night said that Edgefield Secondary School will shift to home-based learning this week, after one of its students tested positive for the virus on Friday.

READ MORE:

• Malaysia to impose fresh Covid-19 movement control order in KL, other areas: report
• Singapore, Malaysia to allow cross-border travel on compassionate grounds from May 17
• Fresh curbs on social gatherings a blow to hopes of consumer rebound
• Places visited by TTSH cases to be closed; public advised to stay home if possible

For the latest numbers on the global coronavirus situation, go to bt.sg/ncov