42 of 56 new cases linked to KTV cluster; no change to Covid-19 measures 'for now'

Singapore

OF THE 56 new local Covid-19 cases in Singapore on Wednesday, 42 are linked to the growing KTV cluster, with more expected to surface.

Asked whether the cluster would affect the relaxation of Covid-19 measures that kicked in on Monday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the multi-ministry taskforce had thought long and hard about it, but decided that given the high vaccination rate, "we are in a much more resilient position than before".

"For now, we will keep the rules that have come into effect since Monday, and there will not be any reversal," he said in an online media doorstop, even as he urged the public to still exercise restraint and caution in socialising.

Nine of the cases detected in the cluster are already in quarantine. The rest were found through surveillance; this included the one case that was recently reported in the news, of a passenger on board a Dream Cruises ship.

Testing and tracing is continuing for the KTV cluster, and more cases are expected in the coming days.

"But we strongly suspect that the data we have, using TraceTogether and SafeEntry, is not comprehensive, considering that these KTV lounges are operating allegedly illegally to start with," said Mr Ong.

The emergence of this cluster is "very troubling and disappointing", he said, given that the authorities know of similar nightlife-based transmissions in other countries, which is why these activities have been disallowed in Singapore for over a year.

The KTV lounges involved had been allowed to operate as food and beverage outlets, but not to provide hostess services.

Mr Ong urged those who have visited any KTV lounges or interacted with hostesses in the past 14 days to come forward and get tested, noting that over 100 have already done so. He gave the assurance that testing is confidential and "your privacy is protected".

While the police will take action against KTV lounges and hostesses which have breached the rules, breaches of safe-distancing measures come under the Health Ministry. The ministry's top priority is to find out who has been affected, he said.

In a separate statement on Wednesday night, the Singapore Police Force said it had arrested 20 women "for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities within three pivoted KTV lounges currently operating as F&B outlets".

Investigations are ongoing against the three operators for breach of Covid-19 safe-management measures, said the police.

Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA) president Joseph Ong noted that while the lounges are not members of SNBA, they are "nevertheless part of the industry" and it is unfortunate if they have breached the rules. Enforcement is needed to weed out such bad apples, he added.

"The majority of nightlife businesses that have pivoted have toed the line and been responsible," he added. This is even though some are finding it hard to carry on, unless opening hours are lengthened and the ban on music is lifted.

While the KTV cluster is disappointing, Mr Ong said the taskforce was "not entirely surprised", given the highly transmissible nature of the Delta variant of the virus.

He added: "I think this is going to be a pattern that we need to manage."

The minister also reiterated calls for the public to get vaccinated. The MOH will be asking general practitioners and primary-care providers to persuade their patients aged above 70 to go for their shots.

READ MORE: 20 foreign women arrested for suspected involvement in vice activities at three KTV lounges