1. Four more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospital today (Cases 18, 72, 78 and 80). In all, 66 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital.
2. As of 27 February 2020, 12pm, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed and verified three more cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore. Of these, two are linked to previous cases. Contact tracing is underway for the other case to establish any links to previous cases or travel history to mainland China, or Daegu or Cheongdo in the Republic of Korea.
Links between previous cases found
3. 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.
a) Six of the locally transmitted confirmed cases (Cases 31, 33, 38, 83, 90 and 91), as well as Cases 8 and 9, are linked to The Life Church and Missions Singapore (146B Paya Lebar Road). These six cases are linked to another 23 confirmed cases (Cases 48, 49, 51, 53, 54, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 78, 80, 81, 84, 88) who are linked to the Grace Assembly of God.
b) Nine of the confirmed cases (Cases 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 28, 34 and 40) are linked to Yong Thai Hang (24 Cavan Road).
c) Three of the confirmed cases (Cases 30, 36 and 39) are linked to the business meeting held at Grand Hyatt Singapore from 20 to 22 January.
d) Five of the confirmed cases (Cases 42, 47, 52, 56 and 69) are linked to the Seletar Aerospace Heights construction site.
4. Investigations on these clusters are ongoing. In addition to the clusters, our investigations have identified the following links between cases:
- Case 44 is linked to Cases 13 and 26;
- Case 72 is linked to Cases 59 and 79;
- Case 50 is linked to Cases 55, 65 and 77;
- Case 75 is linked to Case 41;
- Case 86 is linked to Case 82;
- Case 95 is linked to Case 93; and
- Case 96 is linked to Case 94.
5. Contact tracing is underway for the other 10 locally transmitted cases to establish any links to previous cases or travel history to mainland China, Daegu or Cheongdo.
About the confirmed cases
Case 94
6. Case 94 is a 64 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. She is currently warded in an isolation room at Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
7. She reported onset of symptoms on 11 February and had sought treatment at a general practitioner (GP) clinic on 17 February, 20 February and 24 February. She was referred to SGH on 24 February and was immediately isolated. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 26 February afternoon.
8. Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home in the Jalan Jurong Kechil area.
Case 95
9. Case 95 is a 44 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 27 February morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. He is linked to Case 93.
Case 96
10. Case 96 is a 12 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 27 February afternoon, and is currently warded in an isolation room at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. He is a student at Raffles Institution. He is linked to Case 94.
Case 92 (Announced on 26 February)
11. Case 92 is a 47 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Sengkang General Hospital (SKGH).
12. He reported onset of symptoms on 17 February and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on 21 February and 24 February. He presented at SKGH on 24 February and was immediately isolated. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 26 February morning.
13. Prior to hospital admission, he had mostly stayed at his home at Serangoon Avenue 3.
Case 93 (Announced on 26 February)
14. Case 93 is a 38 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to China, Daegu and Cheongdo. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH).
15. He reported onset of symptoms on 17 February and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on 18 February and 23 February. He presented at NTFGH on 25 February and was immediately isolated. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 26 February morning.
16. Prior to hospital admission, he had mostly stayed at his home at Bukit Batok Street 31.
Update on condition of confirmed cases
17. To date, a total of 66 cases have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital. Of the 30 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. Eight are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Update on contact tracing for confirmed cases
18. Contact tracing for the confirmed cases is ongoing. Once identified, MOH will closely monitor all close contacts. As a precautionary measure, they will be quarantined for 14 days from their last exposure to the patient. In addition, all other identified contacts who have a low risk of being infected will be under active surveillance, and will be contacted daily to monitor their health status.
19. As of 27 February 2020, 12pm, MOH has identified 2,887 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 245 are currently quarantined, and 2,642 have completed their quarantine.
Health advisory
20. Singaporeans are advised to defer all travel to Hubei Province and all non-essential travel to Mainland China, and Daegu and Cheongdo in the Republic of Korea. MOH also reminds the public to continue to exercise caution when travelling to the rest of the Republic of Korea.
21. All travellers should monitor their health closely for two weeks upon return to Singapore and seek medical attention promptly if they feel unwell. Travellers should inform their doctor of their travel history. If they have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath), they should wear a mask and call the clinic ahead of the visit.
22. Travellers and members of the public should adopt the following precautions at all times:
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness;
- Observe good personal hygiene;
- Practise frequent hand washing with soap (e.g. before handling food or eating, after going to toilet, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing);
- Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or shortness of breath;
- Cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin immediately; and
- Seek medical attention promptly if you are feeling unwell.
23. MOH will continue to monitor the situation closely. As medical practitioners are on the lookout for suspect cases, Singapore is likely to see more cases that will need to be investigated.
27 FEBRUARY 2020