SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 23 more cases of COVID-19 infection on Tuesday (Mar 17), bringing Singapore’s total to 266.



This is the highest number of confirmed daily cases reported so far and the first time the number has breached 20. Of the new cases, 17 are imported.



MOH added that five more people have been discharged from hospital. To date, 114 patients have recovered from the disease.

Of the 152 cases still in hospital, most are stable or improving. Fourteen are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.



NEW CASES

CASE 244



Case 244 is an imported case involving a 53-year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in Germany from Feb 26 to 29, Italy from Feb 29 to Mar 7, and Switzerland from Mar 7 to 14. He is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). He is linked to Case 243.



He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 7. He presented at the emergency department of Gleneagles Hospital on Mar 15, and was referred to NCID on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 afternoon.



Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work at a home office at River Valley Road. He stays at Alexandra Road.

CASE 245

Case 245 is a 76-year-old male Singaporean Citizen with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Singapore General Hospital (SGH).



He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 12, and was conveyed by ambulance to SGH on Mar 15. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 afternoon.



Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work at Marina One West Tower (9 Straits View). He stays at Boon Lay Drive.

CASE 246

Case 246 is an imported case involving a 39-year-old male Canadian national who had been in Japan from Feb 23 to Mar 7. He is currently warded in an isolation room at SGH.



He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 9. He presented at the emergency department of SGH on Mar 15 and subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 afternoon.



Prior to hospital admission, he had visited Singtel Comcentre (31 Exeter Road). He stays in the Tanjong Pagar area.

CASE 247



Case 247 is an imported case involving a 41-year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in the United Kingdom from Mar 5 to 8, and again from Mar 10 to 12, and France from Mar 8 to 10. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.



He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 16, and had presented at NCID on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 afternoon.



He stays at Tampines Avenue 8.

CASE 248

Case 248 is a 23-year-old female Malaysian national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in Malaysia from Mar 12 to 13. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 249

Case 249 is an imported case involving a 42-year-old male Singapore Permanent Resident who had been in the United States from Mar 4 to 16. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 250

Case 250 is an imported case involving a 28-year-old male British national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in the United Kingdom and Austria from Feb 29 to Mar 14. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 251

Case 251 is a 59-year-old female Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a family member of Case 186.

CASE 252

Case 252 is a 66-year-old male Singapore Citizen, who had been in Malaysia from Feb 25 to 29. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 253



Case 253 is an imported case involving a 24-year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in Spain from Feb 12 to Mar 16. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 254



Case 254 is an imported case involving a 43-year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who had been in France from Feb 22 to Mar 13. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 255

Case 255 is an imported case involving a 44-year-old male Swedish national, who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in Norway, Denmark and Sweden from Mar 1 to 9. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 256

Case 256 is a 32-year-old female Filipino national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to Case 205.

CASE 257

Case 257 is a 19-year-old male French national, who is a Singapore Long Term Pass holder, and had been in the United Kingdom from Oct 16, 2019 to Mar 14 , 2020. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at the National University Hospital (NUH).

CASE 258

Case 258 is an imported case involving a 47-year-old male Indian national who had been in Europe from Feb 9 to Mar 15. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 259

Case 259 is an imported case involving a 30-year-old female Singapore Citizen, who had been in the Philippines from Mar 7 to 9. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 260

Case 260 is a 48-year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at Farrer Park Hospital.

CASE 261

Case 261 is an imported case involving a 30-year-old male American national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in the United States from Feb 23 to Mar 9, and France from Mar 9 to 15. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 262

Case 262 is an imported case involving a 20-year-old female Indonesian national, who had been in the United Kingdom from late January to Mar 16. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 263

Case 263 is an imported case involving a 52-year-old female Singapore Citizen who was in Spain from Mar 6 to 8 and again from Mar 9 to 14, and Portugal from Mar 8 to 9. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded is an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to Case 266.

CASE 264

Case 264 is an imported case involving a 41-year-old female Indonesian national who arrived in Singapore on Mar 16. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 265

Case 265 is an imported case involving a 25-year-old female Singapore Citizen who had been in the United Kingdom from Mar 6 to 14. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

CASE 266

Case 266 is an imported case involving a 63-year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in Spain from Mar 6 to 8 and again from Mar 9 to 14, and Portugal from Mar 8 to 9. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is linked to case 263.



UPDATE ON PREVIOUS CASES

CASE 233

Case 233 is an imported case involving a 61-year-old male British national who is a Singapore Long Term Pass holder, and had been in the United Kingdom from Mar 6 to 13. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 15and had sought treatment at the emergency department of Parkway East Hospital on Mar 15. He was referred to NCID on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

He stays at East Coast Road.

CASE 234

Case 234 is an 86-year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at SGH.

He reported onset of symptoms on Feb 28, and had sought treatment at a GP clinic and Bukit Merah Polyclinic on Mar 2, 9 and 14. He presented at the emergency department of SGH on Mar 14. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

He stays at Telok Blangah Heights.

CASE 235

Case 235 is a 31-year-old female Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is currently warded in an isolation room at SGH. She is linked to Case 208.

She reported onset of symptoms on Mar 11 and had sought treatment at SGH’s staff clinic on Mar 13 and 14. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

Prior to hospital admission, she had gone to work as a Medical Social Worker at SGH (Outram Road). She stays at Bukit Batok West Avenue 8.

CASE 236

Case 236 is a 30-year-old female Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a family member of Case 219, and is linked to Cases 142 and 211.

As she had been identified as a contact of Case 142, she was placed under quarantine since Mar 9. She reported onset of symptoms on Mar 10 and was conveyed by ambulance to NCID on Mar 15. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

She stays at Bishan Street 22.

CASE 237

Case 237 is a 36-year-old female Indonesian national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to Case 225.



She reported onset of symptoms on Mar 12 and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on Mar 13. As she had been identified as a contact of Case 225, she was referred by MOH to NCID on Mar 15. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

She stays at Beach Road.

CASE 238

Case 238 is an imported case involving an 83-year-old female Belgium national who arrived in Singapore on Mar 6. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

She reported onset of symptoms on Mar 14 and had sought treatment at Raffles Hospital on Mar 15. She was referred to NCID on Mar 15 and subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

Prior to hospital admission, she mostly stayed in the Jalan Besar area.

CASE 239

Case 239 is an imported case involving a 28-year-old male British national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in France from Mar 7 to 14. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is linked to Case 241.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 14 and was referred to NCID upon arrival in Singapore. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

He stays at Cairnhill Rise.

CASE 240

Case 240 is an imported case involving a 27-year-old male Singapore Permanent Resident who had been in Spain from Mar 7 to 14. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NUH. He is a family member of Case 229.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 14 and had presented at NCID on Mar 15. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

He stays at Kim Keat Road.

CASE 241

Case 241 is an imported case involving a 28-year-old male British national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in France from Mar 7 to 14. He is currently warded in NCID. He is linked to Case 239.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 11 while in France, and was referred to NCID upon arrival in Singapore on Mar 15. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

He stays in the Cairnhill Road area.

CASE 242

Case 242 is a 64-year-old female Singapore Citizen who had been in Malaysia on Mar 7 and 8. She is currently warded in NCID. She is linked to Case 166.

She reported onset of symptoms on Mar 14. As she had been identified as a contact of Case 166, she was issued a home quarantine order on Mar 11. She was conveyed to NCID on Mar 15. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

She stays at Gangsa Road.

CASE 243

Case 243 is an imported case involving a 36-year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in Germany from Feb 26 to 29, Italy from Feb 29 to Mar 7, and Switzerland from Mar 7 to 14. He is currently warded in NCID. He is linked to Case 244.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 11. He presented at NCID on Mar 15, and subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning.

Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work at a home office at River Valley Road. He stays at Havelock Road.

GOVERNMENT GIVES ASSURANCE ON FOOD SUPPLY AFTER MALAYSIA MOVEMENT RESTRICTION

Following an announcement that Malaysia will be imposing travel restrictions on Monday night, the country's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has assured Singapore that the flow of goods and cargo between the two countries will continue, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday.



Mr Muhyiddin had said on Monday that all Malaysians will be prohibited from leaving the country from Mar 18 to Mar 31. Those who return from overseas will also have to go through health checks and go on a 14-day self-quarantine.



Mr Lee said in a Facebook post that he has discussed the situation with Mr Muhyiddin, adding he did not find the announcement "surprising as many other countries have already imposed similar lockdowns".

"I told him that I understood the reasons why he had made this move, and wished Malaysia success in containing the outbreak," said Mr Lee. "I was happy to hear his reassurance that the flow of goods and cargo between Singapore and Malaysia, including food supplies, would continue."

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing also assured Singaporeans that Singapore has plans to manage a disruption of supplies from Malaysia through a combination of stockpiling, local production and diversification of overseas sources.

He added that Singapore has months’ worth of stockpiles at the national level and planned for a supply disruption for years.

Malaysia’s Immigration Department also confirmed that Malaysians working in Singapore and Thailand will be affected by the travel restrictions. About 300,000 people commute between the two border crossings between Malaysia and Singapore every day.



To help workers who commute between Singapore and Malaysia, the Ministry of Manpower said the Government will offer short-term housing options for those who could not stay with relatives or friends.

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