SINGAPORE: A Filipino national in Singapore has tested positive for COVID-19, said the Philippine Embassy on Monday (Feb 24).

This is the first case of a Filipino national with the coronavirus reported in Singapore, and the island's 89th patient.



In a statement that was published on Facebook, the Philippine Embassy said that the person is now warded in an isolation room in a Singapore hospital.

The patient's personal details were not shared, said the embassy, citing the Singapore Ministry of Health's (MOH) patient confidentiality and privacy policy.



"The Philippine Embassy is in close contact and coordination with the Ministry of Health of Singapore. The Philippine Embassy stands ready to provide all consular assistance to the patient as needed.

"In the meantime, everyone is requested to respect the patient's privacy," the embassy said.

MORE ABOUT THE CASE



MOH on Sunday said case 89 is a 41 year-old male Singapore permanent resident.

He had gone to work at Affinity Equity Partners (8 Temasek Boulevard) and visited Bishan Community Club before he was admitted to hospital.

He lives at Serangoon Avenue 3. He has no recent travel history to China.

He reported onset of symptoms on Feb 3 and had sought treatment at two general practitioner (GP) clinics on Feb 3, Feb 7, Feb 10, Feb 17 and Feb 21.

He was referred to National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on Feb 21 and subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Saturday morning.

He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

The embassy encouraged Filipinos in Singapore to "maintain vigilance, observe proper hygiene, avoid crowds or large gatherings and frequently monitor personal health", urging those who suffer symptoms such as fever, coughing and breathing difficulty to see a doctor immediately.

It also encouraged Filipinos to follow the Singapore Government's advisory against non-essential travel to Daegu City and Cheongdo county in South Korea and to exercise caution when travelling to the rest of the country.



South Korea raised its emergency response alert to "grave" on Sunday after reporting three more deaths and 169 new infections.



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