SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 17 new COVID-19 cases on Monday (Mar 16), bringing the country's total to 243.

This is the largest single-day increase in novel coronavirus cases in Singapore to date and comes just one day after a daily increase of 14 was reported.





Eleven of the new COVID-19 infections are imported cases (Cases 227, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 238, 239, 240, 241 and 243), and had travel histories to several countries including France, Spain, eastern Europe, the Netherlands and the United States.

Four of the new infections are linked to previous cases (Case 236 is linked to Cases 142, 211 and 219; Case 242 is linked to Case 166; Case 235 is linked to Case 208; and Case 237 is linked to Case 225).

Two of the new cases are currently unlinked (Cases 228 and 234). Case 234, an 86-year-old Singaporean man, is also the oldest COVID-19 patient here to date.



Four more patients have also been discharged from hospital, said MOH.





To date, a total of 109 patients have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospital.

Of the 134 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. Thirteen are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.



The cluster linked to the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong on Feb 15 remains the largest cluster with 47 confirmed cases. Two of the cases from this cluster - Cases 142 and 144 - are also linked to boulder+ gym and Church of Singapore (Bukit Timah).

In total, there are four cases linked to the Church of Singapore branch at Hindhede Road (Cases 144, 208, 214 and 235).

NEW CASES

CASE 227 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 227 is a 53-year-old Singaporean man who had been in France from Mar 7 to Mar 12. He is currently warded in an isolation room at the National University Hospital (NUH).

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 11 while in France, and went to the emergency department of NUH on Mar 14. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 afternoon.

He is a staff of Lighthouse Evangelism Church (Tampines Street 82) but had not gone to work since onset of symptoms. He lives at Pasir Panjang Road.

CASE 228

Case 228 is a 67-year-old Singaporean man with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Changi General Hospital (CGH).

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 3, and had sought treatment at a general practitioner (GP) clinic and Bedok Polyclinic on Mar 3, Mar 11 and Mar 13. He went to the emergency department of CGH on Mar 13. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 afternoon.

Prior to hospital admission, he mostly stayed at his home at Sea Breeze Avenue except to seek medical treatment.



CASE 229 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 229 is a 26-year-old Singapore permanent resident who had been in Spain from Feb 14 to Mar 14. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NUH. She is a family member of Case 240.

She reported onset of symptoms on Mar 15, and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on the same day. She went to NCID on Mar 15, and tested positive on Mar 15 afternoon. She lives at Kim Keat Road.



CASE 230 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 230 is a 38-year-old Singaporean woman who had been in Eastern Europe from Mar 3 to Mar 14. She is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

She reported onset of symptoms on Mar 14, and presented at NCID on Mar 15. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 afternoon.

She is employed as an adjunct teaching staff at Republic Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic, but had not gone to work since onset of symptoms. She stays at Ewe Boon Road.



CASE 231 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 231 is a 78-year-old Australian national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in the United States from Feb 23 to Mar 14.

He is currently warded in an isolation room at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). He is a family member of Case 232.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 4. He went to the emergency department of SGH on Mar 14, and subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 afternoon. He lives in the Robertson Quay area.



CASE 232 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 232 is a 65-year-old Australian national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in the United States from Feb 23 to Mar 14. She is currently warded in an isolation room at SGH. She is a family member of Case 231.

She reported an onset of symptoms on Mar 2 while in the United States. She went to the emergency department of SGH on Mar 14 and tested positive on Mar 15 afternoon. She lives in the Robertson Quay area.



CASE 233 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 233 is a 61-year-old British national who is a Singapore Long Term Pass holder, and had been in the United Kingdom from Mar 6 to Mar 14.

He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.



CASE 234

Case 234 is an 86-year-old Singaporean man who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at SGH.



CASE 235

Case 235 is a 31-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at SGH.

She is a medical social worker at SGH, and is linked to Case 208.



CASE 236

Case 236 is a 30-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions.

She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a family member of Case 219, and is linked to Case 142.



CASE 237

Case 237 is a 36-year-old Indonesian woman 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 16, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to Case 225.



CASE 238 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 238 is an 83-year-old Belgian woman who arrived in Singapore on Mar 6. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.



CASE 239 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 239 is a 28-year-old British national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in France from Mar 7 to Mar 14. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.



CASE 240 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 240 is a 27-year-old male Singapore permanent resident, who had been in Spain from Mar 7 to Mar 14. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NUH. He is linked to Case 229.



CASE 241 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 241 is a 28-year-old Briton who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been in France from Mar 7 to Mar 14. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.



CASE 242

Case 242 is a 64-year-old Singaporean woman who had been in Malaysia on Mar 7 and Mar 8. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a contact of Case 166.



CASE 243 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 243 is a 36-year-old Singaporean man who had been in Germany from Feb 26 to Feb 29, Italy from Feb 29 to Mar 7 and Switzerland from Mar 7 to Mar 14. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on Mar 16 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.



UPDATE ON PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED CASES

MOH also gave updates on some of the cases that were announced on Sunday.

CASE 219

Case 219 is a 30-year-old Singaporean man with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Sengkang General Hospital (SKH). He is a family member of Case 236, and is linked to Cases 142 and 211.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 13, and had went to the emergency department of SKH on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 morning.

Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work at Sengkang Fire Station (50 Buangkok Drive), and visited Meiban Mold Manufacture Pte Ltd (26 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2) and Furama Riverfront (405 Havelock Road). He lives at Bishan Street 22.



The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Monday that the officer, a Fire and Rescue Specialist, has not been involved in any response to emergency medical calls involving suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.



He has not been at work since inset of symptoms on Mar 13, but SCDF said it is "closely monitoring" the health of the SCDF officers in his unit.

"As a precautionary measure, those identified to have been in close contact with the officer have been instructed to stay home, monitor their health, and practise strict social distancing," it said.

CASE 220 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 220 is a 53-year-old Singapore permanent resident who had been in France from Mar 10 to 12. He is currently warded in an isolation room in NCID.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 12 while in France, and went to NCID on Mar 14. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 morning.

He is a teaching staff at INSEAD Asia Campus (1 Ayer Rajah Avenue), but had not gone to work since onset of symptoms. He lives at Dover Rise. He was identified by INSEAD as its dean, Mr Ilian Mihov.



CASE 221

Case 221 is a 28-year-old Filipino woman 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 a contact of Case 204.

She reported onset of symptoms on Mar 11. As she had been identified as a contact of Case 204, she was referred by MOH to NCID on Mar 14. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 morning.

Prior to hospital admission, she had gone to work as a teaching staff at MY World Preschool Ltd (52 Lengkok Bahru), and had been on course at Training Masters Workforce Institute (10 Arumugam Road). She also visited OUE Downtown Gallery (6A Shenton Way). She lives at Tanjong Pagar Road.



CASE 222 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 222 is a 41-year-old Frenchman who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and had been to France from Feb 28 to Mar 7 and Mar 9 to 10, Spain from Mar 7 to 9, and the Philippines from Mar 12 to 13. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.



He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 13, and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on Mar 14. He was referred to NCID on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 morning.

Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work at Airbus Singapore Pte Ltd (12 Seletar Aerospace Link). He lives in the Kensington Park Road area.



CASE 223 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 223 is a 60-year-old Singaporean man, and had been in the United States from Feb 28 to Mar 7 and Australia from Mar 7 to 13. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 13 and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on Mar 14. He was referred to NCID on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 morning.

Prior to hospital admission, he mostly stayed at his home at Serangoon Garden Terrace.



CASE 224

Case 224 is a 50-year-old Singaporean man, who had been in Malaysia from Mar 1-4. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is a contact of Case 117 and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

As he had been identified as a contact of Case 117, he was placed under quarantine since Mar 5. He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 13 and was taken by ambulance to NCID on Mar 14. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 morning.

He lives at Senja Road.



CASE 225 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 225 is a 63-year-old Singaporean man, who had been in Indonesia from Mar 3-7. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is linked to Case 237.

He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 9 and had sought treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital on Mar 12. He was referred to NCID on Mar 14. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 morning.

He lives at Newton Road.

CASE 226 - IMPORTED CASE

Case 226 is a 49-year-old Dutch national who had been in the Netherlands from Feb 29 to Mar 13. He is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.



He reported onset of symptoms on Mar 12 while he was in the Netherlands and had sought treatment at the emergency department of Gleneagles Hospital on Mar 14. He was referred to NCID on the same day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on Mar 15 morning.

He lives in the Sixth Avenue area.

MOSQUES CLOSURE EXTENDED

Earlier on Monday, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) announced that all mosques in Singapore will remain closed until Mar 26 to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

MUIS first announced on Mar 13 that mosques would close for five days for cleaning after several congregants tested positive for the coronavirus following a religious gathering in Malaysia. MOH has found that 101 people here had attended the gathering.

Five of them have been infected so far, and they frequented at least 10 mosques during their infectious period.



"Even with the increased pre-emptive measures and temporary closures of our mosques, it is possible for more cases to emerge through secondary transmission, either from close contacts of the five infected individuals or from among members of the community who had visited the 10 mosques," said MUIS.

"It is not possible to identify and trace all persons in the second category as our mosques do not operate on a membership system and lacks a register of exclusive regular congregants. This means contact tracing will not be a sufficient measure to prevent onward transmission of the virus," it added.

It thus decided to extend the closure of all 70 mosques in Singapore.

ADDITIONAL BORDER RESTRICTION MEASURES

MOH on Sunday announced additional border control measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus. People who enter Singapore with recent travel history to ASEAN countries, Japan, Switzerland or the United Kingdom will be issued a 14-day stay-home notice.

This will take effect from 11.59pm on Monday and applies to all travellers, including Singapore residents, long-term pass holders and short-term visitors. It will not apply to Singaporeans and Malaysians using sea and land crossings with Malaysia.



All Singaporeans have also been advised to defer all non-essential travel abroad.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday that some people have travelled to Singapore with the "specific purpose of seeking medical care".

"It is very hard for us to cope with this additional demand," the minister added.



"During this critical period, our healthcare resources are already stretched, and that’s why for both reasons – firstly, to manage the number of imported cases and also to deal with this demand for healthcare services, we have to be tighter with our border control measures."

He said the Government's priority during this time is to ensure that Singapore's healthcare resources are focused on helping Singaporeans.

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