SINGAPORE, Aug 7 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 97 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total tally in the country to 65,605.
The new infections included 93 locally transmitted cases, of which 56 were linked to previous cases and have already been placed on quarantine, eight were linked to previous cases and were detected through surveillance, and 29 were currently unlinked.
There were four more imported cases, who had already been placed on Stay-Home Notice (SHN), or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.
A total of 546 cases are currently warded in hospital. Most are well and under observation. There are currently 38 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and seven in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).
MOH said, a 63-year-old male Singaporean died, due to infection on Aug 5. In total, 41 have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection in Singapore.
As of Aug 5, Singapore administered a total of 7,897,570 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, under the national vaccination programme, covering 4,344,183 individuals. As many as 3,677,788 individuals have completed the full vaccination regimen.
MOH also announced, by tomorrow, around 70 percent of Singapore’s entire population would have completed two doses of vaccine, which gives it confidence that the country can start to re-open the economy and resume more activities.
The ministry said, Singapore will allow some easing of safe management measures, in two steps. The first will take effect from Aug 10, and the second from Aug 19, if conditions remain stable. The adjustment includes an increase in social gathering size, resumption of dine-in at food and beverage establishments, an increase in event size and capacity limits, the removal of temperature screening requirement, and updates on vaccination-differentiated safe management measures and eligibility.
With better protection against infection and severe illness, fully-vaccinated individuals may participate, in groups of up to five persons, in higher-risk activities, where masks are removed, said MOH, adding that, individuals who are fully vaccinated with the WHO Emergency Use Listing Procedure vaccines, such as Sinovac-CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca, will be eligible for the vaccination-differentiated safe management measures from Aug 10.– NNN-CNA
