Workers wearing face masks
SINGAPORE, April 17 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore reported a record 728 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 4,427.
Of the new cases, 81 per cent are linked to previously identified clusters while the rest are pending contact tracing, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the media release.
A total of 654 new cases are from foreign worker dormitories, while 26 are work permit holders residing outside dormitories.
As for local cases in the community, 48 cases were reported on Thursday, and there were no new imported cases.
Among the new cases is an 89-year-old resident of Pacific Healthcare Nursing Home at 21 Senja Road, according to the Agency for Integrated Care.
The resident, identified as Case 4053, is now warded in an isolation room at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.
A seven-year-old Singaporean boy and 13-year-old Singaporean girl are also among the new cases reported on Thursday.
The boy, who is a family member of Cases 1305 and 1660, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and is warded at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The girl is a family member of Case 2105 and tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. She is also warded at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The ministry noted that the number of new cases among work permit holders residing in dormitories has increased significantly “in line with our continued efforts to actively test and isolate the infected workers”.
Among work permit holders who do not live in dormitories, the number of new cases has increased to an average of 15 per day in the past week from an average of nine per day in the week prior.
On the other hand, the number of new cases in the community has slightly decreased, to an average of 37 per day in the past week from an average of 38 cases per day in the week prior.
MOH added that 31 more patients have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 683 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged. — NNN-CNA
