Singapore marks record 447 new COVID-19 cases, 404 linked to dormitories, 145 cases unlinked and four new clusters

Singapore as of 12 pm on Wed (15 Apr) recorded a new highest daily toll of 447 COVID-19 infection cases, bringing the total number of cases in the country since the onset of the outbreak to 3,699. Of the new cases, 404 of them are work permit holders residing in dormitories, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH). 38 are from the community and 5 are work permit holders residing outside of dormitories. No imported case has been reported. 145 cases are currently unlinked to previous infected cases, which is also the highest since the Singapore had its first infected case on 23 Jan this year. Previously on 9 Apr, Singapore recorded a daily high of 287 cases, with the majority of cases traced to clusters at migrant worker dormitories and Mustafa Centre. Four new clusters are identified at:

• 10 Kian Teck Crescent dormitory
• Kian Teck Dormitory (26 Kian Teck Avenue)
• 234 Balestier Road
• Mandai Lodge (460 Mandai Road)

Update on confirmed cases

Case 3381, an 80 year-old male Malaysian national, has passed away on 14 April from causes not related to COVID-19 infection. Under MOH’s enhanced surveillance, he had been tested for COVID-19 after his demise, and his test result came back positive. 41 more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 652 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. Of the 1,496 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. 26 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. 1,540 cases who are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19 are isolated and cared for at community facilities. 10 have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection.

MOH: Foreign workers infected at Mustafa Centre

The Health Ministry’s (MOH) director of medical services Kenneth Mak at a press conference on 9 Apr said that preliminary investigations have revealed a link between the cluster at Mustafa Centre with clusters at the Project Glory construction site and five dormitories. Associate Professor Mak said that MOH is of the opinion that foreign workers had visited Mustafa Centre — where some employees had fallen ill — and were infected there. The said migrant workers then transmitted the virus to their co-workers, who subsequently passed on the virus to others at their dormitories. National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said at the same press conference that many of the migrant workers “had very mild symptoms and so they continued to work, that’s why there was a delay in picking them up”. Associate Professor Mak said that the Government has begun active case finding and is swab-testing workers in various dormitories.