SINGAPORE – There were 908 new coronavirus cases confirmed as of Wednesday noon (Aug 5), taking Singapore’s total to 54,254.
The vast majority are dormitory residents who were tested during their isolation or quarantine period, even though they are asymptomatic, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.
The patients are among the final batch of workers being cleared, and they come from dormitories with a relatively high prevalence of Covid-19.
“Hence we expect the daily case counts to be high for the coming days, before tapering down thereafter as the inter-agency task force completes the dormitory clearance,” the ministry said.
It added: “We remain on track to clear all the dormitories by Aug 7 (Friday), except for a few standalone blocks in the dormitories that serve as quarantine facilities.”
There were four community cases comprising three Singaporeans or permanent residents, and a work pass holder.
There were also four imported cases who had been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore.
More details will be announced on Wednesday night.
SINGAPORE: IMM shopping mall and a Popular bookstore in Jurong Point were added on Wednesday (Aug 5) to a list of places visited by COVID-19 cases in the community during their infectious period.
People who visited IMM on Jul 22 between 8.15pm and 8.45pm, and the Popular bookstore at Jurong Point between 12.05pm and 2.30pm on Jul 26, should monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday.
The two new places added to the list on Wednesday are as follows:
Those who were identified as close contacts of confirmed cases would have been notified by MOH, said the ministry.
People who were at the locations during the specified timings should monitor their health.
“They should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history,” said MOH.
There is no need to avoid places were COVID-19 cases have been, the ministry said, adding that the National Environment Agency will engage the management of the affected premises to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfection.
Singapore reported 908 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily figure recorded since May 1.
Of the new cases, 903 were work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories. MOH attributed the high number of cases to the ongoing clearance of dormitories.
“The vast majority are dormitory residents who were tested during their isolation/ quarantine period, even though they are asymptomatic,” the health ministry said.
“They are among the final batch of workers being cleared and they come from dormitories with a relatively high prevalence of COVID-19.
“Hence we expect the daily case counts to be high for the coming days, before tapering down thereafter as the inter-agency task force completes the dormitory clearance.”
In the wake of viral footage of a particularly hands-on training session that prompted a gym to ban him, the personal trainer accused of touching his client inappropriately told AsiaOne on Wednesday (Aug 5) that he would be filing a police report against the “false accusations”.
Cheryl Loh, another personal trainer, had posted a video on Monday (Aug 3) calling him out for “touching inappropriately and groping”, writing that his behaviour was “not normal”.
However, the accused, who goes by the name David Mesut, said that his client had consented to the physical contact.
In the clip, David is shown touching his female client’s buttocks several times while she is performing several exercises at local gym Apeiro Performance.
Loh, who frequents the gym and conducts sessions there, told Lianhe Zaobao that she had noticed David’s behaviour about two weeks ago, but held her tongue as she was not certain if the pair were a couple.
But when she saw them again on July 31, she decided to film their interaction.
In lieu of singing forlorn songs about lost love and finding comfort camping in the woods, this quintet is pledging to serve their residents with full effort and full heart.
In the last couple of days, the internet had a bit of fun commenting on a National Day banner design spotted in multiple places across the Jurong GRC district.
While typical banners put up by Members of Parliament (MPs) usually involve a simple blown-up photograph against the neighbourhood, the team helmed by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has done something a little different.
It’s a little unorthodox, but a refreshing one, really. Tharman, accompanied by fellow Jurong GRC MPs Shawn Huang, Rahayu Mahzam, Xie Yao Quan and Tan Wu Meng, posed for a picture in the middle of a dreamy lalang grass field underneath a clear blue sky. In other words, it could be an album cover for a folksy indie band, putting the “grass” in “grassroots”.
SINGAPORE: The surge in dengue cases is due to a “confluence of factors” such as low immunity to certain serotypes of the virus, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Wednesday (Aug 5) as the number of cases hit a record high.
A total of 22,403 dengue cases have been reported so far this year, surpassing the annual high of 22,170 in 2013. Twenty people have died from dengue this year as of Aug 2.
Even though the weekly number of cases fell from a high of 1,792 in the third week of July to 1,380 last week, NEA said the weekly numbers remain “persistently high” at above 1,000.
Apart from low herd immunity, the fact that people continue to work from home and an expected high mosquito population in the warmer months of the year mean that Singapore continues to be at high risk for dengue.
LOW HERD IMMUNITY
Singapore’s population has low herd immunity against dengue due to some success in controlling the Aedes mosquito population over the years.
There are four related dengue viruses (DENV-1 to DENV-4) and infection provides immunity against only one serotype. The majority of the infections this year are of DENV-2 and DENV-3.
DENV-2 has been the dominant strain circulating in Singapore since 2016, said Associate Professor Luo Dahai from Nanyang Technological University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine. From last year, there has been a shift of circulating serotype from DENV-2 to DENV-3, he added.
The level of exposure to dengue among young adults here is relatively low, according to the latest study by NEA, published in 2015.
While about 87 per cent of those aged 56 to 60 in the NEA study had immunity against DENV-2, only 14 per cent were immune in the 16 to 20 age group.
This partially explains the population’s susceptibility to explosive outbreaks and the high rate of dengue cases among young adults, the study’s authors said.
Population immunity against DENV-3 is lower than against DENV-2 in all age groups studied, and it is especially low in young people, dipping to 2.7 per cent for those aged 16 to 20 in the NEA study.
This serotype was last dominant in Singapore about three decades ago, but it has been dominant from January to April this year, said NEA.
A single housing block in Senja has become one of the most badly hit by Singapore’s worst dengue outbreak. Thirty-three residents are infected. Those living in the area say they have seen more fogging and inspections although some suspect the mosquitoes have been breeding not only inside homes, but elsewhere. CNA reports.
“The high base of dengue cases in the first few months of the year means a high ‘viral load’ within the population; this is a situation that is conducive for an outbreak once the other favourable conditions are aligned,” said NEA.
While NEA’s quarterly surveillance data showed that the proportion of DENV-3 cases had fallen while that of DENV-2 rose from April to June, there are more DENV-3 viruses circulating in Singapore than in the past.
“We would need to monitor the serotypes for a longer period to see a clearer trend, whether DENV-2 is back to dominant or there is going to be a shift to DENV-3,” said Assoc Prof Luo.
MORE MOSQUITOES, MORE PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME
From May, a confluence of other factors pushed the numbers even higher.
The warmer and wetter weather as well as the increase in the mosquito population in many areas “carried the momentum of the high dengue case load of the first four months of the year over to the following months”, said NEA.
Between January and July this year, NEA detected about 13,800 mosquito breeding habitats islandwide. This is about 40 per cent higher than in the same period in 2019.
NEA’s Gravitrap surveillance system detected a 30 per cent increase in the Aedes aegypti mosquito population from May to June, compared to the February to March period.
There are still 391 active dengue clusters where about 600,000 households are located, with the largest clusters found around Aljunied Road/Geylang Road, Bukit Panjang Ring Road and Arthur Road near Katong.
The sharp spike in case also coincided with the two-month COVID-19 “circuit breaker” period, said NEA.
“With more people staying at home, there would be more human hosts for the female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to target, which is a day-biter and harbours within the indoor environment, and this would have partly contributed to the recent increase in cases,” said the agency.
Other factors at play during the circuit breaker include the reduction in some landscaping works due to manpower shortage and a pause in most construction activities which would have hampered good housekeeping of construction sites.
It is also possible that more cases of dengue were reported because of “better health-seeking behaviour” by the public who felt unwell or noticed symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, said NEA.
NEA STEPPING UP EFFORTS
The traditional dengue peak season lasts a few months, from May to October.
NEA is continuing its stepped up dengue inspection and outreach efforts. It conducted more than 552,000 inspections islandwide between January and July.
It is also working with partners to distribute educational materials and mosquito repellent to residents in dengue cluster areas.
Volunteers have been deployed every weekend since end-June to engage residents at large dengue cluster areas, reaching out to almost 55,000 people. These efforts will continue at other large dengue cluster areas over the coming weekends.
“We urge residents living in dengue cluster areas to protect themselves against mosquito bites, by doing the three simple steps – spray insecticide at dark corners, apply insect repellent, and wear long-sleeve tops and long pants,” said the CEO of NEA Tan Meng Dui.
“In our fight against dengue, both defensive and offensive actions are important. Such concerted individual and collective efforts are the most effective way to break the dengue transmission chain, and bring the dengue situation under control.”
NEA has developed checklist highlighting common mosquito breeding habitats. It is available for download at go.gov.sg/dengue-checklist.
Police are investigating an incident in which a man was caught on camera vandalising a car that was parked at an open-air carpark in Yishun.
Facebook user Swampy Wilson, the owner of the car, said the incident occurred at Block 302 Yishun Central on Saturday (Aug 1), between 4am to 5.05am.
According to Wilson, the man was first seen sitting on the road at around 4am. He then appeared to be “chasing after a cyclist” at 4.37am and “stalking a man from behind” at 4.43am.
Wilson, a resident at Block 302, said the man “started his art on my front bonnet” at 5am.
Videos that Wilson posted show a man wielding a stick-like object and swinging it around.
The man, who was smoking and did not have a mask on, can then be seen using the stick to scratch Wilson’s car non-stop.
Another video accompanying the Facebook post also shows the multiple and extensive scratches on the front bonnet of Wilson’s car.
In a national broadcast on Jun 7, 2020, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called the Covid-19 pandemic “the crisis of a generation”.
He addressed plans to get Singapore out of this crisis but also acknowledged the exceptional spirit of unity and fortitude borne by the people.
“Many Singaporeans have stepped up during this crisis. They have become more, not less, than themselves. Healthcare workers, public officers, grassroots leaders and volunteers, and many more working quietly behind the scenes,” he said.
“These acts of solidarity and human kindness exemplify the best in us. They show how we can emerge stronger from this crisis, with a sharper consciousness of being Singaporean.”
Come Aug 9, 2020, the Public Warning System will sound a 20-second “All-Clear” siren to indicate the start of the special Anthem Moment.
As the National Anthem is played from the Padang, seven other flag-raising ceremonies will take place concurrently across the island. This event will be broadcast live on TV, radio and the NDPeeps YouTube channel.
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s tally of dengue cases this year reached a record 22,403 on Wednesday (Aug 5), the highest recorded in a single year.
With nearly five months to go before the end of the year, the number of dengue cases has surpassed the 22,170 recorded in 2013, which was the previous largest dengue outbreak in Singapore.
In all, 20 people have died from dengue this year as of Aug 2, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). The youngest victim was 25 years old, while the oldest was 92 years old.
Eighteen of the victims had worked or lived in active dengue clusters. MOH declined to provide details on the victims or the dengue clusters they had worked or lived in.
The ministry said that about 0.2 per cent of the dengue patients this year developed dengue haemorrhagic fever, a more severe form of dengue that can be fatal. The proportion of dengue haemorrhagic fever cases has ranged between 0.1 and 0.8 per cent in the past 10 years.
“Although most dengue patients recover from the infection, elderly patients and those with concurrent medical conditions are at higher risk of developing complications. We urge persons with symptoms suggestive of dengue to see a medical practitioner for timely diagnosis and management,” said MOH.
Singapore has reported more than 1,000 dengue cases a week for eight consecutive weeks. Last week, the National Environment Agency (NEA) reported 1,380 dengue cases, down slightly from the weekly high this year of 1,792 cases for the week ending Jul 25.
Before this year, the highest number of dengue cases recorded in a week was 891 in 2014.
NEA said there were 391 active dengue clusters in Singapore as of Tuesday, with more than 600,000 households located in those areas.
The largest clusters are around Aljunied Road/Geylang Road and Arthur Road near Katong.
Warmer weather and rainy days since the beginning of this year have favoured mosquito breeding across the country, said Associate Professor Luo Dahai from Nanyang Technological University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
The “circuit breaker” period imposed by Singapore between Apr 7 and Jul 1 to stem the spread of COVID-19 also likely exacerbated the dengue situation. During the circuit breaker period, non-essential workplaces and schools were shuttered and people were told to stay home.
“When more people stay at home all the days, there could be more residential mosquito breeding and more opportunities for ‘blood meals’,” said Assoc Prof Luo.
In the first quarter of the year, there was an increase in the less common dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3). This serotype was last prevalent about three decades ago in Singapore, meaning there is low immunity in the population and rapid disease transmission, said NEA.
Assoc Prof Luo explained that DENV-2 has been the dominant strain circulating in Singapore since 2016.
“The local outbreaks are usually caused by DENV-1 and DENV-2 in the past. The immunity built among the community residents against these DENVs may not be protective against the emerging DENV-3. More symptomatic dengue infection cases may rise for this reason,” he said.
VIRUS SEROTYPES “FLUCTUATING”
However, NEA’s quarterly surveillance data showed that from April to June, the proportion of DENV-3 cases had fallen while that of DENV-2 rose.
Assoc Prof Luo said that while there are more DENV-3 viruses circulating in Singapore than in the past, the two virus serotype populations are fluctuating.
“We would need to monitor the serotypes for a longer period to see a clearer trend, whether DENV-2 is back to dominant or there is going to be a shift to DENV-3,” he said.
He added that while vector control measures implemented by NEA do help to control the mosquito propagation, climate change may cause an epidemic cycle every two to three years. Overall, dengue cases are also on the rise across the world, he said.
NEA urged those living in dengue clusters to help step up efforts to protect themselves against dengue, including spraying insecticide in dark corners of their homes, applying insect repellent regularly and wearing long pants and long-sleeved tops.
“As the traditional dengue peak season lasts a few months, from May to October, NEA urgently seeks the cooperation of all residents and stakeholders to do their part to complement NEA’s efforts,” it said.
NEA has continued with its intensified dengue inspection and outreach efforts, and conducted more than 552,000 inspections islandwide between January and July this year, it said.
