SINGAPORE: Singapore announced 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday (Mar 6), the highest daily jump since the outbreak started here.
This brings the total number of new coronavirus cases in Singapore to 130 since the first case was confirmed on Jan 23.
One more patient has recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of discharged cases to 82.
Out of the new cases, nine are linked to the cluster involving a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong on Feb 15.
One patient is a SingTel employee and one, a likely imported case, is a Singapore Airlines cabin crew member.
A second imported case is a Singapore permanent resident who had been in Germany recently. Another of the cases was in the same ward as an earlier diagnosed case.
NEW CASES
Case 118
Case 118 is a 33-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
She is a family member of cases 114 and 115, and is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster.
Case 119
The case is a 55-year-old Singaporean man with no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
He is a Singtel employee, but had not gone to work since reporting onset of symptoms on Feb 27.
Earlier on Friday, Singtel confirmed in response to CNA’s queries that one of its employees was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Thursday night.
“Our immediate priority has been to manage and minimise the risk of infection at Singtel Comcentre 1 where our colleague worked on level 20,” the company said, adding that the entire floor has been closed off and disinfected.
“Those working on the same floor have been instructed to work from home for 14 days, closely monitor symptoms and practise strict social distancing while contact tracing is conducted in tandem with MOH.
“We are moving as fast as we can to ensure all parties who have been in close contact with our affected colleague can be identified swiftly,” the telco said.
Case 120
The case is a 62-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
She is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster and is currently warded at NCID.
Case 121
The case is a 54-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions.
She is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster and is currently warded at NCID.
Case 122
Case 122 is a 64-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
She is a close contact of case 117 and is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster.
She is currently warded at NCID.
Case 123
A likely imported case, case 123 is a 47-year-old Singaporean man who had been in South Africa from Feb 14 to Feb 17 and France from Feb 22 to Feb 24.
He works as a member of the Singapore Airlines cabin crew but did not go to work after suffering symptoms.
Case 124
Case 124 is another likely imported case, a 37-year-old Singapore permanent resident who had been in Germany from Feb 27 to Mar 5.
Case 125
The case is a 65-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
She is a family member of case 128 and is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster.
The patient is warded at NCID.
Case 126
The case is a 77-year-old Singaporean man with no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
He was in the same ward as case 109 at Singapore General Hospital from Feb 29 to Mar 1 before case 109 was confirmed to have COVID-19.
Case 126 has been in quarantine since Mar 4.
Case 127
The case is a 64-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
She is a close contact of case 177 and is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster.
Case 128
Case 128 is a 70-year-old Singaporean man with no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
He is a family member of case 125 and is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster.
Case 129
The case is a 68-year-old Singaporean woman no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
She is a family member of case 130 and is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster.
She is currently warded at the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH).
Case 130
The case is a 66-year-old Singaporean man no recent travel history to the affected countries and regions.
He is a family member of case 129 and is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster.
He is also warded at NTFGH.
TASK FORCE FORMED TO RAISE PUBLIC HYGIENE STANDARDS
On Friday, authorities announced the formation of a multi-agency task force to step up public hygiene standards in Singapore beyond the COVID-19 outbreak.
The new SG Clean Taskforce, chaired by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli, is under the purview of the multi-ministry task force for COVID-19 announced in January.
The taskforce will aim to “galvanise collective action” in ensuring the cleanliness of public spaces, encouraging good personal hygiene and adjusting social norms to reduce the spread of disease.
READ: Task force formed to raise public hygiene standards beyond COVID-19 outbreak
Authorities also said that while temperature screening is an important tool in detecting COVID-19 cases, it is not a foolproof measure and should not be regarded as the only way to identify people who are unwell.
On Thursday, MOH said that four confirmed cases were linked to a new cluster at SAFRA Jurong where they attended a private diner function.
According to SAFRA, the individuals had cleared mandatory temperature checks and did not have fever; nor had they exhibited any flu-like symptoms.
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