COVID-19: More positive cases at dorms, Singapore’s tally crosses 14,000-mark

The republic’s Ministry of Health (MOH) said only 14 cases were Singaporeans or Permanent Residents. File picture

SINGAPORE: Singapore today confirmed 799 new cases of COVID-19 infections, with "vast majority" of the cases attributed to foreign workers residing in dormitories.

The latest figures bring the tally for the republic to 14,423 cases.

In a statement here, the republic's Ministry of Health (MOH) said only 14 cases were Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.

The ministry noted that it is still working through the details of the cases, and further updates will be shared later in the day.

From Sunday’s tally of 13,624, Singapore classified 11,419 as dorm residents or about 3.5 per cent from the total of about 323,000 foreign workers staying in dormitories.

As at noon Sunday, Singapore recorded 931 new cases of COVID-19 infection, of which about 95 per cent was dorm residents while 25 cases involved work permit holders residing outside dormitories.

There were also two imported cases and 18 cases in the community were reported.

In a detailed statement issued late last night, the MOH said it was picking up many more cases due to extensive testing.

“Most of these cases have a mild illness and are being monitored in community isolation facilities or the general ward of our hospitals. None of them is in the intensive care unit,” it said.

The MOH noted that of yesterday’s new cases, 74 per cent were linked to known clusters, while the rest were pending contact tracing.

In the past week (April 19 to 25), the ministry said it had uncovered links for 1,280 previously unlinked cases.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,060 cases have fully recovered and have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, 22 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit, while 12 have died.

Singapore has identified four more new clusters on Sunday, namely Proptech Pte Ltd; Kian Teck Crescent (5); Sungei Kadut Street 6 (3); and Tuas View Square (133).

Singapore’s largest cluster, S11 Dormitory @ Punggol has so far a total of 2,275 confirmed cases.

From Sunday’s tally, Singapore also classified 1,153 as community cases, 571 imported cases, and 481 cases involving work permit holders not residing in dorms.

— BERNAMA