COVID: Another M'sian linked to casino dealer cluster in S'pore

SINGAPORE: A 34-year old Malaysian man is the new case of COVID-19 linked to Marina Bay Sands Casino Dealer cluster and has tested preliminarily positive for the B1617 variant, according to the republic's Ministry of Health (MOH).

In its full data released late last night, the MOH said the man is currently unemployed and a household contact of the first case in the cluster, a 36 year-old Malaysian man who works as a dealer at Marina Bay Sands Casino and was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on May 16.

"He developed a fever and cough on May 12, and sought medical treatment at a General Practitioner clinic on May 15, where he tested positive for his Antigen Rapid Test. He was immediately isolated and a Polymerase Chain Reaction test was done on the same day.

"His test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on May 16. His serology test result is pending. He has tested preliminarily positive for the B1617 variant, and is pending further confirmatory tests," said the ministry.

With the latest case, Marina Bay Sands Casino Dealer cluster is now made up of three cases with another case involving a 35 year-old Singaporean man who works as a dealer at Marina Bay Sands Casino, as well.

The republic which has tightened safe management measures in the community from May 16, has so far a total caseload of 61,613.

It has 16 open clusters so far with the largest linked to the Changi Airport Terminal 3 which has 78 confirmed cases.

-- BERNAMA