COVID-19: 125 new cases in Singapore, 21 in community

Singapore confirmed an additional 125 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the infection tally to 45,423 cases.

According to brief noon data released by its Ministry of Health (MOH) today, there were 21 cases in the community involving four locals or permanent residents and 17 work pass holders.

"From our preliminary investigations, of these 21 cases, five were close contacts of earlier cases and had already been placed on quarantine. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing for the other cases," it said.

In addition, MOH said there was one imported case who had been placed on Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore.

To date, Singapore has issued 93,600 SHNs with 10,000 still active.

The ministry noted that the vast majority of today's cases were still work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.

In its full data released late yesterday, Singapore classified 607 of its cases as imported, 1,991 as community cases and 42,700 dorm residents.

As at noon yesterday, 41,323 or about 92 per cent of the patients have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals or community care facilities.

There were 215 confirmed cases still in hospital yesterday, with one in the intensive care unit.

The statement added that 3,734 patients who have mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19 have been isolated and are being cared for at community facilities.

So far, 26 people have died in the city-state from complications due to COVID-19, with the first two fatalities reported on March 21.

One new cluster was identified yesterday, a dormitory at 12 Kian Teck Crescent, while seven clusters, all dormitories, have now been closed.

-- BERNAMA