One unlinked case
TTSH cluster
There are 9 community cases so far in the TTSH cluster after another 8 were identified yesterday. Of the 9 cases, 3 are TTSH staff and 6 are patients.
The 3 TTSH staff are a 46 year-old female Philippines national who is a nurse at Ward 9D, a Singapore Permanent Resident who is a doctor at the same ward, and an 18 year-old female Singaporean who is a healthcare assistant trainee deployed at the same ward. The infected doctor received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 18 January, and the second dose on 8 February.
Of the 6 patients, 3 are aymptomatic.
Among them is a 57 year-old male Singaporean who was initially warded in Ward 7D, before being transferred to Ward 9D.
He developed a fever on 16 April but did not seek medical treatment. On 18 April, as his fever persisted, and he had developed a runny nose and cough, he sought treatment at TTSH’s emergency department. He was tested for COVID-19 infection and his test result was negative. He was subsequently warded in Ward 7D. On 20 April, he was transferred to Ward 9D. As he had persistent fever, he was reviewed by an infectious diseases physician, and transferred to an isolation ward on 27 April. On 28 April, he tested positive for COVID-19 infection and was transferred to NCID.
Ward 7D will therefore also be locked down.
Lockdown of TTSH wards and other precautionary measures
Ward 7D and 9D are locked down. Testing for staff and patients in the 2 wards are still in progress.
All close contacts of the cases, including patients, visitors and staff who have been in the affected wards, will also be placed on quarantine. As a precautionary measure, all patients and staff in other TTSH wards will also be tested for COVID-19 infection, including those who are asymptomatic.
MOH said their strategy is to aggressively test and draw a wide ring around the cases, to try and prevent further spread. To further minimise the risk of transmission, from 29 April, no visitors will be allowed into the hospital except for critically ill patients. During this period, elective cases will be deferred except for those that are urgent, and A&E cases that are non-life-threatening will be redirected to other hospitals.
ICA cluster
7 more community cases have been detected that is linked to the ICA officer. They are all family members of the officer and had already been placed on quarantine earlier. All 8 had gathered for a meal on 25 April, where transmission was likely to have taken place.
The 7 cases are:
The spouse of the ICA officer. She is a 32 year-old female Singaporean who works as a nurse at TTSH. She is unrelated to the TTSH cluster and she does not work in Ward 7D or 9D. She is asymptomatic and was tested during quarantine.
A 72 year-old male Singaporean retiree who is the father of the ICA officer.
A 3-year-old nephew of the ICA officer who last attended school on 22 April.
A 39 year-old male Singaporean family member who works as a security officer at ION Orchard, and private hire car driver. He had interacted with the ICA officer over dinner on 25 April.
A 33 year-old female Singaporean family member who is a housewife. She was asymptomatic and tested during quarantine.
A 65 year-old male Singaporean family member who works as a telephone operator at Goodwood Park Hotel.
A 38 year-old male Singaporean family member who works as a technical officer at SP PowerGrid.
Overall, the number of new cases in the community has increased from 10 cases in the week before to 28 cases in the past week.
Update on current confirmed cases who are still in hospital
There are currently 110 confirmed cases who are still in hospital. Of these, most are stable or improving, and none is in the intensive care unit. 243 are isolated and cared for at community facilities. These are those who have mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19. 30 have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection.
Stay safe and stay vigilant, folks. We are not out of the woods yet. No one is safe until everyone is safe.
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