The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 13 new cases of Covid-19 in Singapore on Friday (13 Mar) with 9 being imported cases.
This brings the total number of cases in the country to 200.
1 patient was also discharged today, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 97.
Of the 13 new cases, 9 of them are imported cases.
Among them, 2 are linked to a mosque gathering in Kuala Lumpur (KL).
Case 197: A 30-year-old Singaporean man who tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning. He visited KL from 28 Feb-2 Mar.
He is currently warded at the National Centre of Infectious Diseases (NCID).
Case 199: A 37-year-old Singaporean man who tested positive on for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning. He visited KL from 26 Feb-2 Mar.
He is currently warded at the NCID.
There appear to be no commonalities for the other 7 imported cases who travelled to Thailand, India, Europe, Malaysia, and the US, before testing positive for the new coronavirus.
Case 188: A 53-year-old Singaporean who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday (12 Mar) afternoon.
He visited Thailand from 23 Feb-1 Mar and first reported symptoms last Saturday (7 Mar). He is likely to be an imported case, according to MOH.
The man stays in Yishun and is currently isolated at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH).
Case 189: A 36-year-old male Indian national and Singapore Work Pass holder who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday (12 Mar) afternoon.
He visited India from 21 Feb-1 Mar and first reported symptoms on Wednesday (11 Mar). He is likely to be an imported case, according to MOH.
He stays at St George’s Road and is currently isolated at the NCID.
Case 191: A 24-year-old Malaysian woman who tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning.
She visited Germany from 24-28 Feb and Malaysia from 28 Feb-3 Mar.
She is currently warded at the NCID.
Case 192: A 32-year-old American man who tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning.
He arrived in Singapore from the US on Tuesday (10 Mar) and is currently warded at the NCID.
The next 2 cases – Cases 193 and 194 – are linked.
Case 193: A 26-year-old Malaysian man and Singapore Work Pass holder who tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning.
Prior to his diagnosis, he visited several European countries:
He is currently isolated at the NCID.
Case 194: A 24-year-old female Chinese national and Singapore Work Pass holder who tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday (13 Mar) afternoon.
Like Case 193, she was in the same European countries as 194 between 1-10 Mar.
She is currently isolated at the NCID.
Case 195: A 47-year-old Singaporean man who tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning.
Prior to his diagnosis, he was in the US from 4-17 Feb.
He is currently warded at the NCID.
1 new case reported today is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster — Singapore’s largest Covid-19 cluster now with 44 linked cases.
Case 196: A 73-year-old Singaporean woman who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning.
She is a contact of Cases 107 and 148 and is currently isolated at the NCID.
2 of the new cases are linked to previous cases.
Case 190: A 53-year-old Singaporean man who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning.
He is linked to Case 172 — a 42-year-old Filipino woman who visited the Philippines from 27 Feb-2 Mar.
He is currently isolated at the NCID.
Case 200: A 62-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to affected countries or regions. She tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning.
She is linked to Case 165— a 30-year-old Singaporean man who visited France from 15 Feb-7 Mar.
The health authorities are still unable to establish links to one of the cases.
Case 198: A 61-year-old Singaporean woman with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions.
She tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday (13 Mar) morning.
103 Covid-19 cases remain in hospital, most of whom are stable or improving.
11 of them are in critical condition and receiving treatment at the ICU, an increase from 9 the previous day.
Earlier today, Singapore expanded its travel ban to now include visitors from Italy, France, Spain, and Germany.
These measures will take effect from Sunday (15 Mar), 11.59pm and came amid a surge in imported cases from Europe.
All visitors regardless of travel history will also be issued a 14-day Stay-Home Notice should they have a fever, or other respiratory symptoms.
To reduce interaction between people, MOH has introduced the following advisories
Finally, ticketed events with 250 or more participants are also advised to be deferred or cancelled. These include all mass gatherings like cultural, entertainment and sporting events.
The rise in imported cases in recent days is worrying but is consistent with the trend in other parts of the world.
While Singapore has not been successful in eradicating the disease from our shores, the outbreak on our island remains under control.
Let’s hope the new suite of measures introduced will be successful in controlling the number of Covid-19 cases here in Singapore.
Meanwhile, continue to upkeep good hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and to seek medical attention the should you feel under the weather.
Together, we can triumph over Covid-19.
Featured image adapted from FMT News.
On the other hand, some said they'd prefer sitting next to a massive dog than…
Some sustained injuries after jumping from windows, while others starved to death.
A record of more than 553,000 travellers crossed both checkpoints on 13 Dec.
There has been no year-end Covid-19 wave, as had been expected.
The beef was imported without a veterinary health certificate and halal certification.
One fan started queueing as early as 7am.