86-Year-Old Thomson Old Age Home Resident Tests Positive For Covid-19, Case Is Currently Unlinked

Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home Resident Tests Positive For Covid-19, Home Bars Visitors Till 30 Apr

On Tuesday (31 Mar), the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 47 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore, of which 18 are unlinked.

One of them — Case 918 — is an 86-year-old woman who resides at Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home off Thomson Road.

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Unlinked local case is another cause for worry

As if her advanced age wasn’t enough cause for worry, the authorities have yet to establish how she was infected.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the elderly woman tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday (31 Mar).

She is currently being warded at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

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Old age home to take extra precautions

In light of the diagnosis, Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home will be taking on extra precautions to ensure the well-being of residents and staff.

Here’s its statement posted on Facebook:

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The Thomson elderly home in has since undergone thorough cleaning and disinfection and is rendering support to the patient’s family members. It has also reached out to the families of other residents.

The home is also in touch with MOH and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to identify the other residents and staff who were in close contact with the Covid-19 patient.

Accordingly, affected Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home staff have been put under quarantine, reported The Straits Times.

No visitors allowed till 30 Apr

In light of the situation, the home’s branches at 1 Thomson Lane and 148A Silat Avenue will not be allowing visitors till 30 Apr.

Prior to the diagnosis, the old age home had implemented a full suite of measures in light of the Covid-19 outbreak, such as increased temperature taking and screening of visitors.

We hope these measures will prove effective in preventing Covid-19 from spreading in the home.

The last thing we want is for a place where elderly people are staying in to emerge as a cluster.

Examples of cases abroad — like a senior home in the United States that has reported at least 77 Covid-19 cases and 5 deaths and the virus ravaging assisted living facilities across Italy — have shown that the coronavirus can spread like wildlife and have devastating consequences in places where lots of old people are present.

Speedy recovery to the elderly patient

MS News wishes the elderly Covid-19 patient a speedy recovery.

While her old age would surely be a cause for concern, we’re heartened that the home has implemented the necessary measures with such swiftness.

Let’s hope none of the other residents and staff were infected too.

Featured image adapted from LinkedIn.