The Ministry of Health has confirmed 10 new cases of COVID-19 in Singapore as of 12 pm on March 9. This brings the total number of cases in the island nation to 160.
Of the new cases, six were linked to the private dinner function held at the Joy Garden restaurant in SAFRA Jurong on February 15. There are now a total of 36 cases linked to this cluster.
Of the other four new cases – one is linked to the cluster at The Life Church and Missions Singapore (146B Paya Lebar Road) and three are imported cases.
The MOH also announced that 3 more patients had recovered and had been discharged, bringing the total number of patients who have recovered from the virus to 93.
The MOH has stated that starting March 7, foreigners who are short-term visit pass holders (STVP) who seek treatment for COVID-19 in Singapore will need to pay for their treatment. This is in view of “the rising number of COVID-19 infections globally, and the expected rise in the number of confirmed cases in Singapore” which means the ministry will need to “prioritise the resources at our public hospitals”, said an MOH statement.
MOH has said they will continue to waive COVID-19 testing fees for all STVP holders as part of the public health measures to identify and initiate contact tracing for confirmed cases who may have been infected while in Singapore.
The government will also continue to pay for the COVID-19 testing fees and hospital bill in full for Singapore Residents and long term pass holders who are admitted to public hospitals for COVID-19.
Case 151: A 51 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is a contact of Cases 66 and 91, and is linked to the cluster at The Life Church and Missions Singapore.
He reported onset of symptoms on 4 February and had sought treatment at a general practitioner (GP) clinic on 5 February and 13 February, and at Yishun Polyclinic on 8 February and 13 February.
As he had been identified to have attended the Chinese New Year gathering at Mei Hwan Drive on 25 January, he was referred by MOH to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on 22 February even though he had recovered by then. Subsequent serological test results on 8 March afternoon confirmed that he had an earlier COVID-19 infection.
He stays at Yishun Ring Road.
Case 152: An imported case involving a 65 year-old male Indonesian national who arrived in Singapore on 7 March. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
He reported the onset of symptoms on 28 February while he was in Indonesia, and had sought treatment at a hospital in Jakarta on 2 March. He presented at SGH on 7 March. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 8 March afternoon.
Case 153: An imported case involving a 65 year-old female Singapore Citizen who had been in Indonesia from 25-28 February. She reported that while she was in Indonesia, she had visited her sister who had pneumonia. She is currently warded in an isolation room at SGH.
She reported onset of symptoms on 3 March and had sought treatment at Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic on the same day and on 7 March. She presented at the emergency department at SGH on 7 March, and subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on 8 March afternoon.
Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Jalan Teck Whye.
Case 154: An imported case involving a 52 year-old male British national. He arrived in Singapore on 6 March and was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 9 March morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.
Case 155: A 47 year-old female Malaysian national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 9 March morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a contact of Case 128, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
Case 156: A 50 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
Case 157: A 54 year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 9 March morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a contact of Case 137, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
Case 158: A 53 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 9 March morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH). She is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
Case 159: A 59 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 9 March morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NTFGH. He is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
Case 160: A five year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 9 March morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. He is a family member of Case 145, and is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.
The MOH has also said that of the 67 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. Ten are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
