COVID-19 cases spike in Singapore with 16 new community cases

On Apr 29, 16 out of the 35 new COVID-19 infectious cases reported in Singapore were community cases.

This makes the highest number of community cases in the country since July 2020’s 24 community cases.

Among the new cases are three staff members from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), including a nurse, doctor, and healthcare assistant trainee, and six patients in Ward 9D tested positive. This makes TTSH the largest active cluster currently and Singapore’s first COVID-19 hospital cluster.

TTSH has since locked down Ward 9D and Ward 7D, as one of the cases had transferred from there.

“All close contacts of the cases, including patients, visitors and staff who have been in the affected wards, will also be placed on quarantine,” announced the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Taking precautionary measures, all patients and staff members in other TTSH wards will also be tested for COVID-19, including those who are asymptomatic. 

Visitation has also been put on halt until further notice to manage the spread of the virus. However, patients can still be admitted into the hospital.

“Please be informed that no visitors will be allowed into our wards until further notice,” said the hospital in a Facebook post on Thursday.

“These are necessary measures to contain the situation and protect our patients and staff. Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and we thank you for your understanding.”

In addition, several malls have been added to a list of places visited by COVID-19 cases during their infectious period, including Junction 8, VivoCity, Bugis Junction, and Ang Mo Kio Hub.

A number of them are near central Singapore – Shaw House, Orchard Central, 111 Somerset and 313 Somerset.

Six mosques around Singapore have also been closed for deep-cleaning and disinfection after being visited by positive COVID-19 cases.

The mosques are: Masjid Petempatan Melayu Sembawang in Sembawang, Masjid Abdul Hamid Kampung Pasiran in Novena, Masjid Hajjah Fatimah at Beach Road, Masjid Al-Falah in Orchard, Masjid Yusof Ishak in Woodlands and Masjid Al-Iman in Bukit Panjang.

Services will resume on Friday.

The full list of the new locations, date and time visited by infected COVID-19 cases is as follows:

1. The Summit at National University of Singapore Bukit Timah Campus (469 Bukit Timah Road) on Apr 15, between 7:30am to 3:40pm
2. Hajjah Fatimah (4001 Beach Road) on Apr 15, between 1:00pm to 1:30pm, and between 4:05pm to 4:45pm
3. 4Fingers Crispy Chicken at Junction 8 (9 Bishan Place) on Apr 15, between 4:50pm to 6:55pm
4. NTUC FairPrice at Kitchener Complex (808 French Road) on Apr 15, between 5:05pm to 6:10pm
5. UNIQLO at Orchard Central (181 Orchard Road) on Apr 16, between 1:35pm to 2:20pm
6. Al-Falah (22 Bideford Road) on Apr 16, between 2:40pm to 3:45pm
7. Abdul Hamid Kampung Pasiran (10 Gentle Road) on Apr 16, between 4:25pm to 5:15pm
8. Cash Converters (192 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh) on Apr 16, , between 5:25pm to 6:00pm
9. Subway at Nanyang Community Club (60 Jurong West Street 91) on Apr 17, between 9:10am to 9:45am
10. City Harvest Church (1 Jurong West Street 91) on Apr 17, between 9:40am to 11:00am
11. Starbucks at Nanyang Technological University (76 Nanyang Drive) on Apr 17, between 11:30am to 1:00pm
12. Fairprice Xtra at VivoCity (1 HarbourFront Walk) on Apr 17, between 11:50am to 1:05pm
13. Hajjah Fatimah (4001 Beach Road) on Apr 17, between 12:55am to 1:30pm, and 4:10pm to 4:40pm
14. The Food Inn at Esplanade Xchange (90 Bras Basah Road) on Apr 18, between  12:20am to 1:45pm
15. The Summit at National University of Singapore Bukit Timah Campus (469 Bukit Timah Road) on Apr 19, between 7:30am to 3:50pm
16. Stirling Steaks (115 East Coast Road) on Apr 21, between 6:00pm to 8:30pm
17. The Summit at National University of Singapore Bukit Timah Campus (469 Bukit Timah Road) on Apr 22, between 7:30am to 3:40pm
18. The Istana Ballroom at Tanjong Katong Complex (845 Geylang Road) on Apr 23, between 4:00pm to 5:35pm
19. Wisma Geylang Serai (1 Engku Aman Turn) on Apr 23, between 4:30pm to 5:30pm
20. Genki Sushi at Junction 8 (9 Bishan Place) on Apr 23, between 4:40pm to 5:30pm
21. City Harvest Church (1 Jurong West Street 91) on Apr 23, between 7:30pm to 9:30pm
22. Carousel at Royal Plaza on Scotts (25 Scotts Road) on Apr 24, between 11:25am to 2:00pm
23. Tuk Tuk Cha at Bugis Junction (200 Victoria Street) on Apr 24, 1:05pm to 2:55pm
24. Café de Muse at Shaw House (350 Orchard Road) on Apr 24, 2:00pm to 3:30pm
25. Paco FunWord at Bugis+ (201 Victoria Street) on Apr 24, between 2:50pm to 4:00pm
26. YAYOI at 100 AM (100 Tras Street) on Apr 24, between 6:35pm to 8:00pm
27. DON DON DONKI at 100 AM (100 Tras Street) on Apr 24, between 8:00pm to 8:40pm
28. Healthy Kopitiam at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng) on Apr 26, between 12:30am to 1:00pm
29. Poke Theory at 111 Somerset (111 Somerset Road) on Apr 26, between 6:25pm to 7:05pm
30. 313 Somerset (313 Orchard Road) on Apr 26, between 7:20pm to 8:30pm
31. The Summit at National University of Singapore Bukit Timah Campus (469 Bukit Timah Road) on Apr 27, between 7:20am to 9:40am
32. Malaysia Boleh! at AMK Hub (53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3) on Apr 27, between 5:05pm to 6:35pm, and 5:25pm to 6:30pm
33. City Harvest Church (1 Jurong West Street 91) on Apr 27, between 7:40pm to 10:15pm

The list excludes residences, workplaces, healthcare facilities and public transport.

Those identified as close contacts to the infected patients have already been notified by MOH.

If you were at any of the locations during the specified timings, you should monitor your health closely for 14 days from your date of visit as a precautionary measure, as advised by MOH.

As always, let us stay diligent and continue adhering to safe distancing measures.