Singapore reports 20,312 new COVID-19 cases on Feb 23

The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 20,312 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore on Wednesday (Feb 23), down from a record-high of 26,032 the day before. 

It is the second straight day COVID-19 cases have crossed 20,000. 

There were also 8,076 cases who were between 12 and 39 years old.

Of the cases reported, 2,990 were detected through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. Of these, 2,885 were local cases. 

Another 17,322 cases were detected through Antigen Rapid Tests (ART) and assessed by a doctor to have mild symptoms and of low risk. Of these, 17,267 were local cases. 

In total, there were 20,152 local transmission cases.

The weekly COVID-19 infection growth rate decreased to 1.49, down from 1.57 on Tuesday. The growth rate refers to the ratio of community cases for the past week over the week before and a weekly infection growth rate above one indicates an increasing number of new weekly cases.

Seven deaths related to COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday, taking the national death toll to 963. 

There were 1,587 cases hospitalised on Wednesday, down from 1,608 the day before. Of these, 200 cases require oxygen supplementation and 46 cases are in the Intensive Care Unit.

There were also 15,298 cases discharged from the hospital over the past day. 

In the last 28 days, 309,325 cases have been recorded, of which 99.7 per cent had no or mild symptoms and 0.2 per cent have required oxygen supplementation.

As of Feb 22, 94 per cent of the eligible population and 91 per cent of the total population are fully vaccinated, 92 per cent have received at least one dose and 66 per cent have received boosters.