Coronavirus: 15 community cases reported on Thursday, all asymptomatic and were already on quarantine

[UPDATE: 11.45PM]

The Ministry of Health has confirmed an additional 517 cases of Covid-19 infection in Singapore on Thursday (June 4), with 502 being Work Permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.

There are 15 community cases - two Permanent Residents, six Work Pass holders, and seven Work Permit holders.

All 15 cases were close contacts of earlier confirmed cases, and have already been placed on quarantine. They are all asymptomatic, but MOH had swabbed them to confirm and verify their status during quarantine.

Of the 15 cases, 13 (including 1 Permanent Resident) reside in a shophouse at Veerasamy Road with an earlier confirmed case. Among them, three have positive serological test results, which is indicative of past infections. Eight serological tests have come back negative, and two results are pending.

The remaining Work Pass holder was a housemate of an earlier confirmed case at Bendemeer Road, and has been quarantined at a government quarantine facility since May 30. His serological test has come back positive, which is indicative of a past infection.

The remaining Permanent Resident case is a household contact of previously confirmed cases, and has been placed on quarantine since May 7. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine if this is a past infection.

Three locations among a list of public places that were visited by cases in the community during the infectious period were removed from the list today. The first is the Mayflower Market and Food Centre (162 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4), which the patient/s had visited on May 19 between 10.45am to 11.15am. 

The second is Parkway Parade (80 Marine Parade), which the patient/s had visited on May 20 between 3pm and 4pm. The last is NTUC Fairprice at Jurong Point, which the patient/s had visited on May 20 between 4.30pm and 6pm.

There are more than 10 other places in the list, including Japanese Food Street and FairPrice Xtra at Jurong Point, NTUC Fairprice at Taman Jurong Shopping Centre, the wet market at Block 963 Jurong West Street 91, Fairprice Finest at Bukit Panjang Plaza, NTUC Fairprice at Hillion Mall, Don Don Donki at JEM, Jurong West 505 Market and Food Centre, FairPrice Finest and Food Junction at Junction 8, NTUC FairPrice at 414 Yishun Ring Road, and Giant at 418 Yishun Avenue 11. 

As a precautionary measure, persons who had been at these locations during the specified timings should monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit. They should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history.

MOH added that there is no need to avoid places where confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been. The National Environment Agency will engage the management of affected premises to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfection.

322 more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities.

Of the 303 cases who are still in hospital, most are in stable condition or improving. Five are in critical condition in the intensive care unit, while 12,691 cases who have mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still test positive for Covid-19 are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

This brings the total number of cases to 36,922, with 23,904 patients discharged and 24 deaths.

For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit here.

kwokkarpeng@asiaone.com