35 imported cases of Covid-19, highest number since March

[SINGAPORE] Thirty-five new cases of Covid-19, all imported, were confirmed here on Sunday (Jan 3).

The number is the highest daily figure since Sept 14, when there were 48 cases. The high before that was March 28 when there were 42 imported cases.

The new cases take Singapore's total of confirmed infections to 58,697.

Announcing the numbers, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said all the infected individuals had been on stay-home notices or were in isolation when they were tested.

Separately, MOH said it had found links between previously announced cases, which now form two clusters, each with four individuals who are linked.

One of Sunday's new cases is a cargo pilot who arrived from the United States via Australia. He was sent directly to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) where he was tested and confirmed to have Covid-19.

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His serological test result also came back positive.

Another of the cases was a ship crew member who boarded a vessel in Indonesia in March last year.

He was placed on quarantine onboard ship as he had been identified as a close contact of a previously reported case, another crew member on the same vessel.

The sailor diagnosed on Sunday had a teleconsultation with a doctor on Jan 2 as he had symptoms, and was taken to NCID, where he tested positive for Covid-19.

MOH said that the man never disembarked from the vessel, and that all its remaining crew members have been placed under quarantine.

Of the 35 individuals with confirmed infections, one is a Singaporean, five are permanent residents, 10 are Dependant's Pass holders, and one is a Long Term Visit Pass holder.

There are also 12 Work Permit Holders, four Work Pass holders and two Short-Term Visit Pass Holders.

Overall, the number of new cases in the community increased from one case in the week before last to 10 cases last week.

The number of unlinked cases in the community also increased from one case in the week before last to four last week.

A total of 64 patients remain in hospital while 117 are recuperating in community facilities. One patient is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Twenty-nine people have died from the virus here, while 15 others who had Covid-19 have died from other complications.

Eleven more people were discharged on Sunday, bringing the total number of those discharged here to 58,472.

THE STRAITS TIMES