573 new cases of COVID-19 new cases in Singapore we reported as of noon on Monday (May 4), taking the country’s total to 18,778.
The majority of the new cases are work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its daily update of preliminary figures.
Five cases are Singapore citizens or permanent residents.
“We are still working through the details of the COVID-19 new cases in Singapore, and further updates will be shared via the MOH press release that will be issued tonight,” the ministry said.
Migrant worker situation
MOH said on Sunday the number of cases among migrant workers had been fluctuating due to the clearance of backlogged cases by one laboratory, adding that it was working with the lab to stabilise its operations.
The ministry also said that the number of COVID-19 new cases in Singapore community had decreased from an average of 21 cases per day in the week before to an average of 11 per day in the past week.
“The number of unlinked cases in the community has also decreased, from an average of 13 cases per day in the week before to an average of five per day in the past week,” MOH added.
COVID-19 deaths
Despite reducing average numbers of COVID-19 new cases in Singapore, there were 18 deaths related to the coronavirus, the latest of which was reported on Sunday – an 86-year-old Singaporean woman with a history of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.
Case 14744 & case 17410
MOH also reported another death on Sunday – Case 14744 – an 86-year-old Singaporean woman.
She was confirmed to have COVID-19 on Apr 27, and had a history of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, said MOHin a later update.
“Khoo Teck Puat Hospital has reached out to her family and is extending assistance to them.”
The Bangladeshi, Case 17410, was confirmed to have COVID-19 after his death on May 1. MOH said the cause of his death was ischaemic heart disease.
Infection in public health sector
One case from the public health sector was announced on Sunday – a 34-year-old Singaporean woman.
She is employed as a nurse by the Health Promotion Board and was deployed to the community care facility at Singapore EXPO, said MOH. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 on May 2, but had not gone to work since the onset of symptoms.
New clusters
“The number of unlinked cases in the community has also decreased, from an average of 13 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 5 per day in the past week,” added the ministry.
Six new clusters have also been identified. They are: NCS Hub at Ang Mo Kio, 16 Fan Yoong Road, 15 Gul Way, 23 Sungei Kadut Street 2, 9A Tech Park Crescent, and 64 Woodlands Industrial Park E9.
The ministry added that the Maxwell MRT station cluster has been closed as there have been no more cases linked to it for the past two incubation periods.
61 discharged
A total of 61 patients have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, said MOH. In all, 1,408 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, the ministry added.
“There are currently 1,630 confirmed cases who are still in hospital.
“Of these, most are stable or improving, and 22 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. 15,149 are isolated and cared for at community facilities,” added MOH.
Back to school for some
Some students will be allowed to return to school from May 19 for face-to-face lessons. These will include those who are taking national exams or those in need of additional help.
“While the number of community cases has come down, we are not out of the woods yet as there are still significant COVID-19 new cases in Singapore. New clusters may form if we let our guards down,” said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong at a press conference on Saturday.
Singapore must press on with efforts to keep its numbers low, and the rest of the circuit breaker measures will remain in force until Jun 1, he said.
Sign up for COVID-19 Free Coverage
Get our guide to the full list of banks/insurers providing insurance coverage in your email. We’re 99% sure you won’t regret this when COVID-19 fatality rates are at 1%.
4th week of circuit breaker
Singapore is into its fourth week of a “circuit breaker” period to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
On Saturday, the multi-ministry task force dealing with COVID-19 new cases in Singapore announced the easing of some restrictions, with selected services and businesses allowed to resume this month.
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners can begin to offer acupuncture services for pain management from May 5.
Home-based food businesses, selected food retail outlets and food manufacturing firms can resume operations from May 12.