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57 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore; 2 new clusters involving bus interchange staff

57 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore; 2 new clusters involving bus interchange staff

COVID-19 cluster were identified at Bishan and Sengkang bus interchanges on Saturday (Aug 14). (Photos: Wikimedia Commons)

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 57 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases as of noon on Saturday (Aug 14), including 17 with no links to previous cases.

Twenty-nine infections were linked to previous cases and had been placed on quarantine. Another 11 linked infections were detected through surveillance testing, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its daily update. 

Three new clusters were identified, with two of them involving staff members at bus interchanges.

Five new cases were reported in a cluster involving Bishan bus interchange staff members, taking the total number of infections in the cluster to nine.

Four new cases were reported in a cluster involving Sengkang bus interchange staff members, bringing the total number of infections in the cluster to 13.

MOH did not provide any details on the third new cluster, which has a total of three cases.

In total, Singapore reported 58 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday.

Among the new cases, one is above the age of 70 who is unvaccinated and at risk of serious illness, said MOH.

There was also one imported case, who was detected and isolated upon arrival.

MY FIRST SKOOL CLUSTER GROWS

Five more COVID-19 cases were linked to the My First Skool cluster on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the cluster to 17.

Two more cases were added to the Superland Pre-school cluster, bringing the total to 13.

Eight clusters have been closed. There were 111 active clusters in Singapore as of Saturday, consisting of between three and 1,155 infections.

NINE IN CRITICAL CONDITION

A total of 451 cases are currently warded in hospital, said MOH on Friday. Nine are in critical condition in the intensive care unit and 26 required oxygen supplementation.

Of these 35 cases, six are fully vaccinated. Of those who have fallen very ill, 31 people are above the age of 60, of whom 25 are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, said MOH.

"There is continuing evidence that almost all fully-vaccinated individuals do not suffer serious disease when infected, unless if they had underlying medical conditions that made them more susceptible," the Health Ministry added.

Over the last 28 days, the percentage of unvaccinated who became severely ill or died is 9.5 per cent, while that for the fully vaccinated was 1 per cent.

75 PER CENT OF POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED

More than 8.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme, with more than 4 million people having completed the full vaccination regimen as of Friday.

In addition, 145,688 doses of other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organization’s emergency use listing had been administered as of Friday, covering 83,327 people.

In total, 75 per cent of Singapore's population has completed the full regimen or received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, while 81 per cent has received at least one dose
 

Overall, the number of new cases in the community has decreased from 611 cases in the week before to 377 cases in the past week.

The number of unlinked cases in the community has also decreased from 166 cases in the week before to 101 cases in the past week.
 

COVID-19 'VACCINATE OR REGULAR TEST' REGIME EXPANDED

Workers in shopping malls and supermarkets as well as taxi and private hire drivers will be included in Singapore's COVID-19 "vaccinate or regular test" regime when it starts on Oct 1, said MOH on Friday. 

The regime requires unvaccinated individuals in some workplace settings to be tested for COVID-19 twice a week using antigen rapid tests.

Last mile delivery workers, driving school and private driving instructors as well as public transport frontline staff will also be included in the regime, which was first announced last week

MOH also said that Singapore will open up vaccinations to groups of short-term pass holders who are in the country for "long periods of time".

As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 66,119 COVID-19 cases.

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Source: CNA/ad

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