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837 new COVID cases in Singapore; highest daily record in over a year

Diners keep their social distance at a cafe during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Singapore September 7, 2021. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Diners keep their social distance at a cafe during the coronavirus disease outbreak in Singapore on 7 September, 2021. (PHOTO: Reuters)

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (14 September) confirmed 837 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, taking the country's total case count to 73,131.

This marks the highest daily recorded COVID-19 cases since 5 August last year, when 908 infections were reported.

Of Tuesday's count, 832 are local cases: 755 are in the community, while 77 are dormitory residents. Among the local cases are 231 people above the age of 60, said the MOH.

The remaining five cases are imported, of whom three were detected upon their arrival in Singapore, while two developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation period.

Fourteen active COVID-19 clusters in Singapore are being closely monitored, said the MOH. Three of them are linked to staff members at bus interchanges in Toa Payoh, Tampines, and Boon Lay.

Of the list of monitored clusters, the highest number of 20 new cases – all quarantined earlier except for one – was added to a new cluster at 11 Tuas Ave 10 dorm.

The cluster now has 21 cases infected by an "ongoing intra-dormitory transmission" among residents, said the MOH, adding that all residents will be tested.

Sixteen new cases were added to the cluster at Avery Lodge dorm, totalling 82 infections. The spread of the virus at the dorm has also been classified as an "ongoing intra-dormitory transmission" among residents. Residents have been placed on a movement restriction order and are being tested, said the MOH.

Fifteen new cases were also added to the cluster at Chinatown Complex, bringing the total to 126. The majority of them are stallholders and assistants at the complex.

Twelve new cases were each added to clusters at the DHL Supply Chain Advanced Regional Centre and the Sembcorp Marine Tuas Boulevard Yard, bringing the total to 58 and 100, respectively.

Daily new cases in Singapore are expected to rise to 1,000 over the upcoming weeks, and 2,000 by early October, if the current rate of infection persists, said authorities here.

The MOH also separately announced that from Wednesday, the Home Recovery scheme will be expanded to allow more individuals infected with COVID-19 to self-isolate and take the necessary health precautions at home, with telehealth monitoring support.

The scheme will be the default care management model for fully-vaccinated individuals who are aged 12 to 50 years old, have no or mild symptoms as well as no severe co-morbidities or illnesses.

They also must not have any household members who are more than 80 years old or belong to one of the vulnerable groups.

75 require oxygen supplementation; 9 in ICU

Over 66,600 cases in Singapore, or some 99 per cent of the overall total, have fully recovered from their infection and have been discharged from the hospital.

As of Tuesday, 809 cases are currently warded, most of whom are well and under observation.

There are currently 75 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation and nine in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Of those who have fallen very ill, 66 are patients above the age of 60, said the MOH.

Apart from the 58 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 15 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack and another four whose deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease.

Over the last 28 days, the percentage of local cases who were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms is 98.1 per cent. Of the 114 cases who required oxygen supplementation over the same period, 56 were not fully vaccinated and 58 were fully vaccinated. Of the eight who had been in the ICU over the same period, five were not fully vaccinated and three were fully vaccinated.

As of Monday, about 8.87 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme. Some 4.56 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with some 4.43 million having completed the full vaccination regimen.

Separately, 178,337 doses of other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) have been administered as of Monday, covering 86,659 individuals.

This means that 81 per cent of the population have completed their full regimen, or received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and 84 per cent have received at least one dose.

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