110 unlinked infections among 235 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 235 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections as of noon on Monday (Sep 6), including 215 in the community.

The remaining 20 locally transmitted cases were in dormitories, figures from the Ministry of Health (MOH) showed. 

Ninety-one infections were linked to previous cases and were already in quarantine. Another 34 linked infections were detected through surveillance testing, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary COVID-19 daily update. 

110 cases are currently unlinked. 

Among the new cases, six were above the age of 70 who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, and at risk of serious illness, said MOH.

Six imported cases, who were already on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, were also reported. 

In total, Singapore reported 241 new COVID-19 cases on Monday.

INCREASE IN COMMUNITY CASES

The overall number of new cases in the community has increased from 723 in the week before to 1,325 in the past week, MOH said.

The number of unlinked cases in the community also increased from 146 in the week before to 573 in the past week.

4 CLUSTERS CLOSED

No new COVID-19 clusters were reported on Monday and four clusters have been closed, the ministry said.

Case 70372 has been renamed as a 23 Kian Teck Road dormitory cluster, with two new cases, bringing the total to seven.

Five new cases were linked to the Changi General Hospital cluster, bringing its total to 51.

More cases were also linked to the eight clusters involving the bus interchanges at Tampines, Boon Lay, Jurong East, Toa Payoh, Bishan, Clementi, Punggol and Sengkang. The total now stands at 504. 

A total of 53 active clusters remain in Singapore, ranging between three and 1,155 infections. The Jurong Fishery Port/Hong Lim Market & Food Centre cluster remains the largest active cluster in Singapore. 

21 SERIOUSLY ILL, 6 IN CRITICAL CONDITION

There are currently 637 COVID-19 cases warded in hospital.

Of these, 21 are cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation and six are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Of those who have fallen very ill, 19 are seniors above the age of 60. Twelve of them 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 ministry added. 

Over the last 28 days, the percentage of unvaccinated cases who became severely ill or died is 6.6 per cent, while that for the fully vaccinated is 0.9 per cent.

81% OF POPULATION COMPLETED FULL VACCINE REGIMEN

More than 8.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme, with more than 4.3 million individuals having completed the full regimen as of Sunday.

In addition, 170,635 doses of other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organisation’s emergency use listing have been administered as of Sunday, covering 86,101 people.

In total, 81 per cent of Singapore's population has completed their full regimen or received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and 83 per cent has received at least one dose.

As of Monday, Singapore has reported a total of 68,901 COVID-19 cases and 55 deaths from the disease.

INCREASING LIKELIHOOD OF 'EXPONENTIAL RISE' IN CASES 

Singapore needs to “take quick action” to dampen the increasing likelihood of an "exponential rise" in COVID-19 cases, said MOH on Monday. 

While the transmission rate of COVID-19 has to be slowed down, Singapore will attempt to do so without going into another phase of heightened alert, said co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force Mr Lawrence Wong.

But cases are doubling every week, added Mr Wong, warning that when infections rise "so sharply", there will be many more cases in the intensive care unit.

MOH also announced that the frequency of the mandatory fast and easy test rostered routine testing regime will be stepped up from once every two weeks to once a week from next Monday. 

The enhanced frequency will allow cases to be detected and ringfenced more quickly, said MOH. 

All individuals should also limit themselves to one social gathering a day, while social gatherings and social interactions at workplaces should cease from Sep 8, said MOH. 

People should reduce their "non-essential social activities" for the next two weeks as well. 

MOH added that recent clusters in workplace settings have taken place because of “lax” safe management measures, especially in areas like staff canteens and pantries “where people tend to let their guard down and interact amongst themselves without their masks on”.