A five-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl are among the new Covid-19 cases at the Bukit Merah cluster. A 64-year-old man who works as a school bus driver is also one of the new cases found linked to the cluster in that area.
The cluster at 115 Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre is currently the largest active one in Singapore.
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in their public announcement on Friday (18 June), both toddlers attended PCF Sparkletots Preschool at 78A Telok Blangah Street 32, while the bus driver worked for Tanglin Trust School.
School Bus Driver And Two Toddlers Infected
Image source: iStock
1. 5-year-old student
The 5-year-old toddler –who is one of the new community cases –was already under quarantine when he was diagnosed. He was last at PCF Sparkletots Preschool on 21 May.
MOH says the boy is a family member and household contact of five other Covid-19 cases. Due to this, the toddler was placed under quarantine on 14 June. At the same day, he was tested for Covid-19 and his results came back negative this time around.
On 16 June, the boy was tested again for infection and the next day his test results confirmed he was positive for Covid-19. However, the boy’s serology test result is negative.
2. 4-year-old student
The 4-year-old girl who also attended PCF Sparkletots last attended school on 21 May. She was already under quarantine on 14 June as she is reported to be a family member and household contact of five other community cases.
When she was tested for Covid-19 on 14 June, her test results came back negative. But when she was tested again on 16 June, her test results then came back on 17 June as positive.
Similar to the 5-year-old boy, her serology test result is negative.
Read: Do Your Child Have COVID Nails? Here’s What Your Must Know About Them
3. 64-year-old bus driver
Another one of the cases linked to the Bukit Merah View Market cluster is that of a 64-year-old man. Employed by KAL Transport Pte Ltd as a school bus driver, he worked for Tanglin Trust School.
MOH reports that the man stays at the Bukit Merah area and would frequently visit the market as well as the food establishments around the place. The ministry also added that he developed a fever, cough and fatigue on 16 June and went to seek medical treatment at a GP clinic the following day. Here, the man underwent both an ART and PCR test.
Due to his positive ART result, the bus driver was immediately isolated. On 17 June, it was also confirmed that his PCR test result came back positive for Covid-19. His serology test is still pending.
It was noted that the bus driver had already been vaccinated. He received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on 2 April and his second dose on 30 April.
Covid-19 Testing Conducted To Disrupt Further Community Transmission At Bukit Merah View Market Cluster
Image source: iStock
MOH also made an announcement on Saturday (19 June) that they will be investigating the likely Covid-19 transmission in the vicinity of Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre.
“So far, 21 cases [1] of COVID-19 infection have been detected in nine different households at 119 Bukit Merah View. COVID-19 viral fragments were also detected in wastewater samples collected from some of the blocks in the vicinity,” says the ministry in their statement.
In an effort to disrupt any “wider, undetected community transmission,” MOH has conducted mandatory Covid-19 testing for all residents of 116, 117, 118, 119, 124A, 124B, 125 and 126 Bukit Merah View. For those who have tested negative for Covid-19 from 15 June and onwards, testing is only optional.
There will also be voluntary testing for visitors who have interacted with the residents between 5 June and 19 June 2021. Both the mandatory and voluntary Covid-19 testing will be conducted at designated estate pavilions in Bukit Merah View. The testing will be ongoing from 20 to 21 June.
“Residents are also advised to monitor their health closely and consult a doctor immediately if they feel unwell. Those who are still awaiting their test results are advised to minimise social interactions as much as possible,” reminded MOH.
Lead image source from Facebook / Tanglin Trust School and Facebook / PAP Community Foundation.
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