COVID-19: Number of Unlinked Cases In Community Per Day Increases from 19 to 22 In One Week

Singapore reported 623 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday (17 April), mostly involving foreign workers in dormitories, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a press release.

This brings the national total number of coronavirus cases to 5,050.

558 cases involve foreign workers residing in dormitories and another 37 cases involving foreign workers residing outside dormitories. More than half of the total number of cases in Singapore involves foreign workers linked to clusters in dormitories.

There are also 27 community cases and one imported case.

Of the new cases, 69 percent are linked to known clusters, while the rest are pending contact tracing.

Cases in The Community

The number of new cases in the community has decreased, from an average of 40 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 32 per day this week. MOH attributes the decrease to the "circuit breaker" measures that have been implemented for 11 days now. 

Despite this, the health agency noted on the concerning increase in the number of unlinked cases in the community. From an average of 19 cases per day in the week before, the number of unlinked cases has increased to an average of 22 per day in the past 7 days. 

"We have an ongoing surveillance programme, where a small sample of patients at our primary care facilities are tested for COVID-19 infections. We have picked up some cases through these tests, which is an indication of undetected cases in the community," MOH said. 

31 percent of the new infections announced on Friday are currently unlinked.

Another Death Reported on Friday

Singapore also reported another coronavirus-related death.

Case 3145, a 95-year-old male Singapore Citizen, has passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection on Friday. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on 13 April and has been admitted to Raffles Hospital. According to MOH, the hospital has reached out to his family and is extending assistance to them.

He is the 11th such death in Singapore.

More Recoveries Announced

Meanwhile, 25 more patiens of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 708 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, MOH said.

Of the 2,113 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving. 22 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. 2,218 patients who are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19 are isolated and cared for at community facilities. 

On Thursday (15 April), the Bangladeshi construction worker, identified as Singapore's case 42, been transferred to a general ward after being in intensive care for over two months.

ALSO READ: Avoid Bringing COVID-19 Home With This Doctor's Comprehensive Checklist