Wuhan Coronavirus: Two more confirmed cases in Singapore

By Massita Ahmad

SINGAPORE, Jan 24  -- The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) today confirmed two more imported cases of novel coronavirus infection in the republic, bringing the tally to three.

In its latest update, MOH said the second case was announced on Jan 23 as tested preliminarily positive, pending the confirmation test.

“Her test result has now confirmed that she is positive for novel coronavirus,” it said.

She is a 53-year-old female Chinese national from Wuhan who arrived in Singapore with her family on Jan 21, 2020.

The ministry said she was currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and her condition was stable.

The third case is a 37-year-old male Chinese national from Wuhan, who is the son of the first confirmed case announced on Jan 23, said MOH.

Prior to hospital admission, the 53-year-old patient stayed at J8 Hotel in 8 Townshend Road and indicated that she had visited Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, and had travelled on public transport, including MRT and taxi.

“Contact tracing has commenced. The risk of infection from transient contacts, such as on public transport or in public places, is assessed to be low,” MOH said.

Meanwhile, the third case was identified as a close contact of the first case, and MOH has initiated epidemiological investigations and contact tracing to identify individuals who had close contact with him.

Updating on contact tracing for the first confirmed case of the 66-year-old male Chinese national from Wuhan, was ongoing, it said.

As of today, MOH had identified 46 close contacts of the first confirmed case with 24 of them having left Singapore, including his eight travelling companions.

“Out of the 22, 17 who have had contact with the third case, have been isolated and the remaining 16 are being quarantined while efforts are ongoing to contact the remaining five,” it said.

-- BERNAMA