Everything About the 27 COVID-19 Cases That’s Being Detected in a Home for People With Intellectual Disability

Much like safe distancing ambassadors, new COVID-19 clusters are popping up all over the country.

Believe it or not, we now have a total of 44 clusters, according to Yahoo News Singapore.

Typically, when a cluster is first identified, a handful of infections are detected, after which contact tracing finds even more cases.

But yesterday, when the authorities discovered that a cluster had formed at MINDSville@Napiri, 27 COVID-19 cases were detected there.

Here’s how it happened.

Everything About the 27 COVID-19 Cases That’s Being Detected in a Home for People With Intellectual Disability

It all started when a 37-year-old Singaporean tested positive for COVID-19.

She is a resident at MINDSville@Napiri, which is a housing facility for people with intellectual disabilities.

The woman developed a runny nose and cough on 29 May, and subsequently a fever the next day. She was brought to a polyclinic on 31 May, where she underwent both an antigen rapid test (ART) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

Both tests came back positive that day.

After her positive result, the Ministry of Health (MOH) tested all 255 residents and staff members at the facility.

They detected another 26 positive cases, 23 of whom were asymptomatic.

The health ministry said it would include four of the 26 new cases in yesterday’s (2 June) daily case count, and 22 in today’s case count, as they tested preliminarily positive.

The four new cases reported by MOH are:

• a 30-year-old Filipino woman who works as a nursing aide at MINDSville@Napiri
• a 55-year-old Singaporean woman who is a resident at MINDSville@Napiri
• a 64-year-old Singaporean woman who is a resident at MINDSville@Napiri
• a 47-year-old Singaporean woman who is a resident at MINDSville@Napiri

Stopped All Admissions & Visits

So it can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, the housing facility has stopped all admissions, discharges, and visits.

All other residents, staff, and other close contacts have been placed on quarantine and will also be regularly tested during quarantine, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said.

The facility already had in place numerous safety measures since the pandemic began last year.

This includes restricting visitors and its residents’ movement, as well as putting off large group activities.

Temperature screening is also carried out twice daily.

What’s more, over 90% of the facility’s staff members and residents had been vaccinated during February and March.

Ever since Singapore entered Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), staff members caring for residents in isolation rooms have been required to wear full personal protective equipment.

All employees have also been told to limit their movements and activities when they are outside the housing facility.

Even with all these safety measures in place, the coronavirus managed to find its way around the facility.

This just goes to show that you can never be too safe when it comes to COVID-19.

Featured Image: Google Maps