New COVID-19 Cluster at Changi General Hospital; 29 More Cases Linked to Bus Interchange Clusters

If I told you that yesterday’s case count was the highest since COVID-19 emerged and that the authorities have identified a new cluster at Changi General Hospital, you’d think we had gone back in time. Twice. 

Yes, history keeps repeating itself during the pandemic, and there’s not much we can do except act surprised.

The spike in cases also means that any further easing of restrictions will have to wait for now.

Here are the details:

216 Locally Transmitted Cases – Highest Daily Number in Singapore

216 locally transmitted cases were reported yesterday, the highest number of local infections since the pandemic began.

This previous unwanted record was held by 20 June’s case count, where 182 community cases were reported.

And with 109 unlinked infections, more than half of the record number of cases had no links to previous cases.

This is the fourth consecutive day where unlinked locally transmitted cases have surpassed linked cases.

New Cluster at Changi General Hospital (CGH)

No one knows why the coronavirus keeps visiting CGH, but a third cluster has popped up there.

Identified yesterday (3 Sep), it has 11 new cases and a total of 14 infections. It’s the second active COVID-19 cluster linked to the hospital.

The other active CGH cluster, reported on 3 Aug, has four cases.

The first cluster, which has since been closed, was identified on 25 Jun. It had 20 cases.

Several Clusters Grow; 29 More Cases Linked to Bus Interchange Clusters

Several existing clusters continued to grow, including those linked to staff working at bus interchanges. They are:

• Tampines Bus Interchange staff – two new cases, 27 in total
• Boon Lay Bus Interchange staff – 12 new cases, 87 in total
• Jurong East Bus Interchange staff – one new case, 31 in total
• Toa Payoh Bus Interchange staff – eight new cases, 115 in total
• Bishan Bus Interchange staff – one new case, 30 in total
• Clementi Bus Interchange staff – four new cases, 29 in total
• Punggol Bus Interchange staff – one new case, 33 in total

In total, 377 infections have been linked to bus interchange clusters.

Two dorm clusters – at North Coast Lodge and 119 Neythal Road – had one addition each yesterday. The first now has 177 cases, while the latter has 19.

With the closure of seven more clusters yesterday, we now have 59 active COVID-19 clusters.

580 in Hospitals; 5 in ICU

At the moment, there are 580 COVID-19 cases in hospitals, most of whom are well and under observation.

20 severe cases require oxygen supplementation, while five are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Of these 25 cases, 19 are patients above the age of 60. 11 of them are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.

Currently, 80% of our population has been fully vaccinated, with 83% receiving at least one dose.

Authorities Won’t Relax More COVID-19 Restrictions Yet

Every day, we hope for more COVID-19 restrictions to be relaxed, but the COVID-19 task force said yesterday that this cannot happen yet.

“We do not intend to make any new opening moves at this juncture, because there is a time lag between the onset of infections to serious illness, and so we want to take some time to monitor the situation,” Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said.

However, the recent surge in cases is not unexpected, the authorities said, as many COVID-19 restrictions have been eased in the past month or so.

The task force also made an announcement that many of us were expecting: booster shots.

Vaccine booster shots will be offered to those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, seniors aged 60 and above, and residents of aged care homes.

Seniors should go for their booster shot six to nine months after completing their primary vaccination regimen.

Learn the importance of vaccination here:

Read Also: 

• Everything You Need to Know About the Latest COVID-19 Press Conference 
• No Evidence Yet of Bus Interchange COVID-19 Clusters Spreading Virus to Commuters

Featured Image: Google Maps