Everything About the Only COVID-19 Community Case Who Allegedly Broke COVID-19 Rules & Went to Various Places

It looks like Lady Luck will not smile upon us in 2020.

And I’m not talking about the poor souls who had to cancel their holidays to Hong Kong because of a fresh wave of infections there.

After not having any community Covid-19 cases for over two weeks, and thinking we had won, at least for the time being, the battle with the virus, one community case was reported on Thursday (26 Nov).

And because he flouted certain regulations, he may have spread it to many more people. 

Everything About the Only COVID-19 Community Case Who Allegedly Broke COVID-19 Rules & Went to Various Places

Case 58401 is a 32-year-old man who really should have followed the rules.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the man works as a Service Engineer at Master Systems Marine Pte Ltd.

He developed a fever and sore throat on the night of 23 Nov. He was tested for Covid-19 under the enhanced community testing regime, and it came back positive.

He was then conveyed in an ambulance to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases the following day.

His serological test has come back negative, meaning this is a fresh infection.

Here’s the problem: two days before seeing the doctor, the man had gone out for dinner with 12 family members at Seoul Garden at Tampines Mall.

Okay, that’s not permitted, but maybe they were keeping their distance from each other?

Investigations revealed that the family of 12 occupied three tables and intermingled.

Among those present was the man’s two-year-old niece who was earlier issued a five-day medical certificate – from 20 Nov to 24 Nov – for runny nose.

Fortunately, she has since tested negative for Covid-19.

All his close contacts, including those who attended the dinner, have been isolated and placed under quarantine.

They will be tested once their quarantine period ends.

“We will also conduct serological tests on his household and family contacts to determine if he could have been infected by them,” MOH said.

The ministry added that they are carrying out investigations to ascertain if there had been any breach of the relevant safe management measures.

“We urge everyone to continue to exercise social responsibility and to cooperate with the prevailing measures,” it said.

On the same day, four imported cases were reported, all of whom had been placed under quarantine upon arrival.

Places Visited By Community Cases

MOH also updated its list of places visited by Covid-19 community cases during their infectious period.

Besides the Seoul Garden restaurant at Tampines Mall,  three other places were added to this list, including Wisteria Mall at Yishun Ring Road, the Jinjja Chicken outlet at Northpoint City, and Mr Prata at Block 476 Tampines Street 44.

Image: MOH

There’s no need to avoid these places as they’ve been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

However, if you visited the listed locations during the specified timings, you should monitor your health closely for 14 days from your date of visit.

See a doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection, such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, as well as fever and loss of taste or smell.

And whether you’re feeling unwell or not, please don’t invite 12 relatives to a family dinner. 

It’s simply not safe to do that yet.

Featured Image: kandl stock / Shutterstock.com