14 COVID-19 Cases Today (20 Apr); 1 is a Dorm Case

Yep, it’s another dorm case.

As of 12pm today (20 Apr), the Ministry of Health (MOH) has preliminarily confirmed 14 new cases of COVID-19 infection.

13 are imported cases, and 1 is a dorm case.

This brings the total number of cases in Singapore to 60,865.

Overall, the number of new cases in the community has increased from 2 cases in the week before to 9 cases in the past week. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from 2 cases in the week before to 5 cases in the past week.

COVID-19 Breathalysers, Which Can Produce Results in 2 Min, Might Be Used Widescale in S’pore

According to The Straits Times, breathalysers may be deployed for large scale use in Singapore in the coming future, especially to facilitate safe travel arrangements and large scale events.

Local firm Silver Factory Technology has collaborated with the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Changi Airport, and security firm Certis to develop the breathalysers.

The company reports that trials have already begun, with more than 400 individuals tested to date at NCID, Changi Airport Terminal 1, and Certis.

Unblinded trials (a.k.a. participants were aware of their COVID-19 status) are currently ongoing at Changi Airport Terminal 1 and NCID, where volunteers take both the PCR and breathalyser test.

Named TracieX, these instruments are impressively effective. Its sensitivity rate so far has been over 95%, and its specificity rate more than 99%, which makes it nearly as accurate as the more common polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

In addition, the waiting time has been slashed—the results come in in just two minutes!

Senior vice-president of passenger experience in the Changi Airport Group, Mr Albert Lee, noted that breathalyser tests are “‘less invasive, more cost-effective and can deliver results in two or fewer minutes”.

These disposable breathalysers are cheaper to produce, costing US$20 (~S$26) each. The product’s cost price is expected to fall once large-scale production commences.

He also added that if proven reliable, these tests would “make the airport experience for passengers a smoother one and give the reopening efforts a boost.”

Silver Factory aims to apply for regulatory approval from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) by June this year. It aims to produce 200,000 breathalysers a month from June onwards, potentially raising production to two million a month.

318 Active Cases

There are currently 79 confirmed cases who are still in hospital. Of these, most are stable or improving, and 1 is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

239 are isolated and cared for at community facilities. These are those who have mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19.

30 have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection.

Feature Image: Rajaraman Arumugam / Shutterstock.com (Image is for illustration purpose only)