53YO Hotel Cleaner Might Have Originated Jem/Westgate Cluster; Free Testing for People Who Visited Jem/Westgate Since 10 May

We might’ve finally cracked the code to the continually growing Jem and Westgate COVID-19 cluster.

Though, figuring out how the cluster started and shutting it down are two very different challenges altogether. And so while we might have solved the first question, the latter remains quite a big hurdle.

Sigh, looks like it might take some more time for us to beat back this virus from the Wild Wild West (of Singapore).

53YO Hotel Cleaner Might Have Originated Jem/Westgate Cluster; Free Testing for People Who Visited Jem/Westgate Since 10 May

According to The Straits Times, a 53-year-old cleaner who works at a hotel, Park Avenue Rochester, may have been the source of infection for the two malls. The hotel is a stay-home notice (SHN) dedicated facility.

Now, hold your pitchforks Singaporeans—don’t start to shun every hotel staff you see, like the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) staff.

However, the Ministry of Health (MOH) noted that the cleaner’s job scope does not entail interacting with guests serving the stay-home notice at the hotel.

The woman visited Westgate on 6 May 2021 and had tested positive for the virus the next day, after developing several symptoms.

But how exactly did the authorities determine that visitors were infected by the woman at Westgate?

MOH announced that whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis conducted by the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) showed that some visitors to Jem and Westgate had similar sequences to the cleaner.

Further investigations into the mode of transmission are ongoing.

Westgate and Jem will remain closed till 5 and 6 June respectively.

Visitors Offered Free COVID-19 Testing

Previously, it was announced that all members of the public who have visited Jem or Westgate from 10 May to 14 May would be eligible for free COVID-19 swab tests.

Now, in an expansion of this testing operation, visitors who had visited Jem and Westgate from 10 May to last Saturday (22 May) have also been advised to monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit.

To break any potential chain of transmission and enable deep cleaning of the premises, Jem and Westgate shopping malls have been closed to all members of the public from 23 May.

More specifically, CNA notes that the shops visited by the infected individuals are:

• Kiddy Palace in Westgate
• Star Arts in Westgate
• DonDonDonki in Jem
• Fairprice Extra in Jem
• Toastbox in Jem

According to the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) website, they are offering fully funded polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to the individuals who have visited either mall during the patients’ infectious period.

Although the ministry has identified the individuals’ close contacts, they would like to pre-emptively mitigate any potential risk of wider, undetected community transmission.

They will also be progressively sending out SMSes to members of the public, identified through their SafeEntry records.

In addition, those who were not contacted but have proof (via SafeEntry records) of being at Jem or Westgate can book an appointment to be tested at the Fullerton Health Testing Centre or a designated Regional Screening Centre (RSC), or walk-in to Raffles Hospital or Raffles Medical at Shaw Centre Orchard.

Furthermore, only asymptomatic individuals would be able to get tested at an RSC. For individuals who are feeling ill (e.g. have a cough, fever, runny nose or loss of smell), MOH recommends that they visit their doctor or a “Swab and Send Home” Public Health Preparedness Clinic (SASH PHPC).

Feature Image: Google Maps