Most of the Linked Cases Reported on 16 June Are from the Bukit Merah View Food Centre Cluster

Just when we thought our most recent outbreak was over and everything could go back to something resembling normal, the coronavirus awoke from its slumber.

In the past few days, infections have started rising once again to concerning numbers. So concerning that the authorities are rethinking the timing of the next stage of our reopening.

Great. 

Yesterday, 24 new COVID-19 cases were reported, 19 of whom are from the community. Here are the details:

115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre Cluster

The cluster that everyone’s talking about at the moment is the one at the Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre.

An average of nearly 10 new cases has been added to the cluster in the last three days each, including 13 infections yesterday.

The 13 latest infections are:

• a 76-year-old Singaporean man who is a retiree, and frequently visited 115 and 116 Bukit Merah View
• a 12-year-old Singaporean woman who is a student at CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent and was last in school on 18 May
• a 33-year-old Singaporean woman who works in an administrative role at South Asia Construction Pte Ltd, and part-time at Telok Blangah Food Centre
•  a 60-year-old Singaporean man who is a food stall vendor at 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre
• a 38-year-old Singaporean woman who works as a stall assistant at Zhangde Primary School’s canteen and had last gone to work on 18 May
•  a 63-year-old Singaporean man who is a freelance worker and visits 115 and 116 Bukit Merah View frequently
•  a 71-year-old Singaporean woman who is a retiree
•  a 15-year-old Singaporean woman who is a student at Gan Eng Seng School and was last in school on 18 May
•  a 69-year-old Singaporean woman who works as a stall helper at New Changi Eating House
• a 49-year-old Singaporean woman who works as a sales coordinator at Gold Lite Pte Ltd
•  a 45-year-old Malaysian woman who works as a stall assistant at Tiong Bahru Yong Tao Hu (56 Eng Hoon Street)
• a 64-year-old Singaporean man who is a taxi driver and frequently visited 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre
• an 82-year-old Singaporean man who is a retiree, and frequently visited 115 Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre

The 15-year-old student was placed on quarantine on 14 June after being identified as a family member and household contact of two previous cases.

She was tested for COVID-19 on 15 June during quarantine, which returned a positive result the next day. She also developed a sore throat that day. Her serology test result is pending.

Case 64184 Cluster

Two other community cases are linked to the Case 64814 cluster, named after a 27-year-old engineer who works at Ecoxplore.

The two new cases are:

• a 50-year-old Singaporean man who is employed as a part-time housekeeper at Eunike Living Pte Ltd
• a 26-year-old Malaysian woman who works as a waitress at Common Man Stan

The last linked community case is an 84-year-old female Singaporean who is a retiree.

Unlinked Cases

Of the 19 community cases, 3 had no established links to previous cases.

They are:

• an 85-year-old female Singaporean who is a retiree
• a 47-year-old Indonesian woman who is a foreign domestic worker
• a 32-year-old female Indonesia national who is a foreign domestic worker

Imported Cases

5 cases from abroad were detected, in addition to the 19 community cases. They are:

• 2 Singaporeans who returned from India and the UK

• 3 Work Permit holders who arrived from Indonesia, all of whom are foreign domestic workers

All had already been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore. No new infections in dormitories have been detected.

COVID-19 Task Force “Evaluating” Timing & Scope of Reopening Due to Fresh Outbreak

Thanks to the fresh outbreak in Bukit Merah, the COVID-19 task force is now “evaluating the timing and scope” of the next stage of Singapore’s reopening.

“We are now at stage 1 of our reopening. Stage 2 is scheduled next Monday. Unfortunately we now have new cases breaking out and a major new cluster in Bukit Merah,” said  Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.

“Given these developments, we are evaluating the timing and scope of the next stage of reopening. The MTF is studying the situation carefully with public health experts and will provide further updates soon.”

So, there’s a chance we may have to put off our plans for dining out once again.

Great.

Featured Image: Google Maps