New COVID-19 Cluster Formed From Chinatown Complex Stall Owner Who Didn’t Use TraceTogether & Didn’t Report His Symptoms

When pictures of residents crowding around Chinatown like it was 2019 were uploaded to the internet, the authorities were rather concerned.

That’s why they stepped up enforcement in the area in the days leading up to Chinese New Year.

They warned that with more visits to the area, as well as social interactions over the festive period, there may be an increased risk of local transmission.

And now, just after the first day of the lunar new year, our fears have been confirmed.

New COVID-19 Cluster Formed From Chinatown Complex Stall Owner 

On Thursday (11 Feb), a 66-year-old Chinatown Complex stall owner was confirmed to have the virus, along with his 32-year-old son.

They were two of the three community cases reported on that day.

Now, it turns out that the stall owner’s wife and older son have tested positive for Covid-19 as well, forming yet another cluster in the community.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed their infections and the formation of the new cluster on Friday (12 Feb).

The stall owner’s older son,  a 33-year-old Singaporean, is currently unemployed and was placed on quarantine at a dedicated facility on Wednesday (10 Feb), when his father tested positive for the virus.

Even though he did not display any symptoms, he was tested for Covid-19, and it came back positive.

Interestingly, his serology test result was positive as well, indicating a possible past infection.

The wife, a homemaker, was also placed on quarantine on the same day. She, too, was tested even though she was asymptomatic, and her result came back positive.

The 62-year-old’s serology test result was negative, indicating this is likely a recent infection.

Stall Owner’s Family Didn’t Use TraceTogether & Didn’t Report Their Symptoms

If not for community surveillance testing of stallholders and shop owners, we may never have detected this Covid-19 cluster.

The stall owner developed a dry cough on 28 Jan and anosmia, or loss of smell, on Tuesday (9 Feb), but didn’t seek medical attention.

His tested positive for the coronavirus during community surveillance testing of stallholders and shop owners in Chinatown on the same day.

Just like his father, the man’s 32-year-old son was unwell but did not see a doctor.

His infection was only detected as he had been identified as a close contact of his father and had to be quarantined.

Only then did he report his symptoms. He was then ferried to NCID and later tested positive for the disease.

MOH noted that all four cases in the cluster do not use the TraceTogether App.

While they both have TraceTogether tokens, they did not carry their tokens with them.

“Effective contact tracing is an important enabler to ringfence community transmission,” the ministry said.

“Individuals are reminded to turn on their TraceTogether App or carry their TraceTogether token at all times so that we can quickly identify and isolate the close contacts of Covid-19 cases, and limit further infections,” it added.

16 Imported Cases Reported Yesterday (12 Feb)

The two cases in the cluster were the only community cases reported yesterday.

The remaining 16 cases all came from abroad.

This includes:

• three Singapore permanent residents from Indonesia and India
• a dependant’s pass holder who arrived from the UAE
• four work pass holders who arrived from Myanmar, the Philippines, and UAE
• seven work permit holders from India, Indonesia, and Myanmar
• a long-term visit pass holder from Indonesia

Remain Cautious Over CNY Period

As the health ministry said, we need to remain cautious and vigilant over the CNY period, as infections are very likely to rise.

Adhere to the restrictions in place, and see a doctor if you’re unwell. These two things alone will go a long way to prevent further clusters from forming.

Featured Image: NG ZHENG HUI / Shutterstock.com