Last Updated on 2021-04-14 , 8:23 pm
Since 4 Apr, we’ve only had one COVID-19 case in the community.
And since we didn’t have any community cases on 8 and 9 Apr, some might have assumed that we’d go on a long streak with no locally transmitted infections.
But, as you know, things rarely go as expected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Somehow or another, the persistent coronavirus will find its way to the community.
Sole Community Case on 10 Apr was a 71YO Indian Retiree
32 new COVID-19 infections were reported on Saturday (10 Apr), one of which is from the community.
The woman is a 71-year-old Indian retiree who is a short-term visit pass holder, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).
She arrived from India on 28 Dec last year and served her stay-home notice (SHN) at a dedicated facility until 10 Jan, and tested negative for the coronavirus on 8 Jan.
Her SHN was extended to 11 Jan as she was identified as a close contact of two previously confirmed cases – Cases 59169 and 59173 – during their flight to Singapore.
She was then released.
It was only three months later on 5 Apr that the woman developed a fever. Fortunately, unlike many previous cases, she immediately sought medical treatment and was tested for COVID-19.
Her result came back positive three days later and she was taken in an ambulance to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
The 71-year-old’s infection didn’t last long, however, as another test conducted on 9 Apr came back negative.
Her serological test, which tests for antibodies, has come back positive, meaning it was a past infection.
Either this woman has the immune system of Superwoman, or, as MOH explained, she could be shedding minute fragments of the virus RNA, which are no longer transmissible and infective to others.
The only worrying thing is that her infection is currently unlinked.
31 Imported Cases
The other 31 cases were all from abroad and were issued an SHN upon their arrival:
- One is a Singaporean who returned from Papua New Guinea.
- Two are Dependant’s Pass holders who arrived from India.
- Three are Long-Term Visit Pass holders who arrived from India and Myanmar.
- 5 are Student’s Pass holders who arrived from India.
- Three are Work Pass holders who arrived from Nepal, the Maldives, and Philippines.
- 15 are Work Permit holders who arrived from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines, of whom 5 are foreign domestic workers.
- Two are Short-Term Visit Pass holders from India and Malaysia.
99.5% Recovery Rate
18 COVID-19 cases were discharged recently, bringing the total who have fully recovered from the infection to 60,322.
Given that we have a total of 60,633 cases, this means that Singapore has a recovery rate of 99.5%.
Pretty impressive, no?
There are 45 cases remaining in hospital, with one in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Another 236 cases – those who have mild symptoms and lower risk factors – are isolated and being cared for at community facilities.
Fortunately, the number of new community cases has remained stable at two cases per week in the past two weeks.
Similarly, the number of unlinked cases in the community has also remained stable at two cases per week in the past two weeks.
Featured Image: kandl stock / Shutterstock.com