127 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore; new cluster linked to Samy's Curry at Dempsey
Singapore also reported its 37th COVID-19 fatality, an 83-year-old woman who was unvaccinated.
Samy’s Curry Restaurant at Dempsey Road was identified as a COVID-19 cluster, with eight linked cases as of Jul 24. (Photo: Google Maps)
SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 127 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections on Saturday (Jul 24) and its 37th COVID-19 fatality, an 83-year-old woman who was not vaccinated.
It also reported two new clusters, including one linked to Samy’s Curry Restaurant at Dempsey.
Among the new local cases, 75 were linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster and five to the cluster in KTV lounges.
There are now 741 cases linked to the Jurong Fishery Port/Hong Lim Market & Food Centre cluster, which is the largest active cluster in Singapore.
Sixty-nine of the new local cases were linked to previous infections and had already been placed in quarantine. Twenty-nine were detected through surveillance testing.
The remaining 29 infections had no links to previous cases.
Six of the new cases are people above the age of 70 who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and are at risk of serious illness, MOH added.
READ: Singapore reports 37th COVID-19 fatality; woman was unvaccinated and linked to 121 Bukit Merah View cluster
There were also three imported cases.
One of the infections was detected upon arrival in Singapore, while two developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation.
In total, Singapore reported 130 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday.
SAMY'S CURRY AT DEMPSEY A NEW CLUSTER
Eight COVID-19 cases have been linked to Samy’s Curry at Dempsey. The restaurant has been shut for two weeks until Aug 8 for cleaning.
"Our epidemiological investigations have found that there is likely ongoing transmission at the restaurant," said MOH.
All staff at the restaurant have been placed on quarantine. Free COVID-19 tests will also be offered to people who had visited the restaurant between Jul 19 and 23.
MOH said all visitors to the Dempsey area should monitor their health closely and minimise social interactions as much as possible, for 14 days from their date of visit. They are encouraged to see a doctor immediately if they feel unwell.
The second new COVID-19 cluster is identified as the Case 65791 cluster, with four cases. No further details were given about the infections.
There are currently 26 active COVID-19 clusters in Singapore, ranging between three and 741 infections.
Two clusters have been closed as there have been no cases linked to them for the past two incubation periods, said the ministry.
The closed clusters are linked to Case 64184 - a 27-year-old Indian national who works as an engineer at Ecoxplore - and Case 64264, a 32-year-old Indonesian domestic worker.
NINE SENIORS VERY ILL: MOH
MOH said the overall number of new cases in the community has increased from 238 in the week before to 1,027 cases in the past week.
The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from 17 cases in the week before to 120 cases in the past week.
A total of 490 cases are in hospital, with most well and under observation.
There are 12 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and one in critical condition in the intensive care unit. None of the 13 cases is fully vaccinated.
Nine people above 60 years old, who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, have fallen very ill, said MOH.
"There is continuing evidence that vaccination helps to prevent serious disease when one gets infected," said the ministry.
"Over the last 28 days, 11 local cases required oxygen supplementation, were admitted to ICU or passed away. Six are unvaccinated, five are partially vaccinated and none was fully vaccinated."
READ: S$1.1 billion support package for workers, businesses hit by Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) restrictions
READ: ‘Too many established names have fallen’: F&B industry group calls for more support from authorities
The Health Ministry announced in a separate press release that it will conduct mandatory testing for those who live in or work at Blocks 456 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 and Block 340 Clementi Avenue.
This comes after 20 infections were detected among residents of the two blocks, with most of the cases linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster.
Voluntary testing will also be offered to those who had visited or interacted with residents of both blocks.
As of Saturday, Singapore has reported a total of 64,054 COVID-19 cases and 37 fatalities from the disease.
BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
