Singapore reports 18 new COVID-19 cases; 2 weeks of no local transmission

SINGAPORE: Eighteen new COVID-19 cases were reported in Singapore as of noon on Tuesday (Nov 24), said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

All of the cases were imported and were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore. No locally transmitted cases have been reported in the country for 14 consecutive days.​​​​​​​

This is the highest number of daily cases reported since Nov 11. 

MOH also announced the closure of the cluster at Cassia @ Penjuru as there have been no more cases linked to the dormitory at 15 Penjuru Walk for the past two incubation periods. 

This means there are no active clusters in Singapore since the pandemic began.

"With the closure of this cluster, there are no active COVID-19 clusters for the first time since Feb 3, 2020," said the ministry. 

Singapore's first cluster was identified the next day, Feb 4.

READ: Last COVID-19 cluster closes; no active cluster in Singapore for the first time since pandemic began

Three of the new imported cases were symptomatic while the rest were detected through screening and surveillance, said MOH. 

Among them, two are Singaporeans who returned from the Netherlands and Indonesia. 

The 32-year-old man who returned from the Netherlands began experiencing symptoms on Nov 22 and was confirmed to have COVID-19 the next day while the 49-year-old man who travelled from Indonesia had an onset of symptoms on Nov 19 and tested positive on Nov 23. 

Another 14 cases are currently employed in Singapore. Of these, one is a work pass holder who arrived from Pakistan. 

The 37-year-old man, known as Case 58378, is a contact of another confirmed case, a dependent's pass holder who also travelled from Pakistan. The 35-year-old woman, known was Case 58379, experienced symptoms on Nov 18 and was confirmed to have COVID-19 on Nov 23. 

Thirteen other cases are foreign domestic workers who arrived from India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. 

The remaining case is a short-term visit pass holder who arrived from the Philippines to board a ship docked here as a crew member.

8 MORE PATIENTS DISCHARGED

Eight more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing Singapore's total recoveries to 58,079.

There are still 37 cases in hospital. Most of them are stable or improving, with one patient in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Another 39 are being isolated and cared for at community facilities.

More details can be found in the health ministry's daily situation report. 

SINGAPOREDISCOVERS VOUCHERS TO BOOST TOURISM INDUSTRY

Singaporeans aged 18 and above will receive S$100 worth of SingapoRediscovers vouchers, which can be used for staycations, attraction tickets and tours, the tourism board announced on Monday.

The vouchers can be redeemed from Dec 1 at five online booking partners. 

READ: Ready to explore Singapore? Here's how to redeem your S$100 SingapoRediscovers vouchers

READ: Hotels, attractions gearing up for launch of SingapoRediscovers vouchers, platforms expect surge in bookings

“We know that local consumption will not fully make up for tourism spending," said Singapore Tourism Board chief executive Keith Tan. 

"But we hope that over the next seven months, Singaporeans will use the vouchers to rediscover Singapore, to explore what our hotels, attractions and tours have to offer - and in the process, support jobs, livelihoods and capabilities in our tourism industry.”

As of Tuesday, Singapore has reported 58,183 COVID-19 cases and 28 fatalities from the disease. 

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