12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, all imported, as of noon on Sunday (Mar 21).

The imported cases were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon their arrival in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

No new locally transmitted cases were reported for the ninth consecutive day.

Among the imported cases was a Singaporean who returned from India. The 23-year-old man experienced onset of symptoms on Mar 21 and was confirmed to have COVID-19 on the same day. 

A dependant's pass holder and a work pass holder who both arrived from Nepal are also included in the imported cases on Sunday. 

Two more cases are long-term visit pass holders who arrived from India, while another three cases are foreign domestic workers who are work permit holders from India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The remaining four cases are special pass holders who are sea crew members. They arrived from Indonesia on a vessel and were tested on board without disembarking. 

DECREASE IN COMMUNITY CASES

MOH said overall, the number of new cases in the community has decreased from two cases in the week before to none in the past week. 

The number of unlinked cases in the community has also decreased from two cases in the week before to none in the past week.

Among the 91 cases reported from Mar 15 to Mar 21, a total of 34 cases have tested positive for their serology tests while 36 have tested negative. Another 21 serology test results are pending.

Sixteen more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing Singapore's total recoveries to 60,038.

There are 18 cases still in hospital, most of whom are stable or improving, and no one is in the intensive care unit. 

Another 110 patients are being isolated and cared for at community facilities. These are people who have mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19.

POSSIBLE TRAVEL BUBBLES

Singapore said last week it is in talks with Australia on a possible travel bubble that will allow residents to travel between both countries without having to quarantine.

Taiwan's Health Minister Chen Shih-chung has also reportedly said that Singapore and Taiwan are in talks about a possible travel bubble.

On Saturday, Indonesia's tourism minister Sandiaga Uno said he has proposed a "safe travel corridor" between Singapore, Batam and Bintan Lagoi to begin on Apr 21.

READ: Without tourists from Singapore, Bintan's resorts get creative to make ends meet amid COVID-19

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a recent TV interview that he hoped Singapore would start reopening its borders by the end of the year as more countries ramp up vaccination drives against COVID-19.

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 60,196 COVID-19 cases and 30 fatalities from the disease. 

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