Singapore Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 24 January 2021
Singapore Situation summary As of 24 January 2021, there have been a total of 59 308 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Singapore. In the week ending 24 January 2021: o No new deaths were reported. The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Singapore remains at 29. The case fatality rate remains at 0.05%. o A total of 195 new cases have been reported, down 5.3% compared to the previous week. Of the new cases reported, three are linked to community transmissions, while 180 cases (92.3%) were imported. On 24 January 2020, Singapore reported 48 new imported cases – the highest single-day record in the past four months.
Upcoming events and priorities Effective 31 January, all visitors who apply to enter Singapore under the Air Travel Pass (ATP) and Reciprocal Green Lanes (RGLs) will need travel insurance for their medical care and hospitalization costs associated with COVID-19, with a minimum coverage of S$ 30 000 000. Effective 22 January, all cargo drivers and accompanying personnel entering Singapore via the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints will need to undergo a COVID-19 antigen rapid test upon arrival. Effective 20 January, with the introduction of a new single stop for COVID-19 testing, some Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir passengers will now streamline their arrangements for pre-departure COVID- 19 testing. In March 2021, Temasek Foundation will be launching the fourth national distribution of reusable masks from #Staymasked vending machines at community centres and other locations islandwide. In the morning of 20 January, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat received his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). Effective 26 January, each household will be limited to eight visitors per day, as outlined in the Ministry of Health’s Tightening Safe Management Measures and Update on Vaccination Plans: https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/tightening-safe-management-measures-and- update-on-vaccination-plans For further information on the vaccine roll-out in Singapore, visit: https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2021/01/covid-19-vaccine- singapore/index.html?shell.
National transmission assessment
National transmission stage assessment: Stage 2 – localized community transmission (moderate confidence) Week 3 (18–24 January 2021)
There has been a further decrease (-5.3%) in the number of reported cases in Singapore for the week ending 24 January 2021, with 195 cases reported in the last seven days compared to 206 cases reported the previous week. The majority of cases (180) (92.3%) were imported. On 24 January 2021, Singapore recorded 48 imported cases – the highest single-day report in four months. The new UK variant B.1.1.7 has been detected among imported cases – four cases have now preliminarily tested positive. Effective 24 January 2021, all travellers, including Singaporeans and permanent residents, will be required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival in Singapore. Of the 195 newly reported
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1 Singapore Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 24 January 2021
cases, three unlinked cases have been detected in the community, while no cases were recorded in foreign worker dormitories. No deaths were reported this week. As of 24 January 2021, two new active COVID-19 clusters were reported, bringing the total number of active clusters to six.
Epi Update Tests Cases Deaths ICU COVID-19
Data reported for 223 966 195 0 0.0% epi week ending Swabs tested* in the New cases in the Deaths in the ICU utilization rate 24 January 2021 past 7 days, 11-18 Jan past 7 days past 7 days in the past 7 days unless stated (+2.1%) (-5.3%) (-) (-) otherwise 6 061 147 59 308 29 1500 (% difference Cumulative swabs Cumulative cases Cumulative ICU beds for COVID-19 compared to the patients previous 7 days) tested* as of 18 Jan deaths 1.0% 0.05% Positivity rate Case fatality rate
Imported 180 3 6 n/a cases and Active clusters Active clusters with (92.3%) (1.5%) more than three clusters Imported cases Cases in the past 7 generations in the past 7 days days with no link
* Previously reported as cumulative unique individuals tested.
Epidemiology Fig 1. Daily reported COVID-19 cases, Singapore, as of 24 January 2021
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2 Singapore Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report Weekly report for the week ending 24 January 2021
Strategic approach Testing and surveillance On 18 January, a new multi-virus test kit capable of detecting both COVID-19 and seasonal flu received provisional authorization from the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore. This PCR kit can check for the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu and will provide a readout for both of them. No new dormitory cases had been reported since 15 December until a construction worker staying in Seatown Dormitory tested positive on 12 January (Tuesday). As of 19 January, the majority of mutations do not have any effect on the activity of the virus, said Professor Dale Fisher, a senior infectious diseases expert at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Hospital. On 19 January, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said government officials will go door-to-door to explain why vaccinations are needed and help individuals make online appointment bookings. According to an informal survey conducted by AsiaOne, about 60% of more than 120 participants aged between 16 and 70 are still uncertain about COVID-19 vaccination. Stallholders, shop owners, food delivery drivers and beverage industry workers in Chinatown will undergo COVID-19 testing ahead of Chinese New Year. The testing will be paid for by the government and will be conducted between 8 and 9 February, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release.
Non-pharmaceutical interventions As of 20 January, precautionary tuberculosis screening will be conducted for certain patrons of the Singapore Pools Bedok Betting Centre after 18 cases were detected through retrospective testing, according to the MOH. Updated on 21 January, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 is safe for those with hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, but women are advised to defer conception for a month after completing both vaccinations, the MOH has said. As of 24 January, 50–70% of workers in private health-care groups have been vaccinated voluntarily.
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