There Is A COVID-19 Hospital Cluster Case, Singapore's Authority Responds To It Immediately

Tan Tock Seng Hospital Singapore. (Wikimedia Commons/User: Dash)

JAKARTA - Singapore authorities have detected a COVID-19 cluster in one of its largest hospitals, among 16 new local infectious infections reported on Thursday. This is the highest number of domestic cases in the last seven months.

Singapore has managed to contain the coronavirus outbreak since a major contagion among migrant workers in dorms last year. Most of the subsequent cases have been imported and are found in quarantine.

Eight of the 16 cases announced late Thursday were linked to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the health ministry said. Hospital cases include doctors and nurses being vaccinated against the coronavirus. Both have symptoms.

Authorities have isolated two wards at the hospital to test staff and patients, increased quarantine and movement restrictions after the cluster, which the first for a hospital in Singapore.

Singapore Tan Tock Seng Hospital. (Wikimedia Commons / User: Sengkang)

"Testing for staff and patients of both wards is still in process. All close contacts of the case, including patients, visitors, and staff who are on the ward will also be placed in quarantine", Singapore's Ministry of Health said, as reported by Channel News Asia.

Meanwhile, seven other local cases on Thursday were linked to airport immigration officials. The new cases emerge as Singapore prepares a travel bubble with Hong Kong to launch in May following last year's suspension.

To note, since the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Singapore has recorded 61 thousand cases of infection, with a death toll of 30 people. The Lion country has also rolled out a vaccination program using the approved PfizerBioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.