Singapore Sets COVID-19 Record After KTV Karaoke Cluster Found

ILLUSTRATION/UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - Singapore reported record daily cases of COVID-19 in the last 10 months following the discovery of a cluster at a KTV karaoke entertainment venue.

Of the 56 new cases of local transmission, 41 of them came from the KTV cluster, the health ministry said.

The ministry previously said it was investigating the transmission among female flight attendants from Vietnam who frequent KTV karaoke venues. They also offer free COVID-19 tests for anyone who may have been exposed.

The first case found was a Vietnamese woman who sought medical help on Sunday, local media said.

Singapore has yet to reopen KTV karaoke outlets and authorities say places where the virus is spreading are operating as food and beverage outlets.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said police would take strict action against violators.

"Any outlet that provides maid service, dice games and anything that creates close contact, is never allowed," he said, as quoted by CNA.

"So this has been troubling and disappointing."

Ong said there were no plans to re-tighten the already relaxed restrictions after the cluster's discovery.

Among those infected was a cruise ship passenger who was treated on Wednesday. Nearly 3,000 passengers and crew are isolated in their rooms pending COVID-19 tests.

Singapore has managed to contain most of the rapid spike in COVID-19 cases. The city-state tightened restrictions in May to slow the spread of the Delta variant.

Vaccination for two-thirds of the population is targeted to be completed by August 9.