247 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore on June 17, including 5 cases in the community

The Ministry of Health reported 247 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of 12 pm on June 17, taking the national tally of infections to 41,216. 

Photo courtesy: Facebook/Lawrence Wong
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Lawrence Wong

The vast majority of the new cases are work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.

There are also five cases in the community, of whom two are Singaporeans/Permanent Residents and three are Work Pass holders.

Among the two Singaporean cases, one is asymptomatic but was tested as his work involves interacting with security guards at dormitories. The other case is a family member of a previously confirmed case, and had already been quarantined earlier. 

Amongs the three Work Pass/ Work Permit holders, two had been identified as contacts of previously confirmed cases, and had already been quarantined at government quarantine facilities.

The remaining case also does not have symptoms, but was tested as part of efforts to screen workers in essential services.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Manpower confirmed that 42 more dormitories housing about 4,000 residents have been cleared of COVID-19. These dorms comprise one Purpose-Built Dormitory (PBD), 39 Factory-Converted Dormitories and two Construction Temporary Quarters.

A total of 132 dormitories and 14 Blocks of Recovered Workers in PBDs have been cleared of the coronavirus.