5 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, with a new cluster from a SAFRA Jurong dinner party

The Ministry of Health has announced five new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of 12 pm on March 5. This brings the total number of cases in the island nation to 117. Additionally, the MOH announced the discharge of 2 more cases bringing the total number of those who have recovered to 81. 

Of the five new cases, one is an imported case, while the others are part of a cluster involving a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong (333 Boon Lay Way) on February 15.

Photo courtesy: NCID
Photo courtesy: NCID

Case 113: An imported case involving a 42 year-old male French national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder. He has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions but had been in France, Portugal and the UK between February 8 and  March 3. He is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

He reported the onset of symptoms on March 3 during his flight on Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Singapore. He presented at NCID the next day. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on March 4 afternoon.

Prior to hospital admission, he had visited Gleneagles Hospital for an unrelated matter. He stays in the Mount Sophia area.

Case 114: A 62 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is warded in an isolation room at the National University Hospital (NUH). He is a family member of Case 115, and is linked to the cluster involving a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

He reported the onset of symptoms on February 28 and had sought treatment at a general practitioner clinic on February 29. He presented at the emergency department at NUH on March 3. Subsequent test results confirmed COVID-19 infection on March 4 afternoon.

Prior to hospital admission, he had mostly stayed at his home in the Westwood Avenue area.

Case 115: A 62 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 5 morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at NUH. She is a family member of Case 114, and is linked to the cluster involving a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

Case 116: A 50 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 5 morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to the cluster involving a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

Case 117: A 52 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions but had been in Malaysia on March 1. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 5 morning and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to the cluster involving a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

Case 112 (Announced on 4 March): A 62 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She is warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to the cluster involving a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

She had gone to work on February 21 at Creative O Preschoolers’ Bay (31 International Business Park) where she is a non-teaching staff. She had left the centre a few hours into her shift, and has not been back since.

The MOH has also said that of the 36 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving with seven in critical condition in the intensive care unit.