Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed that two patients have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection on the morning of March 21.
“We are deeply saddened by their passing. Our thoughts are with their families during this difficult time," said Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong.
"We will render all necessary assistance to their families. I understand that Singaporeans will be affected by this news. But we must take courage and continue to play our part to fight this virus.”
The first patient was a 75 year-old female Singapore Citizen. She was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on February 23 for pneumonia, and was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on the same day.
The woman had been cared for in the intensive care unit (ICU) since admission to NCID. She developed serious complications and eventually succumbed to the infection after 26 days in the ICU on March 21 at 7.52am. The patient had a history of chronic heart disease and hypertension.
The second patient was a 64 year-old male Indonesian national. He was admitted in critical condition to the ICU at NCID on March 13, after arriving in Singapore from Indonesia on the same day, and was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection the next day.
The patient had been cared for in the ICU since March 13. He developed serious complications and eventually succumbed to the infection after nine days in the ICU on March 21 at 10.15am.
Prior to his arrival in Singapore on 13 March, he had been hospitalised in Indonesia for pneumonia, and had a history of heart disease.