Extra COVID-19 instances are anticipated within the hospital cluster as authorities conduct proactive testing, says the Well being Minister.
Healthcare staff in private protecting tools at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Accident and Emergency (A&E) division on Apr 30, 2021. (Picture: Calvin Oh)
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SINGAPORE: Public locations visited by COVID-19 instances within the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) cluster will shut for 2 days for cleansing, Well being Minister Gan Kim Yong introduced on Friday (Apr 30).
That is to scale back the unfold of the coronavirus from any potential undetected instances in the neighborhood, he mentioned.
"We will close all public places visited by the cases during the likely infectious period for two days for cleaning, and this will also facilitate testing of the staff and workers at these affected areas,” Mr Gan said during a press conference by the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force.
These locations include places of worship like City Harvest Church and Masjid Hajjah Fatimah at Beach Road, NTUC FairPrice supermarkets at Kitchener Complex, Toa Payoh Hub and VivoCity, as well as eateries such as Tuk Tuk Cha at Bugis Junction, Four Fingers at Junction 8 and Malaysia Boleh food court in Ang Mo Kio Hub.
“The aim is to really uncover any hidden cases that may be asymptomatic so that we can effectively contain the spread,” Mr Gan said.
Co-chair of the duty pressure Lawrence Wong mentioned companies will probably be approaching venue operators and house owners to have them closed.
"I presume most of it will be done over the weekend - Saturday, Sunday in some instances," he mentioned, including that the authorities wish to do it as quickly as attainable.
MORE CASES EXPECTED
The TTSH cluster is Singapore's first hospital cluster and presently the nation's largest with 13 instances.
The primary COVID-19 case detected on this cluster, a nurse, was introduced on Wednesday. Twelve different instances on this cluster have since been confirmed, comprising two docs, a healthcare assistant, a cleaner and eight sufferers.
Extra instances are anticipated to emerge via proactive testing carried out by the authorities to "uncover hidden cases", Mr Gan mentioned, including that the Authorities is “particularly concerned” concerning the hospital cluster.
Director of medical companies on the Ministry of Well being Affiliate Professor Kenneth Mak mentioned that the authorities are wanting into the likelihood that the infections could possibly be associated to "a breakthrough infection", which refers to an infection after vaccination.
Of the TTSH COVID-19 instances, 4 workers and a affected person have been totally vaccinated. One other affected person had acquired one dose of the vaccine.
Mr Wong cautioned that individuals "should not overreact to the news of breakthrough infections".
"(We should not) make the biggest mistake which is to say that all vaccinations don't work, and therefore, maybe there is no need for a vaccine. I think that would be disastrous," he mentioned.
TESTING TO INCLUDE DISCHARGED PATIENTS AND VISITORS
COVID-19 testing will probably be widened to incorporate sufferers who had been discharged from TTSH and those that visited the hospital on or after Apr 18.
It was earlier introduced that all sufferers and employees members in TTSH wards will probably be examined, together with those that are asymptomatic.
"Our testing is ongoing, and we expect to detect more cases in the coming weeks, in coming days," mentioned Mr Gan.
Guests and sufferers who had been at TTSH since Apr 18 are suggested to watch their well being carefully for 14 days from their date of go to, mentioned the Ministry of Well being (MOH) in a media launch.
"They are strongly encouraged to visit a Regional Screening Centre (RSC) or Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) for a government-funded swab test," the ministry added.
As for individuals who could have been on the public locations visited by COVID-19 instances, Mr Wong mentioned they are going to obtain textual content messages to inform them in order that they'll monitor their well being.
“In addition, we will also alert them and encourage them through the SMS to get themselves tested, so we will send them instructions on where they could possibly go for testing and the testing will be free of charge,” he mentioned.
MOH's checklist of locations is as follows:
Record of public locations visited by COVID-19 instances in the neighborhood throughout their infectious interval. (Picture: Ministry of Well being)
Editor’s Be aware: The checklist of public locations visited by COVID-19 instances within the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) cluster has been amended on the request of MOH.
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