Record 3,486 new COVID cases, 9 deaths in Singapore

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (5 October) confirmed a record 3,486 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, bringing the country's total case count to 109,804, as well as nine more deaths due to the disease.

Tuesday was the first time that Singapore reported over 3,000 new daily cases. It is also the 16th day in a row with fatalities from the virus reported and the highest announced in a day.

Singapore's 122nd through 130th COVID-19 fatalities are all Singapore residents – Singaporeans or permanent residents: six men and three women aged between 64 and 90. A total of 29 people have succumbed to the disease here this month.

Among the fatalities reported on Tuesday, three had been unvaccinated against COVID-19, two had been partially vaccinated and four had been fully vaccinated. All of them had various underlying medical conditions.

Of the new cases, 3,480 are local infections: 2,767 are in the community, while 713 are dormitory residents. Among the local cases are 643 people above the age of 60, said the MOH.

The remaining six cases are imported, of whom three were detected upon their arrival in Singapore, while three developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation period.

Five active COVID-19 clusters in Singapore, including three dorms, are being closely monitored. All three dorm clusters have been classified as intra-dormitory transmissions among residents, with no evidence of spread beyond the premises.

Of the list of monitored clusters, the highest number of 13 new cases – all quarantined – was added to the cluster at Jurong Penjuru Dormitory 2. The cluster now has 101 cases.

Eleven new cases were added to the cluster at the ASPRI-Westlite Papan dorm, now totalling 167 infections.

Seven new cases were also added to the cluster at nursing home United Medicare Centre at Toa Payoh, now totalling 14 infections. Of them, eight are staff members and six are residents.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Monday said while the government is ramping up healthcare capacity to handle up to 5,000 cases, it is already planning how to handle 10,000 infections.

Co-chair of the multi-ministry COVID-19 taskforce Lawrence Wong last Saturday said many people in Singapore will end up catching COVID-19, and there is no need to be fearful or embarrassed about it.

But the Finance Minister also said the current rise in COVID cases may not be "the last wave" in Singapore.

247 require oxygen supplementation; 34 in ICU

As of Tuesday, 1,512 cases are currently warded in hospital, most of whom are well and under observation.

There are currently 247 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation and 34 in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Of those who have fallen very ill, 235 are patients above the age of 60, said the MOH.

Apart from the 130 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 15 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack and another four whose deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease.

Over the last 28 days, the percentage of local cases who were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms is 98.3 per cent. Over the same period, 570 cases required oxygen supplementation, 56 had been in the ICU, and 68 died.

As of Monday, about 9.31 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered under the national vaccination programme. Some 4.6 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine, with some 4.53 million having completed the full vaccination regimen.

To date, about 600,000 eligible seniors have been invited to receive their booster doses – 321,228 of them have received their booster shots while another 107,000 have booked their appointments.

Separately, 203,051 doses of other vaccines recognised in the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) have been administered as of Monday, covering 105,512 individuals.

This means that 83 per cent of the population have completed their full regimen, or received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and 85 per cent have received at least one dose.

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