PR who returned from India is 28th Covid-19 patient to die in S'pore

Shoppers scanning the SafeEntry QR code before entering a mall, as part of measures in Singapore to curb the spread of Covid-19. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID

A 64-year-old man, who had a history of hypertension, has died from complications due to Covid-19, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday.

The permanent resident is the 28th patient to die from the virus here, almost three months since the last Covid-19-related death.

He had been working in India since last December, and was placed on stay-home notice when he returned to Singapore on Sept 23.

He was confirmed to have the coronavirus infection on Oct 4.

Singapore General Hospital has reached out to his family and is extending assistance to them.

Previously, the last patient to die here from Covid-19-related complications was a 62-year-old man on July 14.

There were four new coronavirus cases yesterday. This is the lowest daily count since March 4, when two cases were reported.

They included one community case, who is a family member of previously confirmed cases, said MOH.

She had been identified as a contact of two other cases and had been placed on quarantine earlier.

All three cases arrived from India on Sept 16, and were placed on stay-home notice at a dedicated facility.

There were also two imported cases, comprising one permanent resident who returned to Singapore from the Philippines, and one work pass holder who arrived from India and the United Arab Emirates.

They had both been placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, and were tested even though they were asymptomatic.

  • Update on cases

  • New cases: 4

    Imported: 2 (1 permanent resident, 1 work pass holder)

    In community: 1

    In dormitories: 1

    Active cases: 124

    In hospitals: 48 (0 in ICU)

    In community facilities: 76

    Deaths: 28

    Patients with Covid-19 who died of other causes: 15

    Total discharged: 57,713

    Discharged yesterday: 23

    TOTAL CASES: 57,880

A migrant worker living in a dormitory made up the remaining case confirmed yesterday, taking Singapore's total to 57,880.

He had been identified earlier as a contact of previous cases, and had already been quarantined to prevent further transmission.

He was tested during quarantine to determine his status, even though he was asymptomatic.

MOH also said the cluster at 9 Sungei Kadut Avenue has been closed as it has not had new cases linked to it for 28 days, or two incubation periods.

The average number of new daily cases in the community in a week has decreased from an average of one case per day in the week before, to an average of fewer than one per day in the past week.

The number of unlinked cases in the community has also decreased from an average of fewer than one case per day in the week before, to none in the past week.

With 23 cases discharged yesterday, 57,713 patients have fully recovered from the disease.

A total of 48 patients remain in hospital, with none in intensive care, while 76 are recuperating in community facilities.

Fifteen people who tested positive have died of other causes.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 13, 2020, with the headline PR who returned from India is 28th Covid-19 patient to die in S'pore. Subscribe