COVID-19 in Singapore (2020)

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This entry is a part of Wiki.sg's coverage on the evolving COVID-19 situation in Singapore. For more COVID-19 stories, click here.

On 4 January 2020, a three-year-old girl from China was reported as the first suspected case of the COVID-19 virus in Singapore. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Singapore was reported on 23 January 2020.[1] The virus has since been identified as a new coronavirus (2019-nCov) and was officially named COVID-19 in February 2020.[2][3] This entry provides a summary of the COVID-19 situation in Singapore and what is known about the COVID-19 virus.

COVID-19: Total numbers & landmark cases (Singapore)

According to the Ministry of Health, Singapore has 38,296 confirmed cases as of 8 June 2020.

Overview - Monthly confirmed cases

The following table tracks the number of confirmed cases in Singapore over the months of 2020. For a daily numerical breakdown of each month, click on the respective hyperlinks in the table.

Weekly Numbers Monthly Totals Weekly Numbers Monthly Totals
January Week 1 - 17 May Week 1 4,770 18,750
Week 2 - Week 2 5,194
Week 3 - Week 3 3,714
Week 4 - Week 4 5,072
February Week 1 - 85 June Week 1 3,026
Week 2 - Week 2
Week 3 - Week 3
Week 4 - Week 4
March Week 1 - 864 July Week 1
Week 2 - Week 2
Week 3 - Week 3
Week 4 - Week 4
April Week 1 555 15,243 August Week 1
Week 2 1,771 Week 2
Week 3 5,873 Week 3
Week 4 7,044 Week 4

Overview - Monthly recovered cases

The following table tracks the number of recovered cases in Singapore over the months of 2020. For a daily numerical breakdown of each month, click here.

Weekly Numbers Monthly Totals Weekly Numbers Monthly Totals
January Week 1 0 0 May Week 1 468 20,455
Week 2 0 Week 2 4,261
Week 3 0 Week 3 6,144
Week 4 0 Week 4 9,582
February Week 1 2 72 June Week 1 3,187
Week 2 15 Week 2
Week 3 30 Week 3
Week 4 25 Week 4
March Week 1 18 168 July Week 1
Week 2 15 Week 2
Week 3 35 Week 3
Week 4 100 Week 4
April Week 1 137 1,024 August Week 1
Week 2 233 Week 2
Week 3 233 Week 3
Week 4 421 Week 4

First suspected case (4 January 2020)

The Ministry of Health (MOH) was notified of the first suspected case of the Wuhan virus in Singapore on 4 January 2020.[4] The patient was a three-year-old girl from China who had pneumonia and a travel history to Wuhan. She had been warded for further assessment and treatment and was isolated as a precautionary measure.[5]


It was revealed that the girl had only contracted a common childhood viral illness unrelated to the Wuhan pneumonia cluster.[6] This diagnosis was based on “epidemiological investigations, clinical assessment and laboratory test results from the suspect case”.[7] While the girl had a travel history to Wuhan, she had not visited the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. She also tested negative for SARS and MERS-CoV.[8]


In response to news of the outbreak in China, Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) implemented the following measures to mitigate the outbreak of the virus on the island.[9]

Location Measures Purpose
Changi Airport Temperature checks for inbound travellers from Wuhan Detect symptoms of fever
Changi Airport Health Advisory Posters Information for inbound travellers from Wuhan
Land & Sea Checkpoints
Public Hospitals Isolation Prevent transmission of the virus from suspect cases

First confirmed case (23 January 2020)

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Singapore was reported on 23 January 2020. The infected individual is a 66-year-old Chinese male from Wuhan.[10] The man had arrived in Singapore on 20 January 2020 with his 37-year-old son, who is also suspected to have the virus.[11]


Upon confirmation that the new coronavirus can be transmitted from human to human, MOH ramped up their existing measures to include the following:[12]

Location Measures Purpose
Changi Airport Quarantine the following individuals:
  • Those with acute respiratory infection
  • Those who have visited any hospital in China within two weeks of symptoms surfacing
  • Those who have visited China 2 weeks before showing symptoms
 Widening the definition of "suspected" cases
Temperature checks for all travellers from China
Issue health advisory notices to all travellers from China Informing travellers to seek medical attention if they feel unwell
Land and Sea Checkpoints Distribute health advisory posters
Public Hospitals All public hospitals on “outbreak response mode” Readiness to respond to the virus threat

First Singaporean infected (31 January 2020)

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the first Singaporean infected was a 47-year-old woman who had been evacuated from Wuhan on 30 January 2020. The individual had been on a holiday in China with her family.[13]

First locally transmitted cases (4 February 2020)

On 4 February, the Ministry of Health confirmed the first four locally transmitted cases of the virus in Singapore. These individuals did not have a recent travel history to China. All four individuals were exposed to Chinese tourists who were carrying the virus.[14] Two of the individuals were workers at Yong Thai Hang, while one of them is an Indonesian helper working for one of the two above-mentioned individuals. The last infected individual was the tour guide who had brought Chinese tour groups to Yong Thai Hang.[15]

First reported deaths (21 March 2020)

Singapore reported its first deaths on 21 March 2020. Both patients were above 60 years old and had existing medical conditions. 

Case 90 was a 75-year-old female Singapore Citizen who was linked to the Life Church and Missions cluster. She had immediately been admitted into NCID's ICU on 23 February 2020. According to the Ministry of Health, she had a medical history of chronic heart disease and hypertension.[16]

Case 212 was a 64-year-old male Indonesian national who had presumably caught the virus while overseas. He had immediately been admitted into NCID's ICU on 13 March. According to the Ministry of Health, he had a medical history of heart disease. Before coming to Singapore, he had already been warded in Indonesia for pneumonia.[17]

Containing COVID-19 in Singapore

"Circuit Breaker" measures (7 April 2020 - 1 June 2020)

On 3 April 2020, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a month-long "circuit breaker" in Singapore on national television.[18][19] Singaporeans were urged to stay home and to only leave the house for essential activities. Workplaces - except for essential services - were closed on 7 April 2020[20] and schools shifted to e-learning on 8 April 2020.[21] Restaurants remained open in so far as providing delivery services to their customers. On 21 April 2020, the Singapore government announced an extension of the circuit breaker until 1 June 2020.[22][23]

Controlled lift of "Circuit Breaker" measures

In a press conference on 19 May 2020, the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force announced that Singapore will be lifting the "circuit breaker" measures in three phases. It is projected that the process will span a few months.[24]

Phase 1 (2 June 2020 - )

For at least four weeks, Singaporeans are still required to stay home unless to run essential errands.[25] The public will be afforded limited social visits to check in on elderly family. Schools will gradually resume on 2 June 2020, starting with daily attendance from the graduating cohorts of primary and secondary school students.[26] Students of other levels will experience a combination of home-based learning and school. Pre-schools will reopen on 2 June 2020 and resume in full by 10 June 2020.[27] Businesses will reopen but employees are required to telecommute wherever possible.[28] Minister for Trade and Industry, Chan Chun Sing shared that one-third of Singapore's workers can work on site starting 2 June 2020.[29] On 1 June 2020, Singapore reported zero community cases for the first time since 23 February 2020.[30]

About the COVID-19 coronavirus

Comparison: Coronavirus outbreak numbers (SARS, MERS & COVID-19)

Similar to MERS and SARS, the virus in question is the coronavirus. The worldwide death toll and infected numbers for COVID-19 are updated daily as per the World Health Organisation's situation reports.[31]

A microscopic image of the MERS coronavirus. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
SARS (SARS-CoV) MERS (MERS-CoV) COVID-19 (2019 n-CoV) Refs.
Year 2003 2012 2019 [32][33]
Origin Fu Shan City, China Qatar Wuhan, China
Infected 8,000 infected 1,100+ infected * 6,931,000 infected
Death Toll 700 deaths 400+ deaths * 400,857 deaths
Mortality Rate Relatively Low (~ 9%) High (40% - 50%) Relatively Low
Source Bats, civet cats, wild animals Wild animals, especially bats and camels Wild animals [34][35]
Spread Animal to human (zoonotic transmission), then human to human
Principal Symptoms** Fever

Cough

Chills or shaking

Fatigue

Shortness of breath

Headache

Diarrhoea

Fever (with or without chills)

Cough

Shortness of breath

Sore throat

Muscle pain

Muscle shortness

Vomiting

Diarrhoea

Stomach pain

Eventual kidney failure

Fever (above 37.5°C)

Sore throat

Runny nose

Body ache

Cough

Difficulty breathing

Loss of taste and smell

*The numbers are correct as of 8 June 2020.

** Singapore designed an online COVID-19 symptom checker that can be accessed here.

Confirmed facts about COVID-19

The following table details what is already known about the virus.

Details Source Refs.
Incubation Period Five to six days (on average) World Health Organisation [36]
Symptomatic Transmission Close human contact

Respiratory droplets

Contact with contaminated surfaces

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

World Health Organisation

[37]
Asymptomatic Transmission Suggested* World Health Organisation [38]
Vaccination There is no vaccine for the virus Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [39]
Ministry of Health (MOH) [40]

*Patients can test positive for the COVID-19 virus one to three days before exhibiting symptoms.

Origins of COVID-19

Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market (Wuhan, China)

The entrance to Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan city, China. Photo from Yi Cai Global.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) was alerted to a cluster of pneumonia cases in China of unknown origin on 31 December 2019.[41] According to the WHO, China reported 44 cases of patients afflicted with the mystery virus (later confirmed as COVID-19) on 3 January 2020.[42] Huanan Seafood Market was identified as the primary hotspot of the virus, given that some of the patients were operating dealers or market vendors.[43] The market sold seafood and live animals, such as birds and snakes.[44]

Confirmed cases & death toll (China)

As of 8 June 2020, there are 84,634 confirmed cases and 4,645 reported deaths in China.[45]
Inside Huanan Seafood Market. Photo from China Daily.

The first death from the "mystery virus" was reported on 11 January 2020.[46] The victim was a 61-year-old man who had died from severe pneumonia on 9 January 2020. It was also revealed that he had pre-existing abdominal tumours and chronic liver disease and did not respond well to treatment. The man was a regular buyer at the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market.[47] The following table details the three subsequent deaths that are on the record.

Case No. Date of Death Victim Profile Medical History Refs.
2 17 January 2020 69-year-old man Yes [48]
3 20 January 2020 Unreleased Unreleased [49]
4 21 January 2020 89-year-old man Yes [50]

Initial spread in China

The first instances of the virus spreading beyond Wuhan was reported in Beijing and Guangdong.[51] In a statement on 19 January 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the new cases did not appear to be directly linked to the Huanan Seafood Market. On 23 January 2020, Wuhan was put on “lockdown” mode where outbound flights and rail services from the city have been suspended.[52] The city has also suspended outbound travel by bus, subway and ferry. The lockdown on Wuhan city was lifted on 8 April 2020.[53]

Highest confirmed cases: Worldwide

Beyond China, the virus has spread to over 160 countries/territories as of March 2020.[54][55] The following table shows the countries with the highest reported cases outside of China. The numbers are updated daily as per the World Health Organisation's situation reports.[56]

Country Confirmed Cases* Deaths* Population**
United States of America 1,915,712 109,746 330,268,840
Brazil 672,846 35,930 80,313,272
Russian Federation 476,658 5,971 67,611,479
The United Kingdom 286,198 40,542 65,436,510
Spain 241,550 27,136 49,683,254
Italy 234,998 33,899 62,334,799

*The numbers are correct as of 8 June 2020.

**Each country's approximate population numbers are retrieved from the United States Census Bureau. The numbers are for 2019.[57]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ Goh, Timothy and Toh Ting Wei. "Singapore confirms first case of Wuhan virus". The Straits Times. January 23, 2020. Accessed on 23 January 2020.
  2. ↑ "2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Wuhan, China". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 22, 2020. Accessed on 23 January 2020.
  3. ↑ “Novel coronavirus named 'Covid-19': WHO”. The Straits Times.  February 11, 2020. Accessed 14 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. “Wuhan pneumonia: First suspected case reported in Singapore”. The Straits Times. January 4, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. “Wuhan pneumonia: First suspected case reported in Singapore”. The Straits Times. January 4, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  6. ↑ “Tests show Chinese girl warded with pneumonia, Wuhan travel history not linked to outbreak in China: MOH”. Channel NewsAsia. January 5, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  7. ↑ “Tests show Chinese girl warded with pneumonia, Wuhan travel history not linked to outbreak in China: MOH”. Channel NewsAsia. January 5, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  8. ↑ “Tests show Chinese girl warded with pneumonia, Wuhan travel history not linked to outbreak in China: MOH”. Channel NewsAsia. January 5, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  9. ↑ “Precautionary Measures In Response To Severe Pneumonia Cases In Wuhan, China”. Ministry of Health. January 2, 2020. Accessed 5 January 2020.
  10. ↑ Goh, Timothy and Toh Ting Wei. "Singapore confirms first case of Wuhan virus". The Straits Times. January 23, 2020. Accessed on 23 January 2020.
  11. ↑ Zhaki Abdullah and Hidayah Salamat. "Singapore confirms first case of Wuhan virus". Channel News Asia. January 23, 2020. Accessed on 23 January 2020.
  12. ↑ Tan, Adeline. “Likely for Wuhan virus to come to Singapore”. The New Paper. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  13. ↑ Goh, Timothy. "Wuhan virus: First Singaporean case confirmed; she was on Scoot flight from Wuhan". The Straits Times. January 31, 2020. Accessed on 3 February 2020.
  14. ↑ “CONFIRMED CASES OF LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 5 February 2020.
  15. ↑ “CONFIRMED CASES OF LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 5 February 2020.
  16. ↑ "PASSING OF TWO PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 INFECTION". Ministry of Health. March 21, 2020. 23 March 2020.
  17. ↑ "PASSING OF TWO PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 INFECTION". Ministry of Health. March 21, 2020. 23 March 2020.
  18. ↑ "In full: PM Lee's address on enhanced measures to deal with COVID-19 situation in Singapore". Channel News Asia. April 3, 2020. Updated on 6 April 2020. Accessed on 11 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "CIRCUIT BREAKER TO MINIMISE FURTHER SPREAD OF COVID-19". Ministry of Health. April 3, 2020. Accessed on 11 May 2020.
  20. ↑ Phua, Rachel. "Most workplaces to close for one month from Apr 7 to curb spread of COVID-19". Channel News Asia. Accessed on 11 May 2020.
  21. ↑ Chew Hui Min. "'Right time' to close schools now, says Education Minister Ong Ye Kung". Channel News Asia. April 3, 2020. Accessed on 11 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "EASING THE TIGHTER CIRCUIT BREAKER MEASURES, PREPARING FOR GRADUAL RESUMPTION OF ACTIVITY AFTER 1 JUNE". Ministry of Health. May 2, 2020. Accessed on 11 May 2020.
  23. ↑ "MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY MR GAN KIM YONG, MINISTER FOR HEALTH, AT PARLIAMENT, ON THE SECOND UPDATE ON WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO COVID-19, 4 MAY 2020". Ministry of Health. May 4, 2020. Accessed on 11 May 2020.
  24. ↑ Lai, Linette. "Singapore to lift circuit breaker measures from June 2, in three gradual phases". The Straits Times. May 19, 2020. Accessed on 20 May 2020.
  25. ↑ Lim Min Zhang. "Circuit breaker to be lifted, Singapore to reopen gradually in 3 phases". The Straits Times. May 19, 2020. Accessed on 20 May 2020.
  26. ↑ Low Youjin. "Covid-19: How S’pore will exit the circuit breaker in 3 phases after June 1". TODAY Online. May 19, 2020. Accessed on 20 May 2020.
  27. ↑ "PHASED REOPENING OF PRESCHOOLS AND EARLY INTERVENTION CENTRES FROM 2 JUNE 2020". Early Childhood Development Agency. May 19, 2020. Accessed on 20 May 2020.
  28. ↑ Jalelah Abu Baker. "Singapore to exit circuit breaker on Jun 1, visiting of parents, places of worship allowed with restrictions". Channel News Asia. May 19, 2020. Accessed on 20 May 2020.
  29. ↑ Channel News Asia. "COVID-19: Singapore outlines 3 phases for safe reopening after circuit breaker | Full presser". YouTube. May 19, 2020. Accessed on 20 May 2020.
  30. ↑ Iau, Jean. "51-year-old Chinese national dies from Covid-19 complications; no new community cases". The Straits Times. June 1, 2020. Accessed on 2 June 2020.
  31. ↑ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports". World Health Organisation. Accessed on 24 February 2020.
  32. ↑ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports". World Health Organisation. Accessed on 24 February 2020.
  33. ↑ Hon, KL. “MERS = SARS?”. Hong Kong Medical Journal 21, no. 5 (October 2015): 478.
  34. ↑ Haitao Guo, Guangxiang "George" Luo and Shou-Jiang Gao. "Snakes could be the source of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak". CNN Health. January 23, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  35. ↑ "2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Wuhan, China". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 22, 2020. Accessed on 23 January 2020.
  36. ↑ "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Situation Report 73". World Health Organisation. April 2, 2020. Accessed on 3 April 2020.
  37. ↑ "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 17, 2020. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  38. ↑ "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Situation Report 73". World Health Organisation. April 2, 2020. Accessed on 3 April 2020.
  39. ↑ “Prevention”. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Accessed 28 January 2020.
  40. ↑ “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Wuhan Coronavirus Situation in China.” Ministry of Health. Accessed 28 January 2020.
  41. ↑ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak". World Health Organisation. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  42. ↑ “Pneumonia of Unknown Cause – China”. World Health Organization. January 05, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  43. ↑ “Pneumonia of Unknown Cause – China”. World Health Organization. January 05, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  44. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. “Wuhan pneumonia: First suspected case reported in Singapore”. The Straits Times. January 04, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  45. ↑ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports". World Health Organisation. Accessed on 24 February 2020.
  46. ↑ Law, Elizabeth. “China reports first death in Wuhan pneumonia outbreak”. The Straits Times. January 11, 2020. Accessed 13 January 2020.
  47. ↑ Law, Elizabeth. “China reports first death in Wuhan pneumonia outbreak”. The Straits Times. January 11, 2020. Accessed 13 January 2020.
  48. ↑ “Wuhan virus: China reports second death, second case found in Thailand”. The Straits Times. January 17, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  49. ↑ Law, Elizabeth. “Wuhan virus: 3rd death reported in China as cases soar past 200; new cases confirmed in Beijing, Shenzhen”. The Straits Times. January 20, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  50. ↑ “Wuhan virus: China reports fourth death in pneumonia outbreak; 15 medical workers infected”. The Straits Times. January 21, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2020.
  51. ↑ “China confirms 139 new cases of pneumonia, virus spreads to Beijing and Shenzhen”. Channel News Asia. January 20, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  52. ↑ “Wuhan virus: China quarantines city, shuts down flights and public transport as outbreak grows”. The Straits Times. January 23, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  53. ↑ Zhong, Raymond, Wang, Vivian. "China Ends Wuhan Lockdown, but Normal Life Is a Distant Dream". The New York Times. April 7, 2020. Accessed on 17 April 2020.
  54. ↑ Tan, Adeline. “Likely for Wuhan virus to come to Singapore”. The New Paper. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  55. ↑ "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report - 41". World Health Organisation. March 1, 2020. Accessed on 2 March 2020.
  56. ↑ "Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports". World Health Organisation. Accessed on 24 February 2020.
  57. ↑ "International Data Base". United States Census Bureau. Accessed on 30 March 2020.
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