COVID-19: Local Clusters in Singapore (2020)

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Infographic by MustShare News showing the 6 places that the Chinese tour group visited.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed its first locally transmitted cases on 4 February 2020.[1] This entry clarifies the differences between local and community transmission while compiling the list of confirmed clusters in Singapore.

Local vs. Community spread

The following sections highlight the differences between local and community transmission, as clarified by MOH.

Local spread[2]

  • Limited spread of infection
  • Common source(s) of transmission
  • Identifiable source(s)

The confirmed Singaporean cases on 4 February 2020 involving the Chinese tour group is considered a limited local spread as they can all be traced back to one location - Yong Thai Hang Medical Hall.[3]

Community spread[4]

  • Widespread infection
  • Multiple clusters of transmission
  • Unidentifiable sources

Local Cluster 1: Yong Thai Hang Medical Hall

The shopfront of Yong Thai Hang Medical Hall. Photo from Channel News Asia.

On 22 January, a group of tourists from Guangxi, China entered Singapore.[5] The group visited at least 6 locations in Singapore the next day.[6] The tour group visited these 6 locations:

  • T Galleria by Duty Free Singapore (25 Scotts Road)
  • Meeting You Restaurant (14 Hamilton Road)
  • D'Resort @ Downtown East (1 Pasir Ris Close)
  • Yong Thai Hang Medical Hall (24 Cavan Road)
  • Royal Dragon Restaurant (2 Havelock Road)
  • Diamond Industries Jewellery Company (20 Harbour Drive)

Certain individuals from this group were carriers of the virus, hence initially infecting 4 Singaporeans who were within close and prolonged contact. As of 5 February 2020, at least 2 of the 20 Chinese tourists have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus.[7]

9 Singaporeans (Infected)

There are 9 individuals who are confirmed to have the virus.[8] The first case was confirmed on 3 February.[9] 4 cases were reported on 4 February and 2 were announced on 5 February.[10][11] These cases are considered to be part of a limited local transmission cluster.[12][13]

Case No. Profile Date Tested Positive Relationship Refs.
19 28-year-old female employee at Yong Thai Hang Medical Hall 3 February Employer-Domestic Helper [14]
21 44-year-old female Indonesian national 4 February
20 48-year-old female employee at Yong Thai Hang Medical Hall 4 February -
24 32-year-old female Tour Guide 4 February Husband-Wife
25 40-year-old male employee at Diamond Industries Jewellery Company 4 February
27 45-year-old male 5 February Husband to Case 19 [15]
28 6 month-old child 5 February Child to Case 19 & 27
34 40-year-old female employee at Yong Thai Hang Medical Hall 7 February - [16]
40 36-year-old male Singapore Citizen 8 February -

Local Cluster 2: Grand Hyatt Singapore

The Grand Hyatt is one of the local transmission points in Singapore. Photo from The Straits Times.

109 people were gathered for a private business meeting at Grand Hyatt Singapore from 20 January to 22 January 2020.[17][18] Present at the conference were Chinese nationals from Hubei.[19][20] There are 3 infected Singaporeans in this cluster.


2 Malaysians and 1 South Korean citizen have also been infected from this event. The 41-year-old individual from Malaysia, who happened to be the country’s first case, was tested positive for the virus on 4 February.[21] His 40-year-old sister was confirmed to be infected on 6 February.[22] The infected patient from South Korea is a 38-year-old man who tested positive for the virus on 3 February. He had previously shared a meal with the infected Malaysian individual at the meeting.[23]

3 Singaporeans (Infected)

There were a total of 15 Singaporean residents at the conference. 4 individuals of the 15 have displayed symptoms of the virus. These 4 have since been referred to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on 5 February.[24] As of 10 February, 3 of the 4 being investigated were found to be infected with the coronavirus.[25]

Case No. Patient Profile Travel History (to Wuhan) Date Tested Positive Relationship Refs.
31 27-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 6 February - [26]
36 38-year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident No 7 February - [27]
39 51-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 8 February - [28]

Local Cluster 3: The Life Church and Missions Singapore

The Life Church and Missions is located in a building on Paya Lebar Road. Photo from The StraitsTimes.

Established in 2002, the church has a congregation made up of 170 members.[29] On 9 February, the church announced that they would be suspending meetings for at least 2 weeks.[30] They added that the suspension could be prolonged if the situation becomes worse. Out of the 5 individuals in this cluster, there are 2 Chinese nationals and 3 Singaporeans.


The 2 Chinese nationals were Cases 8 and 9 in Singapore. The married couple landed in Singapore on 19 January 2020 and had reportedly visited the church on their own accord.[31][32]

Case No. Patient Profile Travel History (to Wuhan) Date Tested Positive Relationship Refs.
8 56-year-old female Chinese national Yes 28 January Husband-Wife [33]
9 56-year-old male Chinese national Yes 28 January

3 Singaporeans (Infected)

As of 10 February 2020, there are 3 Singaporeans infected in this cluster.

Case No. Patient Profile Travel History (to Wuhan) Date Tested Positive Relationship Refs.
31 53-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 6 February - [34]
33 39-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 6 February - [35]
38 52-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 8 February - [36]

Local Cluster 4: Seletar Aerospace Heights

The source of this cluster is not known. There are 4 infected Bangladeshi workers in this cluster. They had been working on a construction site at Seletar Aerospace Heights.[37] All of them reside in different areas of Singapore.[38][39]

4 Bangladesh nationals (Infected)

Case No. Patient Profile Travel History (to Wuhan) Date Tested Positive Relationship Refs.
42 39-year-old male Bangladesh national No 8 February - [40]
47 39-year-old male Bangladesh national No 10 February - [41]
52 37-year-old male Bangladesh national No 12 February - [42]
56 30-year-old male Bangladesh national No 13 February - [43]

Local Cluster 5: Grace Assembly of God

The source of this cluster is not known. Grace Assembly of God Church has 2 branches, one at Tanglin and the other at Bukit Batok.[44] A total of 7 individuals are linked to this cluster. 3 of the 7 are employees of the church.[45][46] On 13 February, the church announced a closure of its premises from 14 to 25 February.[47] All the staff members of the church has been issued with a Home Quarantine Order.[48]

7 Singaporeans (Infected)

Case No. Patient Profile Travel History (to Wuhan) Date Tested Positive Relationship Refs.
48 34-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 11 February - [49]
49 46-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 11 February - [50]
51 48-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 12 February - [51]
53 54-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 12 February - [52]
54 54-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [53]
57 26-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [54]
58 55-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [55]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ “CONFIRMED CASES OF LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  2. ↑ “FAQs on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation”. Ministry of Health. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  3. ↑ “CONFIRMED CASES OF LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  4. ↑ “FAQs on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation”. Ministry of Health. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  5. ↑ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq and Chew, Hui Min. “4 locally transmitted cases among new coronavirus patients in Singapore”. Channel News Asia. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  6. ↑ Tan, Cheryl. “Four of six places visited by Chinese tour group linked to local coronavirus transmissions closed”. The Straits Times. February 6, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  7. ↑ “CONFIRMED CASES OF LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  8. ↑ “SIX MORE CASES DISCHARGED; THREE NEW CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION CONFIRMED”. Ministry of Health. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  9. ↑ Tang, See Kit. “What we know about the 5 families among Singapore's confirmed coronavirus cases”. Channel News Asia. February 6, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  10. ↑ Ng, Jun Sen and Lim, Janice. “Novel coronavirus: Singapore reports first local transmissions, 4 cases linked to Jalan Besar shop visited by Chinese tour groups”. Today. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  11. ↑ Chee, Kenny. “Coronavirus: Singapore confirms 4 new cases, including 6-month-old child of infected couple”. The Straits Times. February 5, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  12. ↑ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq and Yong, Michael. “What we know about the locally transmitted coronavirus cases in Singapore”. Channel News Asia. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  13. ↑ “FOUR MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 5, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  14. ↑ “CONFIRMED CASES OF LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 4, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  15. ↑ “FOUR MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 5, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  16. ↑ “SIX MORE CASES DISCHARGED; THREE NEW CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION CONFIRMED”. Ministry of Health. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  17. ↑ Geddie, John. “WHO probes Singapore meet linked to spread of virus”. Reuters. 6 February 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  18. ↑ "More than 100 people attended meeting at Grand Hyatt Singapore linked to Malaysia, South Korea coronavirus cases". Channel News Asia. February 5, 2020 (updated 6 February 2020). Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  19. ↑ “Novel coronavirus: 2 more cases in S’pore, including one with no travel history to China or apparent”. Today. February 6, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  20. ↑ Kamil, Asyraf. “WHO probes Singapore conference linked to coronavirus spread”. The Straits Times. 7 February 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  21. ↑ Sukumaran, Tashny. “Coronavirus cases in South Korea and Malaysia linked to Singapore meeting spark WHO investigation”. South China Morning Post. February 5, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  22. ↑ Sukumaran, Tashny. “Coronavirus: Malaysia confirms first case of human transmission from Singapore meeting, taking tally to 14”. South China Morning Post. February 6, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  23. ↑ “3 new coronavirus cases in South Korea; 2 men had travelled to Singapore for conference”. Channel News Asia. February 5, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  24. ↑ “FOUR MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF NOVEL CORONAVIRUS INFECTION IN SINGAPORE”. Ministry of Health. February 5, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  25. ↑ “Coronavirus: Singapore confirms 2 new local infections; 1 appears to have no link to previous cases”. The Straits Times. February 6, 2020. Accessed on 7 February 2020.
  26. ↑ Tan, Tam Mei. “Coronavirus: Gas analysis conference at Grand Hyatt Singapore linked to infections”. The Straits Times. February 7, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  27. ↑ Tang, See Kit. “What we know about the 3 local transmission clusters of coronavirus”. Channel News Asia. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  28. ↑ “4 more confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, 6 fully recovered in Singapore”. Connected to India. February 10, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  29. ↑ “About the church”. The Life Church and Missions. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  30. ↑ Mohan, Matthew. “Church linked to possible coronavirus cluster engaged cleaning company to disinfect premises, will suspend meetings”. Channel News Asia. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  31. ↑ Mohan, Matthew. “Church linked to possible coronavirus cluster engaged cleaning company to disinfect premises, will suspend meetings”. Channel News Asia. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  32. ↑ Tan, Audrey. "Coronavirus: Two of five patients who attended Paya Lebar church were not known to the church". The Straits Times. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  33. ↑ “Novel coronavirus in Singapore: What we know about the 43 confirmed cases”. Channel News Asia. January 24, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  34. ↑ Lim, Arista. “S’pore Now At DORSCON Orange Alert, 3 New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed On 7 Feb With No Links To China”. MustShare News. February 7, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  35. ↑ Oh, Tessa. “Novel coronavirus: One congregant of Paya Lebar church identified as possible cluster is ‘in critical condition’ in ICU”. Today. February 9, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  36. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. “Coronavirus: 7 new cases in Singapore, possible new cluster involving church in Paya Lebar”. The Straits Times. February 8, 2020. Accessed on 10 February 2020.
  37. ↑ Choo, Yun Ting. “Coronavirus: 2 infected Bangladeshis were working at site to expand Bombardier service centre”. The Straits Times. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  38. ↑ “2 new coronavirus cases in Singapore, including second Bangladeshi worker and RWS casino employee”. Channel News Asia. February 11, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  39. ↑ “EIGHT MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION”. Ministry of Health. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  40. ↑ “SIX MORE CASES DISCHARGED; THREE NEW CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION CONFIRMED”. Ministry of Health. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  41. ↑ “SIX MORE CASES DISCHARGED; THREE NEW CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION CONFIRMED”. Ministry of Health. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  42. ↑ “EIGHT MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION”. Ministry of Health. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  43. ↑ “EIGHT MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION”. Ministry of Health. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  44. ↑ “About Grace”. Grace Assembly of God. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  45. ↑ “Fifth cluster found at another church”. The Straits Times. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  46. ↑ “EIGHT MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION”. Ministry of Health. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  47. ↑ Teo, Wilson. “Anchor in His Faithfulness!”. Grace Assembly of God. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  48. ↑ “Coronavirus: 8 new cases in Singapore, including 5 more linked to Grace Assembly church, 1 linked to DBS case”. The Straits Times. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  49. ↑ “SIX MORE CASES DISCHARGED; THREE NEW CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION CONFIRMED”. Ministry of Health. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  50. ↑ “SIX MORE CASES DISCHARGED; THREE NEW CASES OF COVID-19 INFECTION CONFIRMED”. Ministry of Health. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 13 February 2020.
  51. ↑ Salamat, Hidayah and Yong, Michael. “Eight new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all linked to previous patients”. Channel News Asia. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  52. ↑ Salamat, Hidayah and Yong, Michael. “Eight new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all linked to previous patients”. Channel News Asia. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  53. ↑ Salamat, Hidayah and Yong, Michael. “Eight new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all linked to previous patients”. Channel News Asia. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  54. ↑ Salamat, Hidayah and Yong, Michael. “Eight new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all linked to previous patients”. Channel News Asia. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
  55. ↑ Salamat, Hidayah and Yong, Michael. “Eight new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all linked to previous patients”. Channel News Asia. February 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 February 2020.
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