COVID-19: Local Clusters in Singapore (2020)

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.

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

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 infected Singaporeans

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 infected Singaporeans

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 8 individuals in this cluster, there are 2 Chinese nationals and 6 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

6 infected Singaporeans

As of 25 February 2020, there are 6 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]
83 54-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 19 February Husband to Case 91 [37]
90 75-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 23 February - [38]
91 58-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 22 February Wife to Case 83 [39]

Local Cluster 4: Seletar Aerospace Heights

The source of this cluster is not known. There are 5 infected Bangladeshi workers in this cluster. They had been working on a construction site at Seletar Aerospace Heights.[40] All of them reside in different areas of Singapore.[41][42]

5 infected Bangladesh nationals

Case No. Patient Profile Travel History (to Wuhan) Date Tested Positive Relationship Refs.
42 39-year-old male Bangladesh national No 8 February - [43]
47 39-year-old male Bangladesh national No 10 February - [44]
52 37-year-old male Bangladesh national No 12 February - [45]
56 30-year-old male Bangladesh national No 13 February - [46]
69 26-year-old Bangladesh national No 15 February - [47]

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.[48] On 13 February, the church announced a closure of its premises from 14 to 25 February.[49] All the staff members of the church has been issued with a Home Quarantine Order.[50]

23 infected Singaporeans

Case No. Patient Profile Travel History (to Wuhan) Date Tested Positive Relationship Refs.
48 34-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 11 February - [51]
49 46-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 11 February - [52]
51 48-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 12 February - [53]
53 54-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 12 February - [54]
54 54-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [55]
57 26-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [56]
58 55-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [57]
60 51-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [58]
61 57-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [59]
62 44-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 13 February - [60]
63 54-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 14 February - [61][62]
66 28-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 14 February Family to Cases 68 & 70 [63][64]
67 56-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 14 February - [65][66]
68 79-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 14 February Family to Cases 66 & 70 [67]
70 27-year-old female Singapore Citizen No 15 February Family to Cases 66 & 68 [68]
71 25-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 15 February Close contact to Cases 66 & 70 [69][70]
73 43-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 15 February - [71]
74 29-year-old male Singapore Citizen No 15 February - [72]

Local Cluster 6: Wizlearn Technologies

11 of the confirmed COVID-19 cases have been traced back to Wizlearn Technologies. Located in Science Park, the company specialises in e-learning solutions.[73] The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed this cluster on 28 February, 2 days after the first case linked to this cluster was announced.[74]

11 infected Singaporeans

Case No. Patient Profile Relationship Travel History (to Wuhan) Date Tested Positive Date Discharged Refs.
93 38-year-old male Singapore Citizen - No 27 February - [75]
95 44-year-old male Singapore Citizen - No 27 February - [76]
97 44-year-old female Singapore Permanent Resident - No 27 February - [77]
98 24-year-old male Singapore Permanent Resident - No 28 February - [78]
99 27-year-old male Singapore Citizen - No 28 February -
100 20-year-old male Malaysian national - No 28 February -
101 61-year-old male Singapore Citizen - No 29 February -
102 41-year-old female Filipino national - No 29 February -
103 37-year-old female Singapore Citizen - No 1 March - [79]
104 25-year-old female Myanmar national - No 1 March -
105 49-year-old male Singapore Citizen - No 1 March - [80]

References / Citations

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