COVID-19 in Singapore (2020)

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On 4 January 2020, a three-year-old girl from China was reported as the first suspected case of the Wuhan “mystery” virus in Singapore. She had a travel history to the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei Province. The virus has been identified as a new coronavirus that has claimed 17 deaths overseas. As of 23 January 2020, there are only suspected cases of the Wuhan virus in Singapore.

Wuhan "mystery" virus

Coronavirus comparison

A microscopic image of the MERS coronavirus. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

Similar to MERS and SARS, the Wuhan disease is caused by the coronavirus.[1][2][3]

SARS (SARS-CoV) MERS (MERS-CoV) Wuhan Virus (2019 n-CoV)
Year 2003 2012 2019
Origin Fu Shan City, China Qatar Wuhan, China
Source Bats, civet cats, wild animals Wild animals, especially bats and camels Wild animals
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

Chills

Headache

Sore throat

Difficulty breathing 

Travel History Yes
Morbidity & Mortality 8,000 infected, 700 deaths 1,100+ infected, 400+ deaths 449 infected, 17 deaths (as of 23 January 2020)
Mortality Rate Relatively Low High (40% - 50% infected) Relatively Low

Origins of the virus

Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market (Wuhan, China)

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

On 12 December 2019, Wuhan’s health authorities announced the first confirmed case of the mystery virus. Huanan Seafood Market was identified as the primary hotspot of the virus, given that some of the patients were operating dealers or market vendors.[4] The market sold seafood and live animals, such as birds and snakes.[5]

Spread of virus

Bar chart depicting the spike in the number of confirmed cases in China from 11 to 21 January 2020. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

The first instances of the virus spreading beyond Wuhan was reported in Beijing and Guangdong.[6] In a statement on 19 January 2020, the World Health Organisation said that the new cases did not appear to be directly linked to the Huanan Seafood Market.


On 23 January 2020, Wuhan has been put on “lockdown” mode where outbound flights and rail services from the city have been suspended.[7] The city has also suspended outbound travel by bus, subway and ferry.

City/ Province Confirmed Cases (#) as of 23 January 2020 Refs.
Hubei 375 [8]
Guangdong 26 [9]
Beijing 14 [10]
Zhejiang 10 [11]
Shanghai 9 [12]
Chongqing 6 [13]
Henan 5 [14]
Sichuan 5 [15]
Tianjin 4 [16]
Hainan 4 [17]
Hunan 4 [18]
Shandong 2 [19]
Jiangxi 1 [20]
Liaoning 1 -
Guangxi 1 [21]
Fujian 1 [22]
Shanxi 1 [23]
Guizhou 1 [24]
Anhui 1 [25]
Ningxia 1 [26]
Hebei 1 [27]
Yunnan 1 [28]

Outside of China, there have been several confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus in Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Australia and the Philippines.[29] The USA has also seen its first confirmed case of the new pneumonia coronavirus in Washington.[30] The virus has been confirmed to be transmittable among humans, with 15 medical staff having been diagnosed with the virus.[31][32]

Reported deaths in Wuhan

Inside Huanan Seafood Market. Photo from China Daily.

The first death from the mystery virus was reported on 11 January 2020.[33] 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.[34]

The following table shows the 3 subsequent deaths that are on the record.

Case No. Date of Death Victim Profile Pre-existing Medical Conditions Refs.
2 17 January 2020 69-year-old man Yes [35]
3 20 January 2020 Unreleased Unreleased [36]
4 21 January 2020 89-year-old man Yes [37]

As of 23 January 2019, there are 17 reported deaths caused by the virus.[38]

Singapore cases

First suspected case

The Ministry of Health (MOH) was notified of the first suspected case of the Wuhan virus in Singapore on 4 January 2020.[39] 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.[40]


It was revealed that the girl had only contracted a common childhood viral illness unrelated to the Wuhan pneumonia cluster.[41] This diagnosis was based on “epidemiological investigations, clinical assessment and laboratory test results from the suspect case”.[42] 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.[43]

Subsequent suspected cases

Case No. Date Suspect Profile Pneumonia Travel History Status Refs.
Wuhan/China Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market
2 10 January 2020 26-year-old Chinese male x x - Cleared [44][45]
3 16 January 2020 69-year-old Singaporean male x x - Cleared [46][47]
4 17 January 2020 64-year-old Chinese male x x - Cleared [48][49]
5 61-year-old Singaporean female x x - Cleared
6 18 January 2020 52-year-old Singaporean male x x - Cleared [50][51]
7 20 January 2020 44-year-old Singaporean female x x - Cleared [52][53]
8 22 January 2020 3-year-old Chinese male x Pending [54]
9 4-year-old Chinese male x Pending
10 78-year-old Singaporean female x Pending

Precautionary measures in Singapore

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore has implemented the following measures to mitigate the outbreak of the virus.[55] Health advisories on the Wuhan virus have been placed at all checkpoints (air, land and sea) into Singapore.

Phase 1

Measures Location Purpose Next Steps
Temperature checks for inbound travellers from Wuhan Changi Airport Detect symptoms of fever Suspected cases are sent to local hospitals for further assessment
Isolation Hospital Prevent transmission of the virus from suspect cases -
Health Advisory Posters Changi Airport Information for inbound travellers from Wuhan -

Phase 2

Upon confirmation that the new pneumonia coronavirus can be transmitted from human to human,[56] MOH has put in place additional precautionary measures, such as:

Measures Location Purpose Next Steps
Quarantine the following individuals:
    • Those with acute respiratory infection
    • Those who have visited any hospital in China within 2 weeks of symptoms surfacing
    • Those who have visited China 2 weeks before showing symptoms
Changi Airport Widening the definition of "suspected" cases Suspected cases are sent to local hospitals for further assessment
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 -
Distribute health advisory posters Land and Sea Checkpoints -
All public hospitals on “outbreak response mode” Public Hospitals Readiness to respond to the virus threat -

References / Citations

  1. ↑ Hon, KL. “MERS = SARS?”. Hong Kong Medical Journal 21, no. 5 (October 2015): 478.
  2. ↑ Bendix, Aria. “The US has reported its first case of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus. Here’s how to protect yourself while traveling”. Business Insider. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ “Pneumonia of Unknown Cause – China”. World Health Organization. January 05, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  5. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. “Wuhan pneumonia: First suspected case reported in Singapore”. The Straits Times. January 04, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  6. ↑ “China confirms 139 new cases of pneumonia, virus spreads to Beijing and Shenzhen”. Channel News Asia. January 20, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  7. ↑ “Wuhan virus: China quarantines city, shuts down flights and public transport as outbreak grows”. The Straits Times. January 23, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  8. ↑ “湖北省卫生健康委员会关于新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎情况通报”. Health Commission of Hubei Province. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  9. ↑ “广东省新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎疫情通报 (2020年1月22日)”. Health Commission of Guangdong Province. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  10. ↑ “我市新增4例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎病例”. Beijing Municipal Health Commission. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  11. ↑ “浙江省新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎疫情通报”. Zhejiang Health Committee. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  12. ↑ “上海新增3例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Shanghai Municipal Health Commission. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  13. ↑ “重庆市新增1例输入性新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Chongqing Municipal Health Committee. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  14. ↑ “河南省新增输入性新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例4例”. Health Commission of Henan Province. January 21, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  15. ↑ “我省新增3例输入性新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例” Health Commission of Sichuan Province. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  16. ↑ Peng, Qihang. “天津新增2例新型肺炎确诊病例”. The Beijing News. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  17. ↑ “海南确诊4例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎”. Sina 新浪网. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  18. ↑ “湖南省新增3例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Hunan Provincial Health Committee. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  19. ↑ “青岛市疑似新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎病例被国家卫生健康委确认为确诊病例". Health Commission of Shandong Province. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  20. ↑ “江西省确认2例输入性新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Health Commission of Jiangxi Province. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  21. ↑ “广西确诊2例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎病例”. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health and Health Committee. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  22. ↑ “国家卫生健康委确认我省首例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Health Commission of Shanxi Province. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  23. ↑ “国家卫生健康委确认我省首例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Health Commission of Shanxi Province. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  24. ↑ “国家卫生健康委确认我省首例输入性新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Guizhou Provincial Health and Health Committee. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  25. ↑ “安徽省报告首例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例.” Health Commission of Anhui Province. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  26. ↑ “国家卫生健康委确认我区首例输入性新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Health Commission of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  27. ↑ “国家卫生健康委确认我省首例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎确诊病例”. Hebei Provincial Health Committee. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  28. ↑ “昆明市卫生健康委关于新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎疫情的情况通报”. Kunming Municipal Health and Health Committee. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  29. ↑ Tan, Adeline. “Likely for Wuhan virus to come to Singapore”. The New Paper. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  30. ↑ Yong, Charissa. “US confirms first case of Wuhan virus”. The Straits Times. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
  31. ↑ “Wuhan virus: 15 Chinese medical workers confirmed infected with coronavirus”. The Straits Times. January 21, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2020.
  32. ↑ “Wuhan virus: China confirms human-to-human transmission, says medical workers infected”. The Straits Times. January 20, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2020.
  33. ↑ Law, Elizabeth. “China reports first death in Wuhan pneumonia outbreak”. The Straits Times. January 11, 2020. Accessed 13 January 2020.
  34. ↑ Law, Elizabeth. “China reports first death in Wuhan pneumonia outbreak”. The Straits Times. January 11, 2020. Accessed 13 January 2020.
  35. ↑ “Wuhan virus: China reports second death, second case found in Thailand”. The Straits Times. January 17, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  36. ↑ 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.
  37. ↑ “Wuhan virus: China reports fourth death in pneumonia outbreak; 15 medical workers infected”. The Straits Times. January 21, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2020.
  38. ↑ “Wuhan virus: China quarantines city, shuts down flights and public transport as outbreak grows”. The Straits Times. January 23, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  39. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. “Wuhan pneumonia: First suspected case reported in Singapore”. The Straits Times. January 4, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  40. ↑ Chang, Ai-Lien. “Wuhan pneumonia: First suspected case reported in Singapore”. The Straits Times. January 4, 2020. Accessed 9 January 2020.
  41. ↑ “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.
  42. ↑ “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.
  43. ↑ “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.
  44. ↑ Khalik, Salma. “Second suspected Wuhan virus case isolated here”. The Straits Times. January 11, 2020. Accessed 13 January 2020.
  45. ↑ “Second suspected case of Wuhan virus in Singapore tests negative”. The Straits Times. January 11, 2020. Accessed 13 January 2020.
  46. ↑ Lai, Linette. “Third suspected Wuhan virus case detected in Singapore, man isolated as precaution”. The Straits Times. January 16, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  47. ↑ “Update On Local Situation Regarding Severe Pneumonia Cluster In Wuhan”. Ministry of Health. January 17, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  48. ↑ Chong, Clara. “2 more suspected Wuhan virus cases in Singapore; both isolated as precaution”. The Straits Times. January 17, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  49. ↑ “Update On Local Situation Regarding Severe Pneumonia Cluster In Wuhan”. Ministry of Health. January 18, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  50. ↑ “New suspected Wuhan virus case in Singapore, remaining 5 have tested negative”. The Straits Times. January 18, 2020. Accessed 20 January 2020.
  51. ↑ “Update On Local Situation Regarding Severe Pneumonia Cluster In Wuhan”. Ministry of Health. January 20, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2020.
  52. ↑ Yong, Clement. “Wuhan virus: Singapore expands temperature screening to all travellers arriving from China”. The Straits Times. January 20, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2020.
  53. ↑ “Update On Local Situation Regarding Severe Pneumonia Cluster In Wuhan”. Ministry of Health. January 20, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2020.
  54. ↑ “Update On Local Situation Regarding Severe Pneumonia Cluster In Wuhan”. Ministry of Health. January 22, 2020. Accessed 23 January 2020.
  55. ↑ “Precautionary Measures In Response To Severe Pneumonia Cases In Wuhan, China”. Ministry of Health. January 2, 2020. Accessed 5 January 2020.
  56. ↑ Tan, Adeline. “Likely for Wuhan virus to come to Singapore”. The New Paper. January 22, 2020. Accessed 22 January 2020.
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