First, the coronavirus chose migrant workers’ dormitories. Then, hawker centres, and now KTV lounges.

Migrant workers’ dorms facilitated transmission due to inept design: residents were forced to endure cramped and sometimes unhygienic conditions.

COVID-19 may have jumped from person to person in a hawker centre because everyone’s masks are down while eating and not everyone can follow safe distancing rules when they’re savouring a tasty bowl of Chendol. 

As for KTV lounges, well, they’ve made it easy for the virus to spread because of the kinds of interactions that go on there. 

Reader: You mean drinking and singing?

Sure, let’s go with that.

Now, KTV lounges are closing faster than the doors to the MRT when we’re late for work.

2 More KTV Lounges Shut As KTV Cluster Grows to 88 Cases

Two more KTV lounges were ordered to shut by the authorities due to the likelihood of ongoing COVID-19 transmission there.

Las Vegas KTV and Tuberose KTV, both in Parklane Shopping Mall, will be closed to the public from today (16 July) to 30 July.

This will not only enable deep cleaning but break any potential chain of transmission, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said yesterday (15 July).

Free COVID-19 testing will be offered to those who visited both outlets or similar KTV lounges and clubs operating as food and beverage outlets between 29 June and 15 July.

Plus, those who interacted with social hostesses of any nationality in any setting in the same period should also get tested. This too will be free.

Head here for details on booking an appointment.

6 New Cases Linked to Driving Centre

KTV lounges may be our main source of concern right now, but the coronavirus is still exploring other areas.

The ComfortDelGro Driving Centre in Ubi, as well as its branch office and service points in Kovan and Tampines, were ordered to shut after 6 cases were linked to a cluster there.

The closure, which started yesterday (15 July), will last till 29 July.

MOH will be conducting special testing operations for all staff at the centre too.

All physical lessons scheduled at the centre in the same period will be automatically cancelled and lesson fees will be refunded into customers’ accounts.

eAppointments scheduled during the closure will be cancelled as well.

“We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding and patience as we do the best we can to address your concerns via live chat and our online inquiry form during this period of time,” said the centre.

42 New Locally Transmitted Cases

In total, 42 new locally transmitted cases were reported yesterday, of whom 34 belonged to the KTV cluster.

With 88 cases, it’s now the second largest active cluster. The current largest active cluster is still the one at Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre, with 94 cases.

Of the 42 cases, four are unlinked.

Besides that, six infections from abroad were detected. Four were detected upon arrival in Singapore, while the remaining two cases developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation.

Featured Image: Google Maps