It’s confirmed: the coronavirus is a psychopath that enjoys toying with us.

Whenever the number of new infections starts spiking and residents are worried, the virus takes a break, and probably stays at home watching Contagion on repeat.

But when the situation improves, it then comes out again and we’re back where we started.

After five days of five or fewer COVID-19 cases per day, the authorities confirmed a total of 22 new community infections in the last two days.

10 of those cases were reported yesterday. Here are the details:

Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre Cluster

A new COVID-19 cluster has formed at the Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre, after four new community cases were linked to it.

They are:

•  a 50-year-old male Bangladesh national who is employed by Theng Liang Lee Services as a conservancy worker at 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre.
• a 72-year-old male Singaporean who works at a sundry shop at 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre.
• a 67-year-old female Singaporean who is a food stall vendor at 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre.
•  a 65-year-old male Singaporean who is a food stall vendor at 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre.

The 72-year-old was placed on quarantine on 11 June after being identified as close contact of a previous case.

He was tested for COVID-19 on 12 June during quarantine, and his test result came back positive the same day.

He subsequently developed a runny nose on 13 June.

His serology test result is pending.

The man had been fully vaccinated, having received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on 16 May, and the second dose on 6 June.

Market Closed For 3 Days

The ministry said all staff and tenants who had been working at the market from 25 May have been quarantined and will be tested during quarantine.

All staff working in 116 Bukit Merah View will be tested as well as a precautionary measure.

Those who visited 115 Bukit Merah View and 116 Bukit Merah View between 25 May and 12 June will also be offered free COVID-19 testing.

“To break any potential chain of transmission and enable deep cleaning of the premises, 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre has been closed to all members of the public from 13 June to 15 June 2021,” MOH said.

Unlinked Cases

Of the 10 new cases, two had no established links. They are:

•  a 23-year-old male Indian national who works as a nursing aide at All Saints Home (Hougang)
•  a 27-year-old male Indian national who works as an engineer at Ecoxplore Pte Ltd

The nursing aide is asymptomatic and was only detected when he was tested on 11 June as part of the nursing home’s surveillance testing for staff.

When his pooled result came back positive, the authorities administered an individual test to confirmed his infection, but it was negative.

They did a second test on 12 June, and this time it returned a positive result.

His Ct value was very high, which is indicative of a low viral load, and his serology test result is positive.

“He is likely to be shedding minute fragments of the virus RNA from a past infection, which are no longer transmissible and infective to others, but we have taken all necessary public health actions,” the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.

The nursing aid received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on 10 March, and the second dose on 31 March.

Case 64184 Cluster

Another new cluster had been identified yesterday, linked to a 27-year-old Indian engineer working at Ecoxplore – Case 64184.

He’s the unlinked case listed above, as the authorities don’t know where he contracted the virus from.

However, two new cases have been linked to him, which is why the cluster formed.

The two new cases are:

• a 19-year-old female Singaporean who works as a warehouse assistant at DHL Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd
• a 39-year-old female Singaporean who is employed by Cleen First Services Pte Ltd as a cleaner at Emerald Park condominium

Other Linked Cases

The remaining two new cases in the community are:

• a 59-year-old female Singaporean who works as a part-time cleaner at Crystal Lodge
• a 66-year-old male Singaporean who is a retiree

The 59-year-old was placed on quarantine on 11 June after being identified as a close contact of a previous case.

She was tested the next day even though she was asymptomatic. Her test result came back positive on 13 June. Her serology test result is pending.

No new infections in dormitories have been detected.

3 Imported Cases

Besides the 10 community cases, three new infections from abroad were discovered. They are:

• 2 Singapore Permanent Residents who returned from India
• 1 Work Permit holder who arrived from Indonesia and is a foreign domestic worker

130 Cases in Hospitals

At the moment, there are 130 confirmed COVID-19 cases in hospitals, most of whom are stable or improving. One is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Another 243 with mild symptoms or lower risk factors are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

31 more cases have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities recently.

The slight jump in community cases shows that we can never let our guard down against this detested disease, even when restrictions have been relaxed.

Featured Image: Google Maps