SINGAPORE, May 16 — Singapore, which on Friday reported 1,275 recovered cases from COVID-19 infections, today confirmed 465 new positive cases, with the vast majority being work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.
The new confirmed cases bring the tally for the republic to 27,356.
The preliminary data as at noon today showed that only four cases involved Singaporeans or permanent residents, said the republic’s Ministry of Health (MOH) in a statement here.
The MOH said it was still working through the details of the cases and would provide an update later in the day.
In its full data released late Friday, the ministry said it continued to pick up many more cases among foreign workers at dorms, including in factory-converted dormitories, due to extensive testing in these premises.
“It is as part of our process to verify and test the status of all workers,” it said.
Singapore has so far classified 1,327 as community cases, 580 as imported cases, 435 cases involving foreign workers staying outside dorms and 24,549 cases of foreign workers residing in dorms.
A total of 7,248 patients have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals or community care facilities.
The MOH said 1,124 confirmed cases are still in hospitals, with 18 in the intensive care unit, while 21 have died.
The ministry said 18,498 people who have mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still tested positive for COVID-19, were isolated and cared for at community facilities.
As for Friday, Singapore identified five more new clusters and closed two existing clusters, namely McDonald’s and the renovation sites at the National University Hospital.
