DFA: Filipino in Singapore Tests Positive for COVID-19

On Sunday (February 24), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that one Filipino in Singapore has tested positive for the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19.

Also Read: Health Ministry Enforces Measures to Minimize Spread of Virus in Singapore

This is amid the steep rise of cases of people who contracted the infection in the city-state, as verified by Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MoH). 

Credits: UNTV

DFA Reports 1 Confirmed Case of Pinoy Infected with COVID-19 in SG  

According to a tweet shared by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay quoting the Philippine Embassy in Singapore regarding the sole case of a Filipino who is currently isolated at the National Center for Infectious Disease, as shared in a report by GMA News Online.

In his tweet, Dulay shared: “This is [the] first confirmed case involving a Filipino in Singapore.”

In his update, Dulay shared that the embassy is in close coordination with health officials of Singapore “to monitor the condition and well-being of our kababayan.”

In a separate report shared by the Straits Times, Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday (February 23) announced that there are three new confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Singapore, bringing the total number infected to 89.

Moreover, the ministry noted that two more patients with the disease, known as Covid-19, have been discharged, bringing the number of people discharged to 49.

The two cases that were discharged were Case 19, a 28-year-old permanent resident who works at Chinese health products shop Yong Thai Hang, and Case 28, her six-month-old son.

Of the new cases announced, one is linked to the cluster at Grace Assembly of God church, the biggest cluster in the city with 23 cases and another was among the group of Singaporeans evacuated from Wuhan on Feb 9.

Meanwhile, contact tracing is still underway for the remaining case to establish any links to previous cases or travel history to China.

The MOH also noted that one of the newly reported cases, Case 87, was a 32-year-old male Singapore citizen who was evacuated from Wuhan. 

The patient 32-year-old male Singapore citizen who was evacuated from Wuhan according to the MOH. 

On Friday afternoon though, the man was confirmed to have the coronavirus infection and was quarantined in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). 

Case 87 is reportedly linked to Case 76, a one-year-old boy who was also among the group of Singaporean evacuees.

Meanwhile, case 88 is a 30-year-old female Singapore citizen who has no recent travel history to China. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

The patient reported onset of symptoms on Feb 16 and sought treatment at a general practitioner clinic on Feb 17.

As she was in contact with Case 66, a 28-year-old male Singaporean linked to Grace Assembly of God, she was referred to NCID and confirmed to have the coronavirus on Friday afternoon.

Prior to hospital admission, the woman had mostly stayed at her home at Hougang Street 91.

Out of the 40 confirmed cases who are still in the hospital, most are stable or improving. Five are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

And as of Sunday afternoon, the MOH has so far identified 2,734 close contacts who have been quarantined. Of these, 1,101 are currently quarantined, and 1,633 have completed their quarantine. 

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