Seven new coronavirus cases in Singapore were reported as of Wednesday noon, Nov 4, bringing its total number of cases to 58,036.
The new coronavirus cases in Singapore included five imported ones. According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), these patients have been placed on stay-home notices on arrival in Singapore.
No new cases were reported in the community while two were from the worker's dormitories. On Tuesday, nine new Covid-19 cases were confirmed.
The new patients had come from other countries and had been placed on stay-home notices on arrival in Singapore. However, all of them did not show any symptoms.
Six of the seven imported cases tested positive for the virus on Monday. They included a 42-year-old Singaporean woman who returned from the Philippines and a 20-year-old female resident who arrived from India. One of the cases is a 26-year-old female Bangladeshi dependant's pass holder arrived from Bangladesh.
The remaining three imported patients are currently working in Singapore. Of these, two hold work pass holders. One is a 49-year-old German man, who arrived from Germany, and the other is a 30-year-old Indian national who arrived from the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, a 33-year-old Bangladeshi woman, who has a work permit, arrived from Bangladesh. The last imported patient, who contracted the virus, was a special pass holder. The 29-year-old Filipino man arrived to board a ship docked as a crew member.
Both patients from the dormitories were identified through routine testing of employees living in dormitories.
According to the Health Ministry, the number of new Covid-19 cases in the community has remained low, with a total of one such case in the past week.
Singapore had 13 cases discharged on Monday, while 57,922 patients have fully recovered from the disease.
Meanwhile, a total of 38 patients remained in hospital on Monday, with none in intensive care, while 26 were recovering in community facilities.
Singapore has recorded 28 deaths from Covid-19 complications, while 15 who contracted the virus have died of other causes.
Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble
The news of new coronavirus cases in Singapore followed the announcement that Hong Kong and Singapore will resume a travel bubble in November.
“We’re working hard with the Singaporean government. The target is to launch this as soon as possible within November, and the earlier, the better," said Hong Kong’s financial secretary Paul Chan.
Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble will begin without the need for quarantines. Instead, tourists would undergo a Covid-19 test before departure. Hong Kong may also ask for a second test after arrival.
The coronavirus pandemic has hit tourism and aviation hard this year. Singapore and Hong Kong also do not cater to domestic air travel markets to manage the economic impact.
Singapore has opened its doors to tourists from countries that were able to manage the pandemic, such as New Zealand and Brunei.
Singapore’s economy contracted by 7% in the third quarter as the country gradually loosens lockdown to allow more activities.
Official estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry indicate that Singapore’s economy rebounded by 7.9% in the July-to-September period. This suggests a reversal from the 13.2% contraction in the second quarter.
“The improved performance of the Singapore economy in the third quarter came on the back of the phased re-opening of the economy following the Circuit Breaker that was implemented between 7 April and 1 June 2020,” the ministry’s statement read.
