The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced seven more confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (nCoV) on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Singapore to 40.

Due to further epidemiological investigations and contact tracing, MOH, with the help of the Singapore Police Force, has uncovered links between previously announced and new cases.

MOH has indicated a possible cluster involving five cases (Cases 8, 9, 31, 33 and 38) to The Life Church and Missions Singapore (LCMS) located at 146B Paya Lebar Road.

On the night of Feb. 8, LCMS has also informed the public that it has "stopped all Chinese and English services and meetings from 7 February".

What is The Life Church and Missions Singapore?

According to its social media pages, the LCMS was established on Nov. 3 2002.

LCMS stated that it is an independent church and does not belong to any church denomination.

LCMS, led by Reverend Vincent Choo, has an estimated 100-120 strong adult congregation.

On its website, LCMS provides most of the information about its services and events in Mandarin.

Choo can also be seen in LCMS's Youtube page preaching in Mandarin.

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Cases 31, 33, 38: No recent travel history to China

There are three things in common for Cases 31, 33, and 38.

They are 1) linked to LCMS; 2) Singaporeans; and 3) have no recent travel history to China.

Let us recap the three cases.

Case 31

Case 31 is a 53 year-old male Singaporeans who had been in Malaysia on Jan. 6, 11 and 17.

He is currently warded in an isolation room at Changi General Hospital (CGH).

He reported onset of symptoms on Jan. 23, and had visited a general practitioner (GP) clinic on the same day.

He visited another GP clinic on Jan. 28, and was admitted to CGH on Feb.1.

Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on Feb. 6 at about 11pm.

He stays at Tampines Street 24.

Case 33

Case 33 is a 39 year-old female who had been in Malaysia from Jan. 22 to 29.

She is currently warded in an isolation room at Sengkang General Hospital (SKH).

She reported that she had developed symptoms on Jan. 30, and went to the emergency department at SKH on Feb. 2 where she was admitted.

Subsequent test results confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on Feb. 6 at about 11pm.

Case 38

Case 38 is a 52 year-old female who visited Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown and Plaza Singapura and had travelled by public transport.

She stays at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3.

She reported onset of symptoms on Feb. 3 and visited Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic on Feb. 4

She was admitted to National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on Feb. 7 and test results confirmed the infection the next day.

She is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

Cases 8 and 9: Chinese nationals from Wuhan

The eighth and ninth cases are a 56 year-old female and 56 year-old male respectively.

The married couple are both Chinese nationals from Wuhan who arrived together in Singapore on 19. Jan.

They were warded in isolation rooms at the NCID.

Both cases reported that they were asymptomatic during the flight to Singapore.

They subsequently developed symptoms on Jan. 24, and took a taxi to Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Jan. 27.

Subsequent test results confirmed the infection on Jan. 28 at about 11pm and Jan. 29 at about 2pm respectively.

Top photo from Life Church Singapore Facebook.