The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced nine new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Singapore on March 12, 2020.

This brings Singapore's total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases to 187.

96 cases have been discharged so far, while 91 are still being treated in hospital.

Two confirmed cases attended mosque gathering in Malaysia

Of the nine new cases confirmed today, two of them attended a mass religious gathering at a Malaysian mosque.

The first is Case 183, a 29 year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in Malaysia from Feb. 29 to Mar. 4.

He was confirmed to be infected with Covid-19 on the morning of Mar. 12, and is currently warded in an isolation room at the National Centre of Infectious Diseases (NCID).

MOH added that he had attended a mass religious gathering at a mosque in Malaysia.

Case 187, a 48 year-old male Singapore Citizen, had also attended the same event.

He had been in Malaysia from Feb. 28 to Mar. 2.

He was confirmed to be infected with Covid-19 on the morning of Mar. 12 and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

MOH has determined that “around 90” Singaporeans attended the mosque gathering, and that they are likely to be regular mosque-goers.

However, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin uploaded a Facebook post on Mar. 12 at 5pm, urging 95 Singaporeans who attended the event to present themselves at clinics for health checks.

All mosques in Singapore will close down temporarily

At around 7:45pm on the same day, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) announced a total closure of all mosques in Singapore to assist the Covid-19 containment efforts.

MUIS also announced that the Fatwa Committee has issued a fatwa, a ruling on a point of Islamic law, to close the mosques and suspend the Friday congregational prayer on March 13, 2020.

Four mosques have already been closed as of 1pm on Thursday, March 12:

• Masjid Muttaqin
• Masjid Kassim
• Masjid Hajjah Fatimah
• Masjid Jamae Chulia

The four mosques that were closed on March 12 are believed to have been frequented by the attendees of the event.

Top image from M Khairi Al Jawhari/FB via Amrin Amin.