Covid-19 update: 32 new cases reported in S'pore on Mar. 19, 24 are imported cases

Six cases are currently unlinked.

Guan Zhen Tan | Fasiha Nazren | Jane Zhang | March 19, 2020, 08:44 PM

On March 19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced 32 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Singapore.

This brings the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Singapore to 345.

Of the new reported cases, 24 were imported.

Seven more cases have recovered and were discharged from the hospital, bringing the total number of discharged patients to 124.

Another 15 patients remain in the ICU.

Here is a list detailing the new cases:

 

Not all cases may be hospitalised in future

Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said at a press conference on Wednesday (Mar. 18) that depending on how the situation in Singapore develops, Singapore may no longer stick to its current approach of hospitalising all Covid-19 cases.

Rather than hospitalising all Covid-19 patients, some of the cases that require less support might be housed in alternative facilities, such as existing long-term care facilities or the current quarantine facilities.

When asked at the press conference about the current capacity of Singapore’s healthcare system, Gan stressed that there is "sufficient flexibility and buffer to allow us to manage the expected number of cases".

However, he added that "we should never be complacent".

Gan also said that it was “not impossible” that the number of new cases in a day could cross one hundred, and that "we must be prepared for that".

Malaysia reports 110 new cases

Meanwhile, earlier on Thursday on the other side of the causeway, Malaysia reported 110 new Covid-19 cases.

Of those, 63 are linked to the religious gathering at a mosque in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur.

This brings the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Malaysia to 900.

Malaysia currently has 20 Covid-19 patients warded at the intensive care unit that require breathing assistance.

A total of 75 patients have recovered from the virus in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced in a separate national address on Wednesday (Mar. 18) night that Malaysia may extend the restricted movement order by “maybe another two weeks or even longer” if the current measures fail to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Top photo by Huge Llewelyn via Flickr.