The Ministry of Health (MOH) has on Friday (Mar. 27) reported 49 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases here to 732.

Of the 49 cases, 22 are imported, while 27 are local cases.

Among the new local cases, five are connected to the PCF Sparkletots cluster, while a further nine are unlinked.

Meanwhile, a further 11 cases were discharged, taking the total number of discharged cases to 183. There remain 17 cases in the intensive care unit, however.

Breakdown of new cases

Details of discharged cases

11 cases have recovered and were discharged.

Case 153

Case 153 is likely to be an imported case involving a 65-year-old female Singapore Citizen who had been in Indonesia from Feb. 25 to Feb. 28.

She reported that while she was in Indonesia, she had visited her sister who had pneumonia. She was warded in an isolation room at SGH.

She reported onset of symptoms on Mar. 3 and had sought treatment at Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic on the same day and on Mar. 7.

She presented at the emergency department at SGH on Mar. 7, and subsequent test results confirmed Covid-19 infection on Mar. 8 afternoon. Prior to hospital admission, she had mostly stayed at her home at Jalan Teck Whye.

Case 159

Case 159 is a 59-year-old male Singapore Citizen who had no recent travel history to affected countries and regions.

He was confirmed to have Covid-19 infection on the morning of Mar. 9, and was warded in an isolation room at NTFGH.

He is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

Case 216

Case 216 is an imported case involving a 30-year-old Singapore Citizen who had been in Germany from Feb. 28 to Mar. 1, and again on Mar. 5 to Mar. 6, and Czech Republic from Mar. 1 to Mar. 5.

He was warded in an isolation room at NCID. He reported onset of symptoms on Mar. 9, and had sought treatment at a GP clinic on Mar. 10 and Mar. 12.

He was referred to NCID on Mar. 12, and subsequent test results confirmed Covid-19 infection on Mar. 14 afternoon.

Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to work at SAP Asia (30 Pasir Panjang Road). He lives at Bukit Batok West Avenue 6.

Case 219

Case 219 is a 30-year-old male Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions.

He was confirmed to have Covid-19 infection on the morning of Mar. 15, and was warded in an isolation room at Sengkang General Hospital.

He is linked to Cases 142 (who is linked to the SAFRA Jurong cluster) and 211.

Case 234

Case 234 is an 86-year-old male Singapore citizen who had no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 16 morning, and was warded in an isolation room at SGH.

Case 251

Case 251 is a 59-year-old female Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions.

She was confirmed to have Covid-19 infection on Mar. 17 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is a family member of Case 186.

Case 259

Case 259 is an imported case involving a 30-year-old female Singapore Citizen, who had been in the Philippines from Mar. 7 to Mar. 9.

She was confirmed to have Covid-19 infection on Mar. 17 morning, and was warded in an isolation room at NCID.

Case 303

Case 303 is a 27-year-old male Malaysian who is a Singapore Long Term Pass Holder. He was admitted to the NCID. He is a family member of Case 248.

Case 335

Case 335 is a 57-year-old male Singapore citizen, who was admitted to NCID on Mar. 19. He is a family member of Case 234.

Case 396

Case 396 is a 46-year-old male Singapore citizen, who was admitted to Sengkang Hospital on Mar. 20. He is a local unlinked case.

Case 541

Case 541 is a 20-year-old female Singapore citizen, who was admitted to NCID on Mar. 24. She is an imported case who had recent travel history in Europe.

MOE introduces once-a-week home-based learning for all schools

Earlier Friday, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung announced a new home-based learning scheme for students, which will start with home-based lessons on one day per week.

For the small group of students whose parents cannot look after them during HBL days, or arrange alternative childcare, schools will still remain open.

Priority is given to parents who work in essential services such as healthcare, and they can approach schools for assistance.

Also commenting on schools on Friday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said children from lower-income families will suffer if schools are closed completely:

27 recovering Covid-19 patients transferred to Gleneagles Hospital

Meanwhile, earlier Friday saw a batch of 27 recovering Covid-19 cases transferred to Gleneagles Hospital (GEH) from NCID, bringing the total number of Covid-19 patients in GEH to 29.

The private hospital received its first two Covid-19 patients on March 12.

These patients are, according to the hospital in a statement, recovering and will be housed within one ward in the hospital while they shed the virus in a step-down care environment.

S$48 billion package to deal with Covid-19

Earlier this week, in Parliament on Thursday (March 26), Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced a S$48 billion Supplementary Budget aimed at helping Singaporeans, local residents and businesses deal with the impact of Covid-19.

Heng also announced that the government has obtained in-principle approval from President Halimah Yacob to draw a historic S$17 billion from past reserves.

This is on top of the S$6.4 billion announced his his earlier Unity Budget, in Feb. 2020.

Measures announced in what he called the Resilience Budget include an enhanced Jobs Support Scheme, worth S$15.1 billion, a tripled cash grant of up to S$900 for all Singaporeans, and extensive tax rebates for sectors most affected by Covid-19.

Also commenting on the stimulus package on Friday, PM Lee said the ongoing crisis and economic downturn we are sliding into requires a fast response:

Top photos by Ashley Tan and via CapitaLand