[UPDATE at 6pm: The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the deceased man was a Covid-19 patient, warded for treatment at the hospital. Ministers K Shanmugam and Josephine Teo visited his colleagues at a factory-converted dormitory he was staying at. More in our story here:]
An 46-year-old Indian national was found dead on Thursday (April 23) morning at Khoo Teck Puat hospital.
Currently, the man's cause of death is unknown. Here's a statement from the Singapore Police Force (SPF):
“On 23 April 2020 at 7:29am, the Police were alerted to a case of unnatural death at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. A 46-year-old male Indian national was found lying motionless at a staircase landing of the said location and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. Based on preliminary investigations, the Police do not suspect foul play. Police investigations are ongoing.”
Indian High Commission awaiting further information
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission told Mothership on Thursday afternoon that it was just informed about the man's death as well, and is awaiting further information about the circumstances surrounding his passing.
"We have been informed by the police about the death of the Indian national today. We await further information about the circumstances surrounding the death from the police after coroner’s enquiry is complete. At this stage, we have nothing more to add."
Rising number of Covid-19 cases
The man's death comes amid weeks of sharply-rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in Singapore, especially among foreign workers living in dormitories here.
As of April 22, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a total of 8,898 work permit holders of Covid-19 infection, of which more than 8,094 are workers living in dormitories.
The total number of reported cases in Singapore is, as of Wednesday at noon, 10,141.
Singapore also reported 12 Covid-19-related deaths as of Wednesday.
The latest victim, was Case 1,071, an 84-year-old female Singapore Citizen who passed away from complications due to Covid-19 infection on April 21, 2020.
She was also hospitalised at Khoo Teck Puat.
Additional reporting by Nigel Chua & Jeanette Tan
Top image via KTPH/Facebook.