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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has provided further updates to the swabbing exercises conducted at Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8 and Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51.

Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8

The mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for 405 residents and visitors has concluded on May 22.

As of 12pm on May 23, 405 individuals have been tested, with 403 found negative and two positive.

One of the positive cases has been classified as Case 63609 in the May 23 night report by MOH.

She is a 60-year-old female Singaporean who is a homemaker.

The patient, who is asymptomatic, was tested on May 21. Her test result came back positive for Covid-19 on May 22. Her serology test result is pending.

She has received her first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on March 29, and the second dose on April 19.

Details on the second case will be reported in an upcoming press release, MOH said.

MOH also clarified on their previous report of 407 PCR tests. Upon further analysis, the ministry confirmed that 405 tests were conclusive and two test results rejected.

The two individuals who received the rejected test results were re-swabbed and found negative for the virus.

Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51

As of May 23, 188 individuals have been tested at Pasir Ris Blk 559.

155 individuals were found negative, and 33 more test results are pending.

So far, no one has tested positive for Covid-19 in this exercise.

Initial investigations revealed that the units with confirmed cases do not share the same stack.

Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine linkages and the source of transmission.

Threshold for block testing

MOH added that precautionary testing of HDB residents is carried out when epidemiology investigation have assessed a possibility of ongoing transmission.

There is no one single trigger.

Instead, the risk assessment is based on a number of factors, such as the total number of cases within the block, the potential risk of transmission by these individuals, and likely modes of transmission.

Top image via Google Maps