Singapore probes 13 infections at quarantine hotel
10 High genetic similarity seen even though arrivals were from 10 different countries
published : 19 Dec 2020 at 17:24 A view of the Mandarin Orchard hotel in Singapore. (Reuters Photo)
SINGAPORE: Singapore is investigating 13 cases of Covid-19 infections among people who served their quarantine at a hotel along the city’s Orchard Road shopping strip.
The cases, all imported, had “high genetic similarity” despite the victims arriving from 10 different countries, the government said in a statement on Saturday. Singapore said it conducts whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis on all Covid-19 cases, and it takes about four weeks to culture the virus and complete the sequencing.
SINGAPORE - Staycations were cut short at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore, while those on stay-home notices (SHN) at the hotel were subjected to a Covid-19 test on Saturday (Dec 19), after the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it was probing 13 Covid-19 cases among people who served their SHN there.
While the hotel said all guests would be moved out by Sunday, guests with luggage were already seen waiting at a pick-up point when The Straits Times visited at 5pm on Saturday.
Security staff were on hand to help with bags, and at least two safe distancing ambassadors were spotted.
Most of the guests seen were families with young children.
Here is what happens when travellers serve their SHN.
1 Before arrival in Singapore
All travellers must submit a pre-trip health and travel history declaration before arriving here.
Those who are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents (PRs) need entry approval from government agencies or certain travel passes to enter Singapore.
Depending on a person s travel history, they will need to comply with different requirements.
Some will need a negative result for an approved Covid-19 swab test taken within 72 hours before departure.
Singaporeans and PRs do not need to take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before returning here.
2 Arrival in Singapore
SINGAPORE - Thirteen people, who had been classified as imported cases when they were confirmed to have Covid-19 last month and had served their stay-home notices (SHN) at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel, may have been infected after they arrived here.
The incident has also resulted in all hotel guests being progressively checked out of Mandarin Orchard, about 500 staff being tested for Covid-19, and the hotel being deep-cleaned and disinfected.
But experts said the matter is unlikely to spark a wave of infections here, given that more than a month has passed since they were confirmed to have Covid-19. That would have been enough for two incubation periods of 14 days each.
The New Paper
PHOTO : SOFITEL SINGAPORE CITY CENTRE
Here are eight dining treats for you to celebrate the Christmas season
As phase three beckons, Christmas celebrations will surely be much more cheerful.
With the maximum size at gatherings increased to eight people from Dec 28, we give a nod to the move by highlighting eight Christmas treats you should not miss:
THE BLUE GINGER
Peranakan restaurant The Blue Ginger has one of my favourite Christmas offerings - the Ayam Panggang Roast Chicken ($38). This is available for takeaway from Dec 19 to Jan 3, 2021.
The corn-fed French chicken is first brined for several hours, then marinated overnight with aromatics such as turmeric and lemongrass. Finally, it is roasted till golden brown. You serve it with the chicken jus and that yummy homemade sambal.