The New Paper Mr Ong Ye Kung said the new strategy explains why more cases were reported yesterday. PHOTO: MCI May 17, 2021 06:00 am 0 Engagements Singapore has started carrying out rapid testing for Covid-19 and picked up seven of yesterday's 18 unlinked cases through this method, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. The new testing strategy, along with higher virus transmission in the community, explains why more cases were reported yesterday, he added. The country saw a total of 49 new cases yesterday, 38 of which were locally transmitted. Of these, 20 were linked to previous cases, while 18 were unlinked cases. Addressing reporters at a virtual press conference, Mr Ong said antigen rapid test kits have been distributed to 236 of the 900 Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs). To speed up detection of the virus, everyone who sees a doctor with signs of an acute respiratory infection will have to undergo one of these tests, in addition to the slower but more accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.