42, including 8-year-old, added to Singapore virus patient count

Singapore reported 42 new coronavirus patients as of noon on Wednesday, the lowest daily count since March 30.

This brings Singapore's total number of patients to 55,395. The death toll remains at 27, Channel News Asia reports.

The sole community infection reported on Wednesday was a 58-year-old Singaporean man who had been identified as a contact of a previously confirmed case, said the Ministry of Health. He had been placed on quarantine earlier and was tested during quarantine.

There were also 11 imported infections, including two Singaporeans - an 8-year-old child who returned from India on July 3 and a 37-year-old man who returned from Indonesia on July 30.

The 8-year-old boy had served his stay-home notice with his parent and siblings in the same room at a dedicated facility, the ministry said..

"(He) was subsequently placed on quarantine when his SHN contacts tested positive for the coronavirus. He was tested during quarantine to verify his status," the ministry said.

Four of the imported patients are dependant’s pass holders who arrived from India on July 28 and July 31. Among them is a 9-year-old boy.

Another four are work pass/work permit holders employed in Singapore who arrived from the Philippines on July 29 and from India on July 31.

"All of them had been placed on 14-day SHN upon arrival in Singapore, and were serving their SHN at dedicated facilities. They had been tested while serving their SHN or quarantine," MOH said.

The remaining patient is a seaman holding a special pass who arrived in Singapore from India on August 8. He reported symptoms and was swabbed while on the vessel and remained there until his test came back positive for the virus. He was then taken to hospital.