Vaccinated Singapore doctor and nurse infected with coronavirus

Singapore has detected a coronavirus disease cluster in one its largest hospitals, among 16 new local infections reported on Thursday, its highest number of domestic infections in seven months, Reuters reports.

Nine of the patients were linked to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the health ministry said. The hospital's patients include a doctor and a nurse who were vaccinated for the coronavirus. Both had coronavirus disease symptoms.

Two more staff members of Tan Tock Seng Hospital  and six patients who were in Ward 9D of the hospital have tested positive for the coronavirus disease, bringing the total number in the cluster to nine, Channel News Asia reports. 

Authorities have isolated two wards in the hospital to test staff and patients, and increased quarantine and movement limits. The cluster is the first in a Singapore hospital.

Seven other local patients on Thursday were linked to an airport immigration officer.

The island has reported more than 61,000 coronavirus disease infections since the pandemic hit last year. It has recorded 30 deaths.-Photo: CNA