Singapore finds new virus clusters in three foreign worker dorms previously cleared

New coronavius clusters were reported by Singapore on Wednesday  at three foreign worker dormitories that were previously cleared of the disease.

The Ministry of Health has identified new cases at Toh Guan Dormitory, Changi Lodge II and North Coast Lodge, Channel News Asia reports.

Of the 49 new coronavius infections reported in Singapore on Wednesday, 43 were from dormitories.

Two of the newly confirmed patients are linked to five previous patients to form a new cluster at Toh Guan Dormitory. The dormitory was declared cleared of the virus on August 8 by MOH. Before the cluster was closed, it had more than 1,300 patients.

Toh Guan Dormitory was declared an isolation area on April 6 under the Infectious Diseases Act. It was among the first dormitories to be gazetted as such.

MOH reported on Wednesday that six previous cases were linked to form a new cluster at Changi Lodge II. The dormitory was gazetted as an isolation area on April 2, and eventually declared of coronavirus on July 18. Before the cluster was closed, more than 500 confirmed cases were linked to it.

A new cluster was also reported on Wednesday at North Coast Lodge, with seven previous cases linked to the dormitory. 

Months after it was declared an isolation area on Apr 17, the dormitory was cleared of coronavirus on August 14 by MOH. More than 650 cases were linked to the cluster there before the cluster was closed.

New COVID-19 clusters have been identified at other dormitories that have been cleared of the virus.

Two additional patients reported were on Wednesday linked to Sungei Tengah Lodge, Singapore's biggest foreign worker dormitory, with a total of 196 confirmed patients in the cluster. 

The dormitory was reported as a new cluster on August 22, about a month after it was declared cleared of the virus by the Ministry of Manpower.

There have also been new clusters at Homestay Lodge and Tuas View Dormitory.

According to MOM on August 19, all dormitories have been declared cleared of the virus, including standalone blocks in purpose-built dormitories that served as isolation or quarantine facilities.

"All residents in the standalone blocks have either completed their isolation or quarantine, or been moved to other government facilities depending on their health status," said MOM on August 19.

Last week, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said new patients found at dormitories were a result of routine testing.

Workers who are staying in dormitories and those in the construction, marine and process sectors, as well as those going into the work sites, are required to undergo rostered routine testing every 14 days.

Employers must also make sure that their workers have completed a swab test in the past 14 days by Saturday, said the authorities.

Those who have not done so will not be allowed to return to work.