Covid-19: 1 cluster closed with 305 new cases confirmed, the lowest since April 12

[UPDATE 10.30 PM]

A total of 305 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Singapore today (May 18), the lowest figure since April 12, when the country found 233 cases.

In a statement by the Ministry of Health (MOH), the lower number of cases today is partly due to fewer tests being processed as one testing laboratory is reviewing its processes following an earlier apparatus calibration issue, and will need time to ramp up its testing capacity.

Of the new cases, two are Singaporeans/Permanent Residents while the remaining 303 cases come from Work Permit holders living in dormitories.

The number of new cases in the community has decreased, from an average of seven cases per day in the week before to an average of three per day in the past week.

99 per cent of the new cases are linked to known clusters, while the rest are pending contact tracing.

MOH added that they have closed the cluster at ABC Hostel (3 Jalan Kubor) as there have not been any cases linked to it for the past 28 days.

Of the 1,036 cases who are still in the hospital, most are stable and improving. 12 are in critical condition, while 17,450 cases who are clinically well but still test positive for Covid-19 are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

MOH also announced that 495 more cases of Covid-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 9,835 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospitals or community care facilities.

This brings the total number of cases to 28,343, with 9,835 patients discharged and 22 deaths.

For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit here.

bryanlim@asiaone.com