SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is investigating 13 COVID-19 cases who served their stay-home notice at Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel after they were observed to have "high genetic similarity" despite coming from different countries.
The MOH and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Saturday (Dec 19) that this suggests the cases were "likely infected from a similar source".
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe health ministry said it cannot exclude that transmissions could have occurred at Mandarin Orchard hotel.
As a precautionary measure, the hotel will stop accepting new guests with immediate effect, and all current guests will be checked out, MOH and STB said in a press release.
Those who are currently serving their stay-home notice at the hotel will be moved to another dedicated facility.
"The hotel has made arrangements to check out existing guests progressively," said the authorities.
AdvertisementAdvertisementRestaurants and event spaces within the hotel will also be closed.
13 CASES FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
"Thirteen imported cases, who were confirmed between Nov 2 and Nov 11 to have COVID-19 infection, were observed to have high genetic similarity despite the cases having arrived from different countries, including Bahrain, Canada, Indonesia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, South Korea, UAE, UK and US," said the agencies.
"This suggests that these cases were likely infected from a similar source."
AdvertisementFurther investigations by MOH found that these 13 cases had served their stay-home notice at Mandarin Orchard hotel between Oct 22 and Nov 11.
"Epidemiological investigations were immediately initiated to determine if there is a potential link between these 13 cases, and to study if transmission could have occurred locally, and not from their country of origin," added the agencies.
Those on stay-home notice are housed in a dedicated tower and floors at the hotel, segregated from all other guests, with no interaction among them, said MOH and STB.
They will be taken via dedicated vehicles to an alternative dedicated facility, and deep cleaning and disinfection will be carried out in consultation with MOH and the National Environment Agency.
[h=3]READ: 17 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore, all imported[/h]TESTING
MOH has started "a special testing operations" to test around 500 staff members of the hotel for COVID-19, said the authorities. These include both staff members serving those on stay-home notice, and those who serve other guests in other parts of the hotel.
MOH and STB said those who are currently serving stay-home notice at the hotel will also be tested to determine their status, instead of waiting till their stay-home notice exit swab.
"Guests who have stayed at Mandarin Orchard Singapore between Nov 11 and Dec 19 are advised to monitor their health closely for 14 days from their last date of stay.
"They should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history," said the authorities.
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