SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed 897 new Covid-19 cases as of noon on Friday (April 24), taking the total count to 12,075.
Singaporeans and permanent residents make up 13 of the new patients.
Migrant workers living in dormitories continue to be the most severely impacted demographic, comprising the majority of the remaining cases.
MOH said more details will be released later on Friday.
Coronavirus cases here surged past 11,000 on Thursday after Singapore surpassed other countries in the region to log the highest tally in South-east Asia over the weekend.
The MOH said the number of new cases in the general community had decreased from an average of 34 cases a day two weeks ago to an average of 25 a day in the past week.
The number of unlinked cases in the community had also decreased slightly based on Thursday's figures, from an average of 20 cases a day in the week before to an average of 18 a day in the past week.
Among the new cases on Thursday, 25 per cent were unlinked and contact tracing is ongoing.
Globally, coronavirus cases stand at about 2.7 million, with the United States so far reporting the highest number of people who have tested positive, at about 866,000. Nearly 200,000 people have died from the disease that has led to border closures and people confined to their homes.
Singapore's ongoing circuit breaker measures, which has shut down most non-essential workplaces, have been extended to June 1.
JAKARTA: Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan under COVID-19 lockdown on Friday (Apr 24) with unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers, while a pushback in some countries has sparked fears of a surge in infections.
This year, the holy daytime fasting month will be a sombre affair for many across Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
Widespread rules have been imposed banning praying in mosques or meeting relatives and friends for large "iftar" meals at dusk - a centrepiece of the month-long fast.
The restrictions have put a damper on spirits in Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim majority nation, where national religious organisations have called on the faithful to stay at home.
"This Ramadan is very different - it's just not festive," said Indonesian housewife Fitria Famela.
"I'm disappointed that I can't go to the mosque, but what can we do? The world is different now."
However, some religious leaders in Asia - home to nearly a billion of the world's Muslims - have waved off fears about the spread of COVID-19.
The top Islamic organisation in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province publicly bucked a national order to stay at home.
Several thousand worshippers attended evening prayers Thursday at the biggest mosque in the region's capital Banda Aceh - though crowds were smaller than usual.
"I'm not worried because I'm wearing a face mask and keeping my distance," said Cut Fitrah Riskiah, one of those taking part.
The threat of large religious gatherings has been highlighted in recent weeks by waves of infections in Asia, linked to separate, massive Islamic congregations in Malaysia, Pakistan and India.
And the World Health Organization has called for a stop to some Ramadan activities to limit exposure.
But in Bangladesh, clerics have pushed back at attempts to shrink the number of people going to mosques.
And Pakistan has seen its mosques crammed in the lead up to Ramadan with the faithful sitting shoulder-to-shoulder and paying little heed to social distancing.
"WE MUST ACCEPT IT"
Mohamad Shukri Mohamad, the top Islamic cleric in the conservative Malaysian state of Kelantan, planned to skip public prayers and family meals - even if it meant not seeing his six children and 18 grandchildren.
"This is the first time in my life that I've been unable to go the mosque," he told AFP.
"But we must accept it and obey the rules of social distancing to protect our lives."
Muslim-majority Malaysia has extended a strict lockdown until mid-May with mosques, schools and most businesses closed - and police checkpoints set up to catch rulebreakers.
Even popular Ramadan bazaars, where Muslims buy local delicacies before breaking their fast, have been banned.
Instead, Malaysians can only order from so-called "e-bazaars", where people order goods online and have them delivered to their homes.
In neighbouring Indonesia, fears of a spike in COVID-19 cases when millions travel to hometowns and ancestral villages at the end of Ramadan has forced the country of some 260 million to issue a ban on the annual exodus.
The government has also announced a clampdown on all air and sea travel across the 17,000-island archipelago.
Jakarta resident Erik Febrian said he was relying on a computer to allow him to keep in touch with his out-of-town parents until he can see them in person at the end of Ramadan.
"Thanks to technology I can video-call my parents every day during Ramadan," he said. "And keep an eye on their health."
SINGAPORE: Eighty-five Singapore citizens and residents arrived in Singapore on Friday morning (Apr 24) after they were repatriated from Saudi Arabia.
The group includes 40 students who are studying in Saudi Arabia, as well as their dependants, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a media release.
The Singapore Embassy in Riyadh and the Singapore Consulate-General in Jeddah coordinated the repatriation and ground operations in Saudi Arabia for the flight, said the ministry.
The returnees will serve a 14-day self-isolation at dedicated stay-home notice facilities upon arrival in Singapore.
"The Singapore Government would like to express gratitude to the Saudi government for facilitating the safe return of our Singapore residents," said MFA.
Two Scoot-operated evacuation flights were also arranged for Singaporeans and their family members from the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, earlier this year.
In March, eight Singaporeans were evacuated from Tehran on a flight arranged by Malaysia.
SINGAPORE: The police are investigating a case of unnatural death after a man was found motionless at a staircase landing in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
The Singapore Police Force said it was alerted to the case, which involved a 46-year-old Indian national, at about 7.30am on Thursday (Apr 23).
He was found lying motionless at the staircase landing and subsequently died of his injuries, the police said.
"Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play. Police investigations are ongoing," the force added.
Responding to CNA's queries, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said the man was a confirmed COVID-19 case.
In an update later on Thursday, the ministry said the man was confirmed to have the novel coronavirus on Apr 19, and was then warded at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the man had worked as a construction worker for the same employer since September 2009.
In a statement to the media, MOM said the worker lived in a factory-converted dormitory operated by his employer.
"It was last inspected on Apr 12, 2020. At the time, it housed nine workers (including the deceased), less than the approved capacity for factory-converted dormitories," said the ministry.
"The dormitory was found to be in an acceptable condition, including cleanliness and ventilation."
MOM did not indicate why the man had been at the hospital.
In response to CNA queries, the High Commission of India in Singapore said it was informed of the Indian national's death.
"We await further information about the circumstances surrounding the death from the police after coroner’s (inquiry) is complete," the High Commission said in an email.
CNA has contacted the hospital for more information.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Josephine Teo speaking to workers at the dormitory of an Indian national who died at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on Apr 23. (Photo: Ministry of Manpower)
MOM said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam and Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo visited the man's roommates on Thursday afternoon to speak with them and understand their concerns.
"The workers were sad but calm. They reported that they have been well taken care of by the employer. They also requested that the nephew of the deceased worker, who is employed by the same company, be allowed to pay his last respects," said MOM, adding that it is working with MOH to facilitate the request.
MOM is also working with the Hindu Endowments Board to undertake the necessary funeral arrangements for the deceased worker, as well as with the Migrant Workers’ Centre to provide support to the family of the deceased.
In a Facebook post, Mrs Teo said she reassured the workers at the dormitory that their health and medical needs are of "uppermost priority" and that the Government will make sure they are treated and help them recover should they fall sick.
"I was glad they knew all the right numbers to call, which had been provided by our officers," she said.
"To all our migrant workers, I know some of you are worried. We will look after you, your health and safety, your daily needs. You can approach our officers at any time for help. Please stay strong so that you can be reunited with your families.
"We know this is a stressful time for all of you. You are not alone and the Singapore Government will take care of you," she said.
As of Thursday, Singapore has reported 11,178 cases of COVID-19. Twelve people are confirmed to have died from complications related to the disease.
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged on Thursday (Apr 23) that China may have known of the new coronavirus as early as November, renewing accusations that Beijing has not been transparent.
"You'll recall that the first cases of this were known by the Chinese government maybe as early as November, but certainly by mid-December," Pompeo said in an interview.
"They were slow to identify this for anyone in the world, including the World Health Organization," he told conservative radio host Larry O'Connor.
Pompeo said the United States still wanted more information from China including the original sample of the SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in the metropolis of Wuhan.
"This issue of transparency is important not only as a historical matter to understand what happened back in November and December and January, but it's important even today," Pompeo said.
"This is still impacting lots of lives here in the United States and, frankly, around the world."
China at first closely guarded information of the virus and detained whistleblowers. The first official acknowledgement of what became a global pandemic came on Dec 31 when authorities in Wuhan reported mysterious cases of pneumonia.
Michael Ryan, emergencies director at the World Health Organization, said the UN body first spoke of an event in Wuhan on Jan 4 via Twitter and provided "detailed information" the following day to all member countries.
President Donald Trump's administration has harshly criticised both China and the WHO, blaming them for not stopping the illness that has killed more than 180,000 people worldwide.
Critics say that Trump is seeking to deflect from his own handling of the coronavirus, which he claimed to have "totally under control" in January but has since killed nearly 50,000 people in the United States - more than any other country.
Pompeo has previously not ruled out that the virus originated in a virology laboratory in Wuhan and has demanded international access to it.
China has dismissed the theory. Its scientists say that the virus probably was transmitted to humans at a meat market in Wuhan that butchered exotic animals.
