Another Changi Airport employee among 3 COVID-19 cases preliminarily positive for Omicron variant

SINGAPORE: Another airport frontline employee was among three new COVID-19 cases which have examined preliminarily positive for the Omicron variant, stated the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday (Dec 10). The native an infection, recognized as Case 276839, is a 38-year-old man who works as a passenger service workers member on the departure gates at Changi Airport Terminal 3. MOH stated the person didn't work together with three beforehand reported cases of Omicron infections: Two of them have been confirmed to have the Omicron variant whereas a confirmatory take a look at for the third particular person is pending. There had been additionally no recognized {links} with an earlier reported case, who was additionally a Changi Airport passenger service workers member. The 38-year-old was examined for COVID-19 on Dec 9 as a part of the weekly rostered routine testing for border frontline staff. His polymerase chain response (PCR) take a look at end result got here again preliminarily positive for the Omicron variant. The man was asymptomatic and had self-isolated at dwelling when he was notified of his take a look at end result, stated the Health Ministry in a press launch late on Friday night time. 

TWO IMPORTED CASES ARRIVED IN SINGAPORE VIA UK VTL

The different two cases had been imported infections who travelled to Singapore from the United Kingdom through the vaccinated journey lane (VTL). Case 276794 is a 30-year-old lady who returned on Dec 8. Her pre-departure take a look at within the UK on Dec 7 was damaging for COVID-19 an infection. Her on-arrival PCR take a look at on Dec 9 was positive, and MOH stated she was suspected of being contaminated with the Omicron variant on Dec 10 as a result of detection of the "S-gene Target Failure". Before she was taken to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), she had self-isolated at her personal residence. The different case is a 26-year-old man who additionally travelled to Singapore on Dec 8. MOH stated the person, recognized as Case 276796, didn't work together with the 30-year-old lady through the flight. His pre-departure take a look at within the UK on Dec 6 was damaging for COVID-19 an infection however his on-arrival PCR take a look at on Dec 9 was positive. The man was suspected to have been contaminated with the Omicron variant on Dec 10. The man had self-isolated at a self-sourced lodging earlier than he was taken to NCID. All three cases had been absolutely vaccinated and asymptomatic, stated MOH, including that they had been recovering in isolation wards at NCID. (*3*) added the ministry. Whole genome sequencing for all three cases is being carried out by the National Public Health Laboratory to substantiate the variant. All shut contacts of the cases can be positioned on 10-day quarantine at designated amenities and endure PCR exams firstly and finish of their quarantine interval, stated MOH. All frontline airport staff are presently present process weekly routine testing, and all airport staff on routine testing can be required to do each day antigen fast exams for the following seven days. "Given its high transmissibility and spread to many parts of the world, we should expect to find more Omicron cases at our borders and also within our community," stated MOH. Singapore reported 454 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.