Updated May 18th, 2020 at 13:42 IST

Singapore reports 305 new coronavirus cases

Singapore on Monday reported 305 new COVID-19 cases, the smallest increase in over a month, due to fewer tests being processed at laboratories, taking the country's total count to 28,343.

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Singapore on Monday reported 305 new COVID-19 cases, the smallest increase in over a month, due to fewer tests being processed at laboratories, taking the country's total count to 28,343.

The vast majority of new cases are foreigners on work permits and residing in dormitories, the Health Ministry said in its preliminary daily update.

Two new coronavirus cases reported on Monday are Singapore citizens or permanent residents (foreigners), according to the Ministry.

"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," it said.

As of Sunday, Singapore had 1,210 COVID-19 patients hospitalised and 17,466 kept in isolation facilities.

The ministry said 9,340 patients have been discharged from hospital while 22 have died so far due to complication related to the disease.

As of Sunday, 25,782 of the 323,000 migrant workers living in dormitories, or nearly 8 per cent, have tested positive for COVID-19, reported The Straits Times.

The authorities are continuing to test workers, and Manpower Minister Josephine Teo has said that the aim is to test all of them systematically so they can be cleared before returning to work.

There are signs recently that the COVID-19 situation in Singapore could be stabilising amid the circuit breaker, according to a report by The Straits Times. 

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Published May 18th, 2020 at 13:40 IST