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2020-04-14 20:46:21
SINGAPORE - Singapore reported 334 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday (April 14), bringing the total number of cases to 3,252 since the start of the outbreak.
Of the new cases, 189 are linked to known clusters, 23 are linked to other local cases, and 122 are as yet unlinked.
None was imported, said the Health Ministry's director of medical services, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, at a press conference on Tuesday (April 14).
Commenting on the unlinked cases, Prof Mak said they did not necessarily mean that there is an unknown source of transmission and, as a result, community spread.
Some of the numbers are from active testing done in different settings - not just in larger purpose-built dormitories, but also other smaller ones, and it takes time to compile and match the figures, he said.
"So, in fact, out of the proportion that are as yet unlinked, you will find that over the next few days that number whittles down progressively as we link them to existing clusters," he added.
Giving an update on the work of an inter-agency task force a week after it was set up to support foreign workers, the Manpower Ministry Permanent Secretary Aubeck Kam said the teams deployed to all 43 purpose-built dormitories since last week have stabilised living conditions there.
Mr Kam said the next phase of operations, which is "very critical", would involve putting in place medical support so workers can receive good treatment.
The task force plans to set up medical posts at all 43 dormitories by the middle of this week, said its commander, Chief Guards Officer Seet Uei Lim.