Singapore says 2 travellers from South Africa tested 'preliminarily positive' for Omicron

By Gurdip Singh Singapore, Dec 3 (PTI) Two travellers from South Africa have tested "preliminarily positive" for Omicron variant of COVID-19 after landing in Singapore, Ministry of Health has said.

Two passengers who arrived in Singapore from South Africa on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ479 have tested "preliminarily positive" for Omicron variant on Wednesday, MOH here said on Thursday.

"Both cases were isolated upon arrival in Singapore on December 1, and h not interacted in community," Channel News Asia reported, quoting ministry.

"re is currently no evidence of any community transmission from se cases," MOH ded. two travellers, who arrived from Johannesburg, are recovering in isolation wards at National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).

Both of m are fully vaccinated and have "mild symptoms of cough and scratchy throat", it said.

One is a 44-year-old Singapore permanent resident who arrived in city-state from Mozambique, transiting through Johannesburg. His pre-departure test in Mozambique on November 29 was negative for COVID-19, said MOH.

or case is a 41-year-old Singaporean woman who arrived from South Africa. Her pre-departure test in Johannesburg on November 29 was negative for COVID-19.

y h undergone a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival in Singapore, and were immediately taken to a stay-home notice dedicated facility while waiting for ir test results, said MOH. Upon confirmation of COVID-19 infection, y were taken to NCID.

"ir PCR test results have revealed presence of S-gene Target Failure which may be associated with Omicron variant. National Public Health Laboratory is conducting whole genome sequencing to confirm variant," said Ministry.

Contact tracing is ongoing and all 19 or passengers who were on same flight have tested negative for COVID-19, said MOH.

passengers were quarantined on arrival and are serving ir stay-home notices at designated facilities. y are also "subjected to a testing regime", including an on-arrival PCR test and a stay-home notice exit PCR test.

"Or close contacts of se cases, if any, will be placed on 10-day quarantine at designated facilities and undergo PCR tests at start and end of ir quarantine," said Health Ministry.

All patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with Omicron variant will be taken to NCID for isolation and clinical management. y will not be allowed to undergo home recovery.

"It is important for everyone to continue to play ir part and remain vigilant to mitigate spre of COVID-19," said MOH.

SIA told Channel News Asia that it is unable to reveal any information about passengers and crew members due to confidentiality reasons.

It said pilots and crew who were on flight have undergone COVID-19 tests, and are in self-isolation, in accordance with guidance from authorities.

"SIA will assist health authorities in all necessary contact tracing efforts," it said.

Since 11.59 pm on November 27, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with travel history in past 14 days to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe have not been allowed to enter or transit in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Singapore reported 1,101 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths linked to coronavirus on Thursday.

fatalities, aged between 56 and 99, h various underlying medical conditions, said MOH.

Among new cases, 1,050 infections were from community (local), 41 cases from migrant workers' dormitories and 10 cases who arrived here from abro.

As of Thursday, Singapore has reported 2,67,150 COVID-19 infections and 735 coronavirus-linked deaths since start of pandemic. PTI GS HDA