Singapore investigates Covid-19 infections at 5-star hotel

Singapore is investigating 13 cases of Covid-19 infections among people who have been quarantined at a hotel along the city’s Orchard Road shopping street.

The cases, all imported, showed “high genetic similarity” despite the arrival of victims from 10 different countries, the government said in a statement on Saturday. Singapore said it was performing whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis on all Covid-19 cases, and it took around four weeks to grow the virus and complete the sequencing.

The people were confirmed between November 2 and 11 as having Covid-19 and had stayed at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel between October 22 and November 11. Philippines, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States

“Epidemiological investigations were immediately opened to determine whether there is a potential link between these 13 cases and to study whether transmission could have occurred locally, and not from their country of origin,” the statement said. From “preliminary inquiries, we cannot exclude that transmissions may have taken place at Mandarin Orchard Singapore”

Singapore will open up to business travelers, bubble them

Authorities are conducting analysis on more cases beyond November 11. The hotel had stopped taking visitors for quarantine purposes since December 13. Those who are currently serving their so-called stay-at-home notice will be sent to another facility, the government said.