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| Tan Tock Seng Hospital said on Thursday afternoon that no visitors will be allowed |
CNA
29/4/2021
SINGAPORE: Following its decision to tighten visitor restrictions on Wednesday (Apr 28) night, Tan Tock Seng Hospital said on Thursday afternoon that no visitors will be allowed into its wards until further notice.
This comes after a nurse, who had completed the full vaccination regimen, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. She was reported as a confirmed case on Wednesday.
"Please be informed that no visitors will be allowed into our wards until further notice," said the hospital in a Facebook post on Thursday.
"These are necessary measures to contain the situation and protect our patients and staff. Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and we thank you for your understanding."
When CNA visited on Thursday afternoon, signs had been put up saying "no visitors allowed".
However, patients were still being allowed into the hospital as normal, with no sign of people being turned away at any of the entrances to the building.
The move comes after Tan Tock Seng Hospital said late Wednesday night it was tightening its ward visiting policy, with only two pre-registered visitors allowed throughout a patient’s stay. These two visitors cannot be changed throughout the patient's stay.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital said on its website on Thursday that the update to its visiting policy was "in line with the latest measures to manage the spread of COVID-19".
Those with concerns can contact the hospital at 6357 3078, it said.
EIGHT CASES LINKED TO NURSE
On Thursday, eight of the 16 new community COVID-19 cases reported in Singapore were linked to the nurse, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).
These cases were detected from testing patients and staff members in the affected ward - Ward 9D.
As a precautionary measure, all staff members working in Tan Tock Seng Hospital wards will be tested for COVID-19 infection, said MOH.
All close contacts of the cases, including patients, visitors and staff members who were in the affected ward will be placed on quarantine, added MOH.
"Visitors will not be allowed into the hospital wards while investigations are ongoing," said the health ministry.
NURSE WHO FIRST TESTED POSITIVE
The nurse, a 46-year-old Philippine national, was among the three community infections reported on Wednesday. She was deployed at Ward 9D, a general ward.
She developed a cough, sore throat and body aches on Tuesday and sought treatment at the hospital. She tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day and was warded at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
The nurse received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Jan 26, and the second dose on Feb 18. A doctor and three patients who were cared for in the same ward have tested "preliminarily positive", said MOH.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital has locked down the affected ward and is swabbing patients and staff members.
A doctor and three patients who were cared for in the same ward have tested "preliminarily positive", said the Health Ministry on Wednesday.
