First virus deaths in Singapore

Singapore, March 21: Singapore on Saturday reported its first coronavirus deaths, including a

75-year-old Singaporean woman, the health ministry said, as the country announced a slew of measures to prevent the spread of the deadly disease that has infected 385 people in the island nation.

Singapore on Friday confirmed 40 new Covid19 cases, including 30 imported infections, taking the total number to

385 in the country. The two fatalities included the woman and a 64-year-old Indonesian man who died on Saturday, the health ministry said. The woman was linked to the cluster at the Life Church and Missions Singapore and had a history of chronic heart disease and hypertension, reported the Channel News Asia.

She showed the Covid-19 symptoms on February 9 and was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on Feb. 23 for pneumonia and tested positive for the disease on the same day.

She developed serious complications and died at about 7.50am. The man, who had a history of heart disease, was admitted in a critical condition at NCID on March 13, after arriving in Singapore from Indonesia and passed away at 10.15am.

Prior to his arrival in Singapore, he had been hospitalised in Indonesia for pneumonia. While we all know that there will be fatalities in Covid-19 patients. “We are deeply saddened by their passing,” Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said. “I know Singaporeans will be worried and anxious. We must take courage and not give in to our fears. We have announced a series of safe distancing measures yesterday and we must all take the necessary

precautions to keep ourselves and our families safe,” he said.

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