SINGAPORE, 2 April 2020:
Singapore has today reported the fourth death due to Covid-19 infection which involved a 68-year-old Indonesian man.
In a statement today, the republic’s Ministry of Health said the patient has passed away at 6.43am after seven days in the intensive care unit (ICU).
The ministry said he had a history of diabetes and hypertension, and had been cared for in the ICU since March 26.
MoH said the patient was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on March 22, and was confirmed to have the infection on the same day.
The Singapore Work Pass holder had been in Indonesia from Jan 20 to March 16.
As at noon yesterday, Singapore recorded its 1,000th case, with 245 fully recovered from the infection.
Thailand, which yesterday confirmed 120 new Covid-19 cases and two more deaths, announced that all shops in Bangkok – including supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and street food stalls – will be immediately closed from midnight to 5 am rill April 30.
This is to stem the spread of the virus in Thailand’s capital city as the total number of cases in the kingdom rose to 1,771, with 12 fatalities.
Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, who announced the latest measures in a statement after chairing a meeting with the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee, said that all public and private parks – including those at condominiums and communities – would also be temporarily closed from until April 30 to prevent large gatherings.
Since the outbreak in January, Bangkok has recorded 850 positive cases.
As the state of emergency takes effect nationwide in Thailand from March 26 to April 30, all shopping malls, entertainment outlets and sports venues have been ordered to close while supermarkets selling food and daily necessities, markets selling fresh products, pharmacies and convenience stores are allowed to remain open. Restaurants and cafes are also open but can only offer takeaway and delivery services.
Under the emergency decree, non-resident foreigners are barred from entering the kingdom. However, Thai nationals, members of diplomatic corps, foreigners with work permits and those working in the goods transportation sector will be allowed entry.
Meanwhile, plans are afoot to grant automatic renewal of tourist visas for visitors who arrived in the kingdom after March 1.
Deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Natapanu Nopakun said prime minister general Prayuth Chan o-cha was aware of the long queues at the Immigration Office at the Chaengwattana Government Complex.
“It is already in the pipeline that we will grant automatic extensions of visas for those who arrived after March 1. The proposal was approved at the Cabinet meeting yesterday. The related ministry and agency will make the official announcement later.”
– Bernama