Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 799 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 14,423.

Of the newly confirmed cases, 18 were cases in the community, 17 were work permit holders residing outside dormitories, and 764 were work permit holders residing in dormitories.

During the past day, 35 more patients of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 1,095 have recovered and have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, the ministry said.

The number of cases that have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection has risen by two to reach 14. The two new deaths involve two male Singaporean citizens at the age of 82 and 81 respectively.

The MOH said in a press release that it has been conducting COVID-19 tests to around 3,000 migrant workers residing at the dormitories every day. To date, more than 21,000 migrant workers living in dormitories have been tested, which means that about one in 15 workers in dormitories (or 6,500 per 100,000) has been tested.

The Multi-Ministry Taskforce has been steadily building up the national capacity to conduct tests for COVID-19, from an average of 2,900 tests per day in early April to over 8,000 tests per day, according to MOH.

The testings started with the dormitories with a higher incidence of infections, and are continuing to the workers in the other dormitories, the MOH said.

One urgent priority is to test migrant workers who have moved out of the dormitories but are continuing to work in essential services, the MOH said, adding that this is to reduce the risk of transmission in workplaces and to the wider community.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)