Mandarin Orchard Singapore’s Covid‑Quick‑Fix Alert
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) dropped a bombshell about 13 Covid‑19 cases linked to guests staying in the Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel. Below is the low‑down.
What’s Happening?
- Hotel has shut its doors to new guests – no more check‑ins from now on.
- Current SHN (Stay‑Home Notice) occupants are being relocated to a separate facility.
- Restaurant and event venues have also been put on pause.
- The hotel will carry out a phased checkout of all remaining guests.
- (It’s worth noting that the hotel’s dedicated‑facility contract ran out last week, so guests haven’t been staying there since Dec 13.)
Who’s Got the Virus?
All 13 cases arrived from abroad between Nov 2 and Nov 19. They hail from countries such as Bahrain, Canada, and Indonesia, yet their genomes show striking similarity – a clue that the infection source was likely nearly identical. The National Public Health Laboratory points to a shared origin.
Shifting the Spotlight
- These guests were under SHNs at Mandarin Orchard between Oct 22 and Nov 11.
- Main takeaway: It could be that the hotel itself was the culprit for some of the spread.
- Genome sequencing is still a four‑week marathon for isolates beyond Nov 11.
Safety Measures in Play
- Guests on SHN stay in a dedicated tower and floors, isolated from everyday hotel life.
- Even with that isolation, the hotel’s decision to checked out everyone aims to safeguard all occupants.
- Deep cleansing and disinfection are underway, coordinated with the MOH and the National Environment Agency.
- Hotel staff are being tested – around 500 employees have already been screened.
What You Need to Do
If you, or someone you know, stayed at the Mandarin Orchard between Nov 11 and Dec 19, stay alert. Keep an eye on your health for the next 14 days, especially if your last stay was near the end of that period.
Stay in the Loop
For continuous updates, head over to the official MOH Covid‑19 portal for the most accurate (and ever‑updating) information.
