Singapore’s health ministry reported 88 new locally-transmitted coronavirus cases on Sunday, July 18, the highest daily toll since August last year, driven by growing clusters of infections linked to karaoke bars and a fishery port.

The outbreak at karaoke or KTV lounges and bars had led the city-state to tighten some restrictions on social gatherings just a week after easing them.

Of Sunday’s cases, 23 belong to the KTV cluster and 37 are linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster, the health ministry said in its preliminary report.

As a precaution, authorities on Sunday shut fresh fish and seafood stalls in markets across the city-state as it tested stallholders for COVID-19.

It said COVID-19 clusters had been uncovered involving fishmongers who visited the Jurong Fishery Port to collect their stock to sell at the markets.

Singapore is also racing to find people linked to the clusters at the KTV lounges, but there are concerns some patrons could be reluctant to come forward. – Rappler.com