Numbers of COVID-19 Deaths and ICU Cases in Singapore Linked to Delta Variant

Ms Poh Li San asked the Minister for Health (a) of all the COVID-19 deaths in August 2021, how many of them are from the same clusters; and (b) whether all the COVID-19 deaths and those admitted to ICU since May 2021 have been due to the Delta variant.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: From 1 August 2021 to 31 August 2021, there were 18 COVID-19 deaths, of which 13 were from sub-clusters phylogenetically linked to the JFP cluster. The remaining five cases remained unlinked.

From 1 May 2021 to 31 August 2021, there were 25 COVID-19 deaths and 35 other COVID-19 cases admitted to ICU. Phylogenetic sequencing was successful for 20 of the 25 deaths, and all 20 were of the Delta variant. For the 35 ICU admissions, phylogenetic sequencing was successful for 24 cases, of which 23 were of the Delta variant.