2019-20 Wuhan coronavirus

An outbreak of a novel coronavirus, given the designation of 2019-nCoV, was identified around mid-December 2019 in the city of Wuhan in central China when an emerging cluster of people contracted pneumonia with no clear cause. A majority of the earliest cases were directly associated with stallholders who worked at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which also sold live animals and game meat, though the exact origin of the virus has not been determined.

Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a health advisory on 2 January, and implemented temperature checks for passengers arriving in Changi Airport from Wuhan the following day. On 20 January, temperature screening at Changi Airport was extended to all travellers coming from China. In addition, individuals with pneumonia who had travelled to Wuhan within 14 days before the onset of symptoms will be isolated in hospital. MOH also issued a reminder to hospitals and general practitioners to be vigilant for such cases. On 22 January, quarantine measures were extended to travellers who arrived from China and displayed symptoms, with the first seven suspected cases tested negative. On the same day, three more suspected cases were detected, causing the MOH to form a multi-ministry taskforce to tackle the virus. The MOH advised against non-essential trips to Wuhan and expanded the travel advisory the following day to all of Hubei.

The first case was confirmed on 23 January, involving a 66-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan who flew from Guangzhou via China Southern Airlines flight CZ351 with 9 companions and stayed at Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa. Contact tracing subsequently commenced. Two more cases were confirmed the next day, involving a 37-year-old son of the first imported case and a 53-year-old Chinese woman who arrived on 21 January by flight and showed preliminary positive results previously. Another 28 suspected cases were detected as a result of enhanced testing. Border control measures were enhanced and extended to land and sea checkpoints on 24 January and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority started temperature checks from noon of that day.

On 25 January, MOH confirmed the fourth case of Wuhan coronavirus in Singapore involving a 36 year-old from Wuhan who stayed at Village Hotel Sentosa. He subsequently went to Sengkang General Hospital, where infection was confirmed.