<p>Two persons, including a woman, became the first fatalities of the <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a> pandemic in Singapore, health ministry said on Saturday as the country announced a slew of measures to prevent the spread of the deadly disease that has infected 385 people in the island nation.</p>.<p>Singapore on Friday confirmed 40 new COVID-19 cases, including 30 imported infections, taking the total number to 385 in the country.</p>.<p>The two fatalities included a 75-year-old Singaporean woman and a 64-year-old Indonesian man who died on Saturday, the health ministry said.</p>.<p>The woman was linked to the cluster at the Life Church and Missions Singapore and had a history of chronic heart disease and hypertension, reported the Channel News Asia.</p>.<p>She showed the COVID-19 symptoms on February 9 and was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on February 23 for pneumonia and tested positive for the disease on the same day.</p>.<p>She developed serious complications and died at about 7.50am.</p>.<p>The man, who had a history of heart disease, was admitted in a critical condition at NCID on March 13, after arriving in Singapore from Indonesia and passed away at 10.15am.</p>.<p>Prior to his arrival in Singapore, he had been hospitalised in Indonesia for pneumonia.</p>.<p>“While we all know that there will be fatalities in COVID-19 patients. We are deeply saddened by their passing," Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said.</p>.<p>"I know Singaporeans will be worried and anxious. We must take courage and not give in to our fears. We have announced a series of safe distancing measures yesterday and we must all take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and our families safe," he said.</p>.<p>Out of the 385 cases in Singapore, a total of 131 have fully recovered from the infection. Of the 254 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving.</p>.<p>To reduce the risk of local transmissions, authorities on Friday ordered all events and gatherings with 250 or more participants to be suspended.</p>.<p>New safe distancing measures were introduced for public venues such as retail shops and restaurants to ensure separation of at least 1 metre between customers.</p>.<p>A new TraceTogether mobile app was also launched to help with contact tracing efforts.</p>.<p>According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the death toll from the virus globally has risen to 11,397 with more than 275,427 cases reported in over 160 countries and territories.</p>
<p>Two persons, including a woman, became the first fatalities of the <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a> pandemic in Singapore, health ministry said on Saturday as the country announced a slew of measures to prevent the spread of the deadly disease that has infected 385 people in the island nation.</p>.<p>Singapore on Friday confirmed 40 new COVID-19 cases, including 30 imported infections, taking the total number to 385 in the country.</p>.<p>The two fatalities included a 75-year-old Singaporean woman and a 64-year-old Indonesian man who died on Saturday, the health ministry said.</p>.<p>The woman was linked to the cluster at the Life Church and Missions Singapore and had a history of chronic heart disease and hypertension, reported the Channel News Asia.</p>.<p>She showed the COVID-19 symptoms on February 9 and was admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on February 23 for pneumonia and tested positive for the disease on the same day.</p>.<p>She developed serious complications and died at about 7.50am.</p>.<p>The man, who had a history of heart disease, was admitted in a critical condition at NCID on March 13, after arriving in Singapore from Indonesia and passed away at 10.15am.</p>.<p>Prior to his arrival in Singapore, he had been hospitalised in Indonesia for pneumonia.</p>.<p>“While we all know that there will be fatalities in COVID-19 patients. We are deeply saddened by their passing," Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said.</p>.<p>"I know Singaporeans will be worried and anxious. We must take courage and not give in to our fears. We have announced a series of safe distancing measures yesterday and we must all take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and our families safe," he said.</p>.<p>Out of the 385 cases in Singapore, a total of 131 have fully recovered from the infection. Of the 254 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving.</p>.<p>To reduce the risk of local transmissions, authorities on Friday ordered all events and gatherings with 250 or more participants to be suspended.</p>.<p>New safe distancing measures were introduced for public venues such as retail shops and restaurants to ensure separation of at least 1 metre between customers.</p>.<p>A new TraceTogether mobile app was also launched to help with contact tracing efforts.</p>.<p>According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the death toll from the virus globally has risen to 11,397 with more than 275,427 cases reported in over 160 countries and territories.</p>