Woman warded in SGH tested negative for fatal novel coronavirus strain

A woman suspected of being infected with a variant of the influenza bug that caused the Sars epidemic in 2002 does not have the infection.

While she was initially suspected to be infected with the novel coronavirus, the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) said laboratory tests have confirmed that she does not have the infection. 

The woman was admitted to SGH after traveling from Kuwait to Singapore, with a two-hour transit in Qatar. 

The hospital said her illness is linked to influenza A or H1N1 infection, which is one of the circulating seasonal influenza strains. 

It added that the patient has a history of chronic disease and as such, would be at a higher risk. 

A false tweet was circulated online at about 4pm on Thursday telling netizens to stay away from SGH because it has a patient who has the novel coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said there have been no new confirmed cases associated with novel coronavirus infection reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) since 28 September. 

As of 2 October, the number of confirmed cases remains at two. 

In line with the WHO's recommendations, MOH said it does not advise any border screenings as the risk posed by the novel coronavirus to public health is low. 

It's in close contact with the relevant authorities and will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that public health is safeguarded. 

The ministry has advised the public to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza, especially if they're at higher risk of developing complications of influenza or are caring for people who're at high risk of infection. 

They include the elderly, people with chronic medical conditions and groups such as pregnant women.