SINGAPORE, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Singapore confirmed 16 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection as of Monday, said the Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency in a joint statement.
Monday's update brings the total number of Zika infections in Singapore to 258.
The ministry said among these newly reported cases, 11 cases are linked to the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive/ Kallang Way/ Paya Lebar Way cluster. One case is linked to the Joo Seng Road cluster. The other four cases have no known links to any existing cluster.
The statement said vector control operations and outreach efforts are being carried out in affected areas.
In a separate statement earlier on Monday, the health ministry said it will no longer require suspected Zika cases to be isolated while waiting for test results from Tuesday.
The ministry added that confirmed cases will no longer need to be hospitalized unless medically indicated, as the cases of Zika in Singapore have been mild so far.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore on Monday said it has been informed by Singapore's Ministry of Health that a total of 30 Chinese nationals in Singapore have been tested positive for Zika virus as of noon on Monday.
The patients are presented with mild symptoms and have either recovered or recovering, the ministry added in the update to Chinese Embassy in Singapore.
