Clockwise of the KTV places that will be closed from 15 July to 29 July due to a growing COVID-19 cluster: Level 9, Terminal 10, One Exclusive, and Club M. (PHOTOS: LeveL9thsg, terminal10clarkequay, clubmsingapore, oneexclusivesg/Facebook pages)

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (15 July) confirmed 48 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, taking the country's total case count to 62,852.

Of them, 42 are local cases, including 33 – out of 37 linked infections – who belong to a fast-growing KTV lounges/clubs cluster. It is now linked to 87 cases, making it the second biggest active cluster here after 115 Bukit Merah View market, which is linked to 94 infections.

Thursday marks the fifth day in a row where new local infections are reported. The remaining six cases are imported, of whom four were detected upon their arrival here while two developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation period.

This comes a day after authorities announced 60 new COVID-19 community cases – the majority of whom were added to the KTV cluster – the highest number of such cases reported daily since 8 April last year.

At a virtual media doorstop with local media on Wednesday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung described the KTV cluster as "troubling and disappointing". He noted that the police will take action against the KTV lounges and hostesses who might have contravened COVID-19 rules.