69-year-old Singaporean man dies of Covid-19 complications; 6th such death in August as death toll hits 43

By ASYRAF KAMIL

AUGUST 11, 2021

SINGAPORE — A 69-year-old Singaporean man died on Wednesday (Aug 11) from complications due to Covid-19.

In a media statement, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the man developed symptoms on July 28 and was admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital the next day where he tested positive for Covid-19 infection.

“He had not been vaccinated against Covid-19, and had a history of stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia,” MOH said.

Hyperlipidaemia, a blood condition, is one of the main risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke.

This is the sixth death from Covid-19 this month. The first was a 34-year-old Ukrainian man who died on Aug 1 while the fifth death this month was an 80-year-old Singaporean woman who died on Aug 7.

There are now 43 people here who have died in Singapore after contracting the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, Singapore recorded 63 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 65,953 since the outbreak began.

Singapore had held the death rate from Covid down for a very long time. From June 13 2020, the number of deaths (cumulative) rose slowly from 26 to 36 in Jul 23 2021 - 10 deaths in over a year. Then from Jul 24, there were 7 deaths over the next 18 days or so, raising our death count to 43 (as at 11 Aug).

These deaths were mostly from the Delta variant which is more deadly. The viral load overwhelms the body immune system, particularly those unvaccinated. The risk of death is higher for the unvaccinated, as they are less able to fight off the more virulent Delta variant.

So far, no vaccinated persons have succumbed (i.e. died) from Covid-19/Delta variant.

[Aug 20 update: As at 20 Aug, the total deaths 24 July, which is likely due to the Delta variant is 11, bringing Singapore's death from Covid up to 47. Of the 11, 10 were unvaccinated. The one fatality involving a vaccinated patient was a 90-year-old man with kidney disease and hypertension. Unfortunately, his advanced age, his existing medical condition, and the deadliness of the Delta variant (this is my assumption) proved to be fatal for him, even tho he was vaccinated.]