To ease the financial burden, the Government will provide financial assistance for those who are self-employed and are forced to be quarantined.
Those affected would receive $100 for each day they are quarantined with the money going to their employers if they are salaried. This is as the duration of their quarantine period will not be deducted from their annual leave.
In the event the quarantined individuals begin to exhibit symptoms of the Wuhan virus, they would brought to a hospital to receive prompt treatment.
As their illness is a result of the coronavirus, the Government will bear the associated medical costs in all suspected and confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, the Minister of National Development, Lawrence Wong addressed the circulation of falsehoods regarding the $100 quarantine allowance.
He explained that the $100 allowance was not a new practice but one which had also been carried out during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak years ago.
Elaborating further, Mr Wong said that the allowance was given only to Singapore based employers to cover the expenditure of their employees who were under quarantine as well as self-employed Singaporeans or permanent residents under quarantine.
He added that this payment does not apply to tourists who have been quarantined.
In a move to curb the spread of the Wuhan virus, many more people are expected to be quarantined. As of now, the number of people who have been placed under quarantine is 75. These people have been in close contact with the first four cases who were tested positive for carrying the virus.
With stricter regulations imposed, it is estimated that 2000 people who have been in the Chinese city of Hubei in the past two weeks, would be quarantined. This includes those with a travel history to Hubei or with China passports issued in Hubei.
Under the Infectious Disease Act 1976, a quarantine action is more severe compared to a leave of absence. Those who disregard the quarantine directions may face a fine up to $10,000 and jail time up to 6 months or both. The penalty gets higher with every additional breach of the law.
According to Mr Wong, “it is clear that there is heightened risk from Hubei travellers”. He explained further that though the virus is currently not spreading, that does not take away the severity of the risk if not controlled.
Singapore residents would be given the option of being quarantined at home provided that facilities therein are not shared with other occupants.
Moreover, those quarantined at home would not be allowed to physically interact with others who live within the same premise. The health authorities would conduct random checks in person or by phone contact to ensure residents abide by these restrictions.
On the other hand, those who do not own facilities are allowed to opt for the available quarantine facilities provided by the government.
