Eight additional COVID-19 cases are linked to the cluster at Kian Teck Dormitory, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (23 June), although the cluster had previously been declared clear of COVID-19 by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Singapore has recorded 42,623 COVID-19 cases so far, with 80 per cent of the cases came from its massive migrant workers’ population. This prompted the Government to clear dormitories across the country, with the MOM announcing most recently that 31 more dorms have been cleared from COVID-19 infection.
In a statement on Tuesday, MOM claimed that 79,000 migrant workers living in 163 dormitories and 18 blocks of recovered workers (BRWs) have been “cleared of COVID-19”.
“The Forward Assurance and Support Teams (FAST) are working closely with dormitory operators, employers and migrant workers to complete all the necessary steps and clear the remaining dormitories,” it stated.
According to MOM’s website, migrant workers staying in cleared dormitories are those who have either been tested negative for the virus or have recovered from the disease and discharged. This also includes migrant workers who are residing in accommodation where fellow residents have been cleared of the virus.
Dormitories with low infection incidence will be cleared first, which MOM claimed that it has consulted with the MOH.
“The Inter-Agency Task Force (ITF) will systematically and progressively clear all remaining dormitories in the coming months. We’ll test and clear residents as quickly as we can, while safeguarding the good health of all the residents by ensuring that they are tested negative or have recovered from COVID-19,” it asserted.
Separately, MOH announced on Tuesday that eight more cases of COVID-19 are linked to the cluster at Kian Teck Dormitory. The dorm, which situated at Kian Teck Avenue, has now recorded a total of 721 confirmed cases.
“We continue to pick up cases amongst Work Permit holders residing in dormitories, including in factory-converted dormitories, because of extensive testing in these premises, as part of our process to verify and test the status of all workers,” it said.
However, MOM has declared Kian Teck Dormitory clear from COVID-19 on the same day.
Given that the dorm has been cleared, how did the eight new cases come about?
TOC has written to MOH for clarification.