All long-term pass holders and short term visitors who have been in India within the last two weeks will not be allowed entry or transit through Singapore starting from Friday (23 Apr) at 11.59pm “until further notice”, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (22 Apr).

The announcement came after 11 migrant workers of Westlite Woodlands dormitory were tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, of which 10 of them have initially recovered from the disease.

In a statement, MOH noted that while there is no evidence that the cases are linked to the new strain from India, many of the arrivals from India are workers in the construction, marine and process sectors.

“Even with our control measures, there is still a risk that a leak may happen, and cause another wave of infection in the dormitories.  It is also a concern that recovered workers (i.e. those who had been infected earlier) are susceptible to being re-infected,” it said.

As such, the Ministry has decided to further tighten border measures with India.

It noted that all travellers who have been to India and have yet to complete their 14-days SHN by 11.59pm on Thursday (22 Apr) will be required to complete their additional seven-day SHN at dedicated SHN facilities.

“They will undergo COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests on-arrival, on Day 14 of their SHN, and another test before the end of their 21-day SHN period,” MOH noted.

It added that all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have been to India within the last two weeks will be barred from entering Singapore, or transit through Singapore.

The ban will take effect at 11.59pm on Friday (23 Apr) until further notice, said MOH, adding that it will also apply to all those who had obtained prior approval for entry into the city-state.

It was stated that both MOH and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), in consultation with infectious disease specialists, have reviewed the latest scientific evidence from the cohort of recovered persons in Singapore nearing one year from the date of infection.

The Ministries found that the evidence suggests a possible gradual decrease in antibody levels in recovered persons, said MOH.

“Immunity in recovered persons can wane, and caution is required around the infection risks in recovered persons,” it added.

Additionally, MOH said recovered dormitory-dwelling workers and CMP workers who are living in Singapore, and who have crossed 270 days from the date of COVID-19 infection, will no longer be exempted from prevailing public health measures starting from 29 Apr.

“They will be enrolled back on RRT once they have passed 270 days from the date of past infection and, if identified as close contacts, will be subjected to quarantine to identify potential re-infection and mitigate the risk of spread.

“Newly arrived migrant workers with a serology positive result will also be enrolled onto 14-day RRT,” it noted.

MOH added that all newly arrived migrant workers from higher-risk countries or regions will now have to undergo SHN at a dedicated facility before being onboarded at Migrant Workers Onboarding Centre (MWOC) for an additional testing regime.

“Imported cases suspected of re-infection will be isolated and undergo repeat COVID-19 PCR tests to monitor the trend of their viral loads, to ensure that such cases are detected promptly,” it asserted.

Subscribe
Notify of
100 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

Credit card debt seems to be 'ever-growing'

~ By Leong Sze Hian ~ I refer to the article “More…

重度伤残可领医疗储蓄 医疗负担仍自行买单?

卫生部长颜金勇日前表示,对于那些不幸面对重度伤残、家境清寒的30岁以上公民,可从个人的中央公积金医疗储蓄(Medisave)提取至少50元,减轻生活和医疗负担。 重度伤残者可从医疗储蓄提至少50元,条件是个人或配偶的公积金户头需至少有5千新元存款。至于拥有2万新元以上的公积金储蓄,则可每月提取200元。 “公积金制度可以弹性些,协助国民减轻负担。”颜金勇表示,公民也不需为此提高医疗储蓄缴纳额。该政策在2020年实施,只要年满30岁,不幸遇上重度伤残,即可申请提取公积金。 根据卫生部数据,至少半数65岁以上的国人,医疗储蓄超过2千新元。四分之一则有5千新元储蓄或更少。 这将是1984年以来,国民得以在65岁前先行提取和使用公积金储蓄。 怡安:医疗通膨仍偏高 显而易见,每个月领取50元,等于一个月吃20顿2块半的鸡饭,要说应对各种医疗费用,实在杯水车薪,更何况是从自己的公积金医疗储蓄拿出来的,若持续领取大约8年,积蓄就用完了。 虽然政府为提取公积金积蓄设下此弹性政策,惟并没有实质地解决老百姓对于节节攀升的医疗成本忧虑。显然由民众自己领取公积金储蓄,为医疗费用买单,并不是长远而有效的社会安全保障。 怡安顾问公司推出的医疗保健趋势调查显示,尽管新加坡本国的医疗通膨已从2014年的20巴仙,在去年下降至9.6巴仙,然而新加坡对11个国家的怡安医疗通膨指数,仍达到95.1,比中国、南韩和菲律宾还高。 如何定义“重度伤残”? 至于政府对于“严重伤残”的定义和标准,也令网民充满疑问。 以现有乐龄健保为例,如残疾而无法在淋浴、更衣、进食、如厕、在室内走动和上下床和坐上椅子或轮椅等,只要其中或超过三项无法自理,即可向保险公司索偿。…

HSBC恐裁员4000人 或将针对高层主管开刀

香港最大银行汇丰控股(HSBC)周一(5日)宣布,预计裁员千4000名员工,并将放缓投资开支。据最新的季度报告指出,全球经济前景正在恶化,截至2018年,汇丰银行共有23万5217名员工,将多达2巴仙的员工可能失去工作。 财务董事邵伟信(Ewen Stevenson)在电话会议上表示,将针对“高层主管”进行裁员,裁员加上自然流失,可望节省高达4巴仙工资成本。 汇丰银行则续指,今年的遣散费或将从6.5亿美元(约8.9 亿新元)上升至7亿美元(约9.7亿新元)。 对此,汇丰银行亦透露详细裁员细节,包括裁员行动和是否会涉及新加坡分行。 汇丰控股集团主席杜嘉祺(Mark Tucker)表示,“新加坡是其中八个投资战略国之一,是我们于亚洲与东南亚国家中相当重视的发展,故会持续聚焦与支持新加坡的业务。 而汇丰银行首席执行官范宁(John Flint)于周一(5日)无预警宣布辞任,范宁于去年2月上任,在位仅18个月。 据《路透社》引述爆料者指出,他的辞任相信与长期以来向高层管理人员施压,要求减低成本以求盈利增长,该项决策与汇丰控股集团主席有所出入。 随着中美贸易战升级,货币政策周期放缓、香港局势的动荡以及脱欧,汇丰银行预测未来业务前景会更加暗淡。…

Improving Singaporeans’ Standard of Living

The following is the third in a three-part summary extract from the…