The Changi Airport passenger terminal buildings and Jewel Changi Airport will be closed for two weeks starting from Thursday (13 May), while all workers are undergoing mandatory COVID-19 tests, following the detection of infection cases there, said Changi Airport Group (CAG) on Wednesday (12 May).
In a statement earlier today, CAG noted that all workers in Changi Airport’s Terminals 1 and 3, and Jewel Changi Airport, have been undergoing in a special testing operation since 9 May.
It noted that COVID-19 tests of workers are necessary to “quickly detect, isolate and treat any potential COVID-19 cases in the airport community”, given the increasing COVID-19 cases linked to the airport.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), about 9,000 workers will be tested for the COVID-19 virus.
CAAS noted that all vaccinated frontline airport workers who have earlier been placed on a 28-day Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) cycle will now be placed on a 14-day cycle for early detection of new COVID-19 cases.
While the special testing operation is ongoing, the Changi Airport Passenger Terminal Buildings and Jewel Changi Airport will be closed to all members of the public starting from 13 May and will be re-opened on 27 May, said CAG.
“Changi Airport remains open for air travel during this period. Passengers may also continue to be dropped off and picked up from the airport. Access to the Passenger Terminal Buildings will be restricted to only passengers with air tickets and essential airport workers.
“Some essential services and food and beverage outlets will remain open to serve them. For clarity, members of the public will not be allowed to enter the Passenger Terminal Buildings,” it added.
As of Wednesday noon (12 May), the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 10 new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 infection, of whom seven are linked to the Changi Airport cluster.
Following that, CAG noted that it continues to review and adjust the measures as necessary, including extending the closure if required.
“We urge all airport workers as well as staff working in Jewel to refrain from going out except for essential work or activities for the next 14 days or until they have been tested negative for COVID-19.
“They should also not be redeployed to other workplaces or outlets during this period,” it added.
