Additional COVID-19 testing regime for newly arrived foreign workers staying in dormitories

Singapore, 11 January 2021 – From 6 January 2021, foreign workers approved for entry into Singapore and staying in dormitories will have to stay at a designated facility to go through an additional seven-day testing regime, after completing their 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN).

The workers will be able to move into their dormitories only after completing the additional testing regime. The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) introduced this new requirement to minimise the risk of an imported COVID-19 positive case transmitting the virus to those in the dormitories.

The 14-day SHN and a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) exit test reduce the risk of a missed positive COVID-19 case to very low levels. Nevertheless, as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has started approving the entry of a larger number of foreign workers into Singapore, the MTF considers it prudent to further reduce the risk of a missed COVID-19 positive case starting a new dormitory cluster.

During the seven days at the designated facility, the newly arrived foreign workers will undergo additional swab tests, and will still be able to go to work. Any COVID-19 positive cases will be swiftly isolated and conveyed to a hospital or a community care facility. Their close contacts will also be quarantined and isolated.

The Government will continue to review these latest measures and update the policies accordingly.

– Construction+ Online

Source: MOM