Three more dormitories located in Tai Seng, Woodlands and Tuas were gazetted as isolation areas on Apr. 16.

The dormitories are:

1. Shaw Lodge Dormitory (12 Shaw Road)
2. North Coast Lodge (51 North Coast Avenue)
3. Tuas View Dormitory (70 Tuas South Avenue 1)

Including the latest three, 12 of the 43 purpose-built dormitories are now gazetted as isolation areas.

Rising number of cases involving Work Permit residing in dormitories

On Thursday (April 16), the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 728 new cases of Covid-19 infection in Singapore, bringing the total number of cases to 4,427.

Of these 728 cases, 654 were Work Permit holders residing in dormitories.

According to MOH's Apr. 16 situation report, there are 22 clusters linked to dormitories.

There are now 2,689 cases residing in dormitories, and 218 cases of Work Permit Holders who are not residing in dormitories.

According to MOH, there are around 323,000 dormitory residents who are at risk of infection.

There are also another 664,000 Work Permit Holders who do not reside in dormitories.

Significance of being gazetted as isolation area

People at isolation areas, including workers and operators, have to stay in their dormitories, with measures taken to reduce interactions.

However, manpower minister Josephine Teo said that even for dormitories not gazetted as isolation areas, "we aim to apply the same safe distancing measures, so that they are effectively also on lockdown", at a press conference on Apr. 14.

Medical outposts

Teo also said that medical outposts were being set up at gazetted dormitories. These medical outposts are supported by teams of doctors, nurses and technicians, which are deployed to the dormitories to attend to workers who are unwell.

As of Apr. 14, there were seven medical outposts catering to the first eight gazetted dormitories, as Cochrane Lodge 1 and 2 share a medical outpost.

Teo also said that the aim was to set up "medical touchpoints" at all 43 purpose-built dormitories.

Assistance from MOM

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will assist the employers to ensure that these workers continue to be paid.

During the isolation period, three meals will be provided to all affected workers for free and they will get essentials such as masks, thermometers, hand sanitisers and snacks.

MOM will also facilitate remittance service as well as medical support on-site for these workers.

Other dormitory isolation areas

The dormitories previously currently gazetted as isolation areas are:

1. S11 Dormitory @ Punggol
2. Westlite Toh Guan dormitory
3. Toh Guan Dormitory
4. Sungei Tengah Lodge
5. Tampines Dormitory
6. Acacia Lodge
7. Cochrane Lodge 1
8. Cochrane Lodge 2
9. Mandai Lodge 1

Foreign worker dormitory clusters

The number of Covid-19 clusters in Singapore involving foreign worker dormitories is growing, with three new dormitory clusters being announced on Apr. 16.

At a press conference on Apr. 9, MOH's Director of Medical Services Kenneth Mak spoke about a rise in infections among foreign workers who live in dormitories.

He said that the rapid rise was likely to have started at the Mustafa Shopping Centre, with workers who subsequently transmitted the virus to other dormitory residents and co-workers.

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Top photo via Google Maps street view.