The Covid-19 outbreak in migrant worker dormitories has come under control, and the time has come to resume activities "gradually and cautiously", Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said in Parliament on Thursday (June 4).
While the number of cases being found daily continues to number in the hundreds, this is partly due to "proactive screening", as part of the government's plan "to clear the dormitories and prepare the workers to return to work".
In addition, although the number of cases are expected to remain high for some time, Gan raised the possibility that some of them could be "past infections and are not active cases".
But there are still infections in the dorms, undetected community cases & global situation not yet stabilised
However, Gan said this while also cautioning that there continue to be infections in our dormitories, as well as unlinked cases in the community that continue to emerge "from time to time" — hence the need to continue being "mindful" and socially-responsible.
"The global situation has also not fully stabilised. Some countries are seeing a second wave of infection after reopening the economy and allowing social activities... Therefore we must remain vigilant, even as we exit the circuit breaker."
"Proactive screening" of workers will continue for some time
As such, the "proactive screening" of workers may continue until August or even September, given that it is has to be done in a systematic and careful manner, Gan said.
He spoke about this in response to a follow-up question by Bukit Batok SMC MP Murali Pillai about the expected duration for completing checks on Singapore's migrant workers in dormitories, and whether it will affect Phases 2 and 3 for the lifting of the Circuit Breaker.
Gan said that for workers who have cleared the screening and are able to start work, the government wants to make sure that they are "safe in the community", which in turn will allow the continuation of the process to reopen Singapore's economy.
"Management practices" have been strengthened
In the meantime, the government has also worked with dormitory operators to strengthen management practices so that workers will be able to live safely in dormitories, Gan said.
This entails:
- Tighter control of entry and exit measures, to limit mingling between different blocks and levels,
- Staggered use of common facilities,
- Allowing only workers who have recovered or tested negative to leave the dormitories, and
- Testing the workers regularly and furnishing daily reports of their health conditions.
With regard to the workers who are able to leave the dormitories, Gan stated that this will only be for the purpose of work, with "tight" transportation arrangements required.
Should any of the migrant workers test positive, both the worker and their close contacts will be "isolated expeditiously".
Top image from JurongHealth Campus Facebook page