(Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated that the new testing criteria will start on July 21. This has been amended to July 1.)

More Covid-19 tests will be carried out, and the criteria will be expanded to include those aged 13 and above with acute respiratory infection (ARI).

This was announced by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong during a Multi-Ministry Taskforce press conference on June 25.

Expanding age criteria for testing

Gan said that the number of cases are expected to rise as activities and gatherings resume in Phase 2, despite cases remaining relatively stable for now.

"We have to stay vigilant, because the challenge is not over yet," Gan said.

This rise in cases is expected to take place one to two weeks after the start of Phase 2.

To get ready to detect and isolate these cases, the government will be ramping up its testing capacity, and will be expanding its age criteria for testing from July 1 onwards.

This criteria will include those aged 13 and above, with ARI.

This testing of those with ARI, Gan said, will be carried out in a "strategic" and "targeted" way.

"Otherwise we'll just end up testing a lot of people unnecessarily because the possibility of detecting a case will become very very low. So it's not effective in employing our resources that way."

Previously, Covid-19 testing targeted mainly the older demographic in Singapore. This included all those aged 45 and above who are diagnosed with ARI upon first presentation to a doctor. 

Gan added that as Singapore's borders are opened, incoming travellers will also be tested before the end of their Stay-Home Notice.

Currently, around 11,000 people are tested on a daily basis.

Covid-19 grant for PHPCs

Gan shared that the Ministry of Health will be offering a one-off Covid-19 support grant of S$10,000 each for all Public health preparedness clinic (PHPCs).

This grant will support PHPCs in caring for patients with respiratory symptoms, as well as defray the additional costs incurred.

MOH will also be providing one-time swab-and-send-home start-up grants of S$1,200 to PHPCs under the SASH programme to help these clinics cover the additional startup costs.

Gan also took the opportunity to thank all healthcare partners from the public and private sectors—900 clinics in total—"who have stepped forward to fight this war with us".

120,000 migrant workers free of virus

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong also mentioned that 120,000 migrant workers have either recovered from the virus, or have been tested and cleared.

By the end of July 2020, 70 to 80 per cent are expected to be cleared.

Top photo from Ong Ye Kung's Instagram