The single Covid-19 community case on Aug. 3 was reported by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to be a 26-year-old prison inmate and Short-term Visit Pass holder.

The Sri Lanka national had arrived in Singapore before the implementation of border measures.

In response to Mothership's query, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have since released more details in a joint statement on Aug. 4.

Arrested for overstaying visit

The man first arrived in Singapore on Jan. 2, and was then arrested by the ICA on June 30 for overstaying in Singapore without a valid pass.

He was remanded at Changi Prison Complex on July 1, and sentenced on July 6 to four weeks of jail.

The man underwent swab tests on July 2 and July 22, and tested negative both times.

Upon admission to the prison, he was also subjected to the mandatory cohort segregation for 14 days as all new admissions are.

Once his four-week sentence was completed, the man was released into ICA's custody on July 27 for repatriation back to Sri Lanka.

The next day, he was escorted to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) for a medical review related to his previous hospitalisation for dengue.

He was then returned to SPS' custody on July 30 as there were no flights available to Sri Lanka.

Again, he underwent the cohort segregation, and a swab test for a third time. This time, however, he tested positive for Covid-19 on Aug 2, 10 days after the second swab test.

SPS and ICA officers under quarantine

The statement revealed that the man is currently well, and is being housed separately from other inmates.

Two other inmates admitted on the same day as the man and segregated in the same isolation cell tested negative for Covid-19.

The pair are being closely monitored. Before joining the general inmate population at Changi Prison, they will have to take swab tests again at the end of the 14-day segregation period.

Staff who were in contact with the man are also well, and their health will continue to be monitored.

One SPS officer, five ICA officers and five auxiliary police officers under ICA who had close contact with the man have been issued Quarantine Orders.

SPS and ICA are assisting MOH with contact tracing. Meanwhile, all areas which the man had visited have been disinfected.

Other precautionary measures

Some precautionary measures ICA implements for persons-in-custody include temperature taking thrice daily and monitoring them for Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) symptoms.

Those who exhibit such symptoms will be referred to ICA's medical service provider for further assessment, and may have to undergo Covid-19 testing.

Safe distancing measures are also enforced during lock-up.

Additionally, ICA officers are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and persons-in-custody have to don masks.

For SPS, staff are tested routinely and those with ARI symptoms have to undergo swab tests.

SPS staff are also required to don PPE.

Top photo from Captains of Lives / FB