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On May 20, it was reported that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting mandatory tests for residents of Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8, after a few Covid-19 cases were found to reside in that block.

Testing operations were conducted on May 21 and 22.

10th Covid-19 case in Hougang block

After testing 407 residents and visitors of the block, an individual has tested positive for Covid-19 thus far, while 126 more test results are still pending.

This was announced in a joint press release by MOH and the Ministry of National Development (MND) on May 23.

Including the case, MOH has identified a total of 10 Covid-19 cases from four different households residing at 506 Hougang Avenue 8.

"We have established that four of the units with confirmed cases are in the same stack, and our initial assessment is that airborne transmission along the stack is highly unlikely. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine linkages and the source of transmission."

More details on the latest case will be stated in a later press release.

Those awaiting their test results are advised to stay at home and seek immediate medical attention if they feel unwell.

Residents and visitors of the block who missed the test can proceed to the following clinics till May 24 to get a mandatory free swab test.

They would have to bring along their NRIC and TraceTogether Tokens for identification purposes.

Mandatory swab tests at Pasir Ris block

Following the recent measures at Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8, MOH will also be conducting mandatory swab tests on May 23-24 for all 243 residents of block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51.

This comes after four Covid-19 cases have been detected in two different households at the block.

Residents are advised to go to Coral Regional Screening Centre (formerly Coral Primary School) at the following time slots for their tests:

• 9am to 12pm
• 1pm to 4pm

Officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA) have been deployed to closely monitor the cleaning and disinfection works at the affected blocks in Hougang and Pasir Ris by the town councils and their cleaning contractors to ensure that they were performed in accordance with NEA's guidelines.

Residents not in quarantine

The ministries also stressed in their joint statement that residents in the two blocks are not under quarantine.

This means that they are allowed to leave their homes and continue with activities under the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures.

"Delivery of goods and services such as cylinder gas, food and general repair works to their premises can still carry on with the appropriate safe management measures and wearing of masks. We strongly urge service providers to continue to extend their services to the residents and support our fellow Singaporeans."

Top image from Google Maps.