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Private property and parts of the Turf Club are among the new designated areas where foreign workers can stay amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said yesterday that the old Chancery Court on Dunearn Road has been restored to house healthy foreign workers in essential services. Up to 1,200 workers can stay at Chancery Court, and some have already moved.
Real estate developer Far East Organization, which bought the site in 2018, had offered it to help contain the coronavirus outbreak.
SLA said: “This move to increase facilities is part of a multi-agency effort to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
“All necessary measures are implemented, with on-site services and meals provided for the well-being of the occupants. Foreign workers will be transported to work by their employers and will also be observing the measures of the circuit breakers.”
It was previously reported that the Chancellery had 136 apartments and eight business units.
The move to make it temporary worker accommodation was announced by Melj Yong, GRC MP from Tanjong Pagar, earlier this month in a letter to residents.
He said: “SLA, which oversees the old apartments, has begun renovating the site in preparation to temporarily house a group of healthy migrant workers.
“We understand that a dormitory operator will be appointed to operate the site.”
Yesterday, in response to questions, she said that members of the local neighborhood committee had been updating residents on the issue and receiving comments.
Earlier in a Facebook post on Sunday night, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, revealed that there were four floating hotels capable of accommodating 1,700 foreign workers.
“We accept those who are healthy or have recovered from Covid-19 infections, and doctors consider that they are no longer infectious,” he said.
“There are now around 360 residents there, but we will soon need the buffer to provide less crowded and safe accommodation for workers, according to the requirements (of the ministries of health and labor).”
Floating hotels are kept separate, and residents cannot visit each other, even if staying in the same hotel.
Khaw added that most workers are currently not essential with orders to stay home and therefore cannot leave the site.
The exception is the floating hotel called ENA Habitat, he said.
It has been reserved for essential workers necessary to ensure the continued operation of Changi Airport. These workers do not interact with their counterparts from other sites. They are bused to and from work.
Khaw emphasized that sick workers are not housed in floating hotels, as they are cared for in hospitals or community care centers.
Community care centers are for people with mild symptoms and lower risk factors. Bed spaces in such facilities are slated to increase to 20,000 by the end of next month.
State Minister for Health Lam Pin Min said last Saturday that the 10 halls of the Singapore Expo have been converted into community care centers with a total capacity of 8,000 beds.
He said that patients at these facilities, which include both foreign and local workers, are in stable condition and are still regularly monitored.
Work is also underway to increase the number of community recovery facilities, which are intended for patients who remain well 14 days after testing positive and do not require additional medical attention, even though they still have the virus.
The Singapore Turf Club said yesterday that it is working with the Tote Board and government agencies to temporarily convert parts of its Kranji land into community recovery facilities for foreign workers recovering from Covid-19.
These comprise the multi-storey car park and the adjacent open-air car park at the Singapore Racecourse, and the protected arena at the Singapore Turf Club Riding Center.
Construction and construction works are expected to be completed by the end of this month.
“The works will be carried out according to protocols and procedures approved by government agencies, guaranteeing the safety and health of workers and equine facilities,” said Club Turf.
“These selected areas are delimited as restricted areas without public access.”
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