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SINGAPORE: All workers who have recovered from COVID-19 are now exempt from the routine tests listed, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a joint press release on Friday ( November 6th).
The move comes after a review of the most recent scientific evidence suggested these workers are “at low risk” of reinfection, the ministries said.
There have been no cases of reinfection in Singapore to date, they added.
The exemption applies to all workers who reside in dormitories, as well as workers in the Construction, Marine and Process (CMP) sectors, regardless of their place of residence.
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“LOW RISK”
MOM and MOH said the most recent evidence showed that the “vast majority” of a cohort of recovered workers continue to have antibodies, including neutralizing antibodies that are responsible for clearing the viral infection, on day 180 from the start of COVID-19. .
“This suggests that these workers are at low risk of developing reinfection,” the ministries said.
As of Wednesday, workers who had recovered from COVID-19 were no longer required to undergo the routine tests listed.
“This is due to the low risk of reinfection, which means that workers are unlikely to benefit from the listed pathway tests,” the Ministry of Health and MOM said.
Additionally, workers recovered within 180 days of infection do not need to be quarantined if they are identified as close contacts of COVID-19 cases, rather than the threshold of 150 days prior.
There are no changes to the routine testing policy for workers who have never been infected with COVID-19.
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FOCUS EFFORTS ON WORKERS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN INFECTED
The new approach also allows Singapore to focus its efforts on workers who have never been infected “as they are at higher risk,” the ministries said.
“We will continue to review the scientific evidence, before deciding when is the appropriate time for these workers to return to the routine testing regimen.”
To maintain vigilance, workers recovered within 90 days of illness onset who show symptoms suggesting an acute respiratory illness will continue to be tested for COVID-19.
“This will allow us to detect any possible reinfection and allow quick and decisive action to prevent further spread of COVID-19,” they said.
Recovered workers with onset of COVID-19 before April 16 will also be closely monitored as they were among the first workers in Singapore to recover from COVID-19, and their antibodies are likely to be the first to disappear.
They will undergo follow-up tests, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological tests, at regular intervals.
If the ministries detect that the workers’ antibodies are beginning to disappear, or if there is evidence of reinfection of the recovered workers, the routine tests listed may be resumed earlier for the recovered workers.
“The MOH and MOM will continue to review the most recent scientific evidence relevant to these measures and revise our policies accordingly,” the ministries said.
“It remains the shared responsibility of all stakeholders, including dormitory operators, employers and workers, to ensure strict adherence to the Safe Living Measures and to seek care when you are unwell in our fight against COVID-19.”
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