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SINGAPORE: Migrant workers in some dormitories will be able to access the community once a month under a pilot scheme in the first quarter of next year, as Singapore progressively eases restrictions as part of its transition to Phase 3.
Migrant workers account for the majority of Singapore’s COVID-19 cases, with more than 1,000 new cases per day detected in bedrooms during the peak of the outbreak in April.
To contain the outbreak, a series of measures were imposed on migrant workers and their movements, including placing all bedrooms in isolation and testing for COVID-19. Currently, migrant workers are only allowed out of their bedrooms to work, run errands and visit recreation centers.
“With the transition to Phase 3, we are preparing to return migrant workers to the community in a controlled manner, with strict measures,” the health and labor ministries said in a press release on Monday (December 14 ).
“We will begin a pilot plan in the first quarter of 2021 to allow migrant workers in some dormitories to access the community once a month, subject to compliance with the listed routine tests (RRT), the use of contact tracing devices and safe living measures “.
READ: Migrant workers who test negative for COVID-19 can visit recreation centers from October 31
SITUATION IN BEDROOMS UNDER CONTROL
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had announced on Monday that Singapore will enter Phase 3 on December 28, with social gatherings of up to eight people allowed.
The COVID-19 outbreak in bedrooms has been brought under control, the ministries said, noting that after several cycles of ERR, the number of new infections has remained “very low.”
“Since October, no new cases have been detected in the bedrooms for many days,” they said.
All workers living in dormitories, and those working in the construction, marine and process industries, have undergone TRS once every 14 days to quickly detect and contain new infections.
By August, all migrant workers living in dormitories had undergone at least one test for COVID-19, and almost all had been cleared to return to work safely, the Health Ministry said.
READ: Singapore to begin Phase 3 of COVID-19 reopening on December 28
READ: Social gatherings of up to 8 people allowed as of December 28, reopening of activities in Phase 3
ACCESS TO COMMON FACILITIES
As part of the Phase 3 transition, migrant workers will again be allowed access to common facilities in their dormitories, such as cooking stations and sports facilities, said Manpower Deputy Minister Tan See Leng.
They will also be allowed to visit recreation centers more frequently for their daily needs, such as going to the hairdresser or making remittances.
“We are also working with recreation centers to bring in more activities, such as movies, sports screenings, and maybe malam,” said Dr. Tan.
READ: Singapore approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, first shipment expected late December: PM Lee
STAY WATCH
The ministries said they will also continue a multi-layered strategy of aggressive routine testing using both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen testing, accompanied by isolation strategies, to keep migrant workers safe and secure. detect and contain new cases early.
By the end of December, more than 450,000 workers living in dormitories or working in the construction, marine and process sectors would have received contact tracing devices, the ministries of health and human resources said.
“In the meantime, we are monitoring the first cohort of migrant workers who have recovered from COVID-19 and are currently exempt from RRT,” they said.
“We are studying how their antibodies change over time. We will resume TRS for these workers if we detect that their antibodies are beginning to fade or if there is evidence of reinfection between them. “
READ: COVID-19: Singapore to build new dormitories with better living standards for migrant workers
DIFFICULTIES AND ANXIETIES FACED BY MIGRANT WORKERS
Dr. Tan acknowledged the “difficulties and anxieties” migrant workers face while isolated in dormitories with their movements restricted, at a time when many of his colleagues and friends tested positive for COVID-19.
“We could not have contained this virus without the determination, cooperation, patience and understanding of the migrant workers in the dormitories. They quickly adopted safe living practices and cooperated with all established measures, ”he said.
“Ultimately, it took a tireless and societal effort to control the situation.”
As of Sunday, 54,505 dormitory residents tested positive by PCR. There were 25 admissions to intensive care units related to COVID-19 among migrant workers living in dormitories and two deaths due to COVID-19.
In total, Singapore has reported a total of 58,325 COVID-19 cases as of Monday, with 29 deaths.
“The morbidity and mortality rate among our migrant workers living in dormitories remained very low, although there were sadly two deaths from COVID-19 among this group,” the ministries said.
“The contributions of our migrant workers to Singapore are immense, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are well and can return home safely to their families.”
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