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SINGAPORE: The rules for food distribution, cleaning and hygiene in two bedrooms stabilized within 48 hours of their publication as isolation areas, the Ministry of Human Resources (MOM) said on Saturday (April 11).
The transition is now smoother with experiences gained from managing the first three isolated bedrooms, the ministry said.
“In the past few days, we were able to replicate … best practices in managing the first three bedrooms, to quickly normalize operations and living conditions in the Sungei Tengah Lodge bedroom and the Tampines bedroom,” said MOM.
Workers collecting food in the Tampines bedroom. (Photo: MOM)
Sungei Tengah Lodge and Tampines Dormitory were the last two rooms for migrant workers in quarantine this week. S11 Dormitory @ Punggol, Westlite Toh Guan Dormitory and Toh Guan Dormitory were previously published.
As of Friday, more than 10 of these specially designed worker quarters in Singapore have reported a total of more than 550 cases of COVID-19.
READ: COVID-19: Fighting fear and boredom, migrant workers grapple with isolation in dormitories
MOM said publishing the dorms was a “big company,” with many initial challenges.
Workers had complained about delayed meals, overflowing garbage bins, and unsanitary conditions, as workers now spend all day in dorms during the circuit breaker period.
But authorities said food distribution, cleanliness and hygiene have improved.
Workers cleaning their bedroom at Sungei Tengah Lodge. (Photo: MOM)
For Sungei Tengah Lodge, which has more than 24,000 residents living in 10 blocks, vendors packaged meals per room based on their dietary preferences, which were then delivered directly to the rooms.
More labor and resources were immediately provided to manage waste removal and more frequent cleaning of common facilities.
READ: HDB Contractors will temporarily house migrant workers in unused parking lots, empty decks
At Sungei Tengah Lodge, the dormitory operator tripled the number of cleaners from six per residential block to 18.
At Tampines Dormitory, which currently houses some 2,000 workers, the dormitory operator has increased the number of cleaning staff from 10 to 12.
Trash cleaning and cleaning and sanitation of common areas and facilities have increased up to three times a day for both.
Tampines bedroom. (Photo: MOM)
Teams with military or police officers and MOM personnel are now working with the dorm operators.
Safe distancing measures have been implemented in quarantined bedrooms, MOM added. Dorm residents are required to stay in their rooms and only leave their rooms to pick up food and other supplies, or to use the bathroom.
“We will continue to reduce the number of workers in each dormitory to implement effective safe distancing measures within the dormitories,” he said.
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