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SINGAPORE: Last week, I was panicking “just a little” while waiting for their quarantine in a shared room. But when Subramaniam Pugalandi became ill in the early hours of Monday, he cried with fear.
The migrant worker only knew, even before any tests were done, that he had COVID-19.
When he was taken to the National Center for Infectious Diseases for examination, the resident of the S11 @ Punggol bedroom thought of his wife and four-year-old son. He felt that there was a “question mark” about his future.
But once alerted, Pugal met his hospital roommate, a Bangladeshi worker who had entered just two days earlier, and was ready to be transferred to the community isolation facility at the Singapore Expo.
Pugal with his hospital roommate.
“He said:‘ The same virus fever. Now I’m fine, “said Pugal.” I saw that his body temperature, everything, was fine. Then I believed in myself. “
The 35-year-old Indian citizen is now at the Singapore Expo as well, with a cough and a slightly low potassium level, but no more fever, runny nose, or body ache. And in the spacious living room, you can finally walk.
“It looks like a luxury hotel. Everything is fine, “he said.” It’s better than the hospital and better than the quarantine room. “
Pugal first touched the hearts of CNA Insider viewers when he spoke about his concerns during his quarantine time, watching his roommates get sick.
LOOK: Isolated life: inside the dormitories of Singaporean foreign workers during COVID-19 (7:18)
GROWING CONCERNS
For other affected workers that CNA Insider kept in touch with, some things have changed, while others haven’t, since the first dormitories of foreign workers were declared areas of isolation nearly two weeks ago.
Amin Mohammad Al, a resident of bedroom S11, has seen two roommates test positive for the new coronavirus, and another person also moved after showing symptoms.
But he said his room, which now has six occupants, has not been disinfected.
READ: Fighting fear and boredom, migrant workers grapple with isolation in dormitories
The increasing number of confirmed cases in the dorms has been a cause for concern, workers told CNA Insider. But they have tried to manage their emotions.
“If I worry too much, I can’t comfort my mother,” said Pangkil, who is at Sungei Tengah Lodge.
In the confines of their room, residents have cooperated, for example, keeping a distance of one meter as best they can, he said. But this safe distancing is a problem when it comes to picking up their meals, the Bangladeshi lamented, who asked not to be identified by his real name.
Residents picking up their food at Sungei Tengah Lodge on April 16 (Source: ‘Pangkil’)
“The security personnel deliver the food on the stairs near the elevator … They say that one person can carry everything. But (of) some rooms, they also come in two, three or four, so it is a very large meeting, ”he said.
“Even if (I observe) a safe distance, other men do not … (Where) I am, they also get closer. Previously, (food) was delivered to all rooms. “
LOAN SUPPORT
As it has been throughout the week, most of the 623 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday were foreign dorm workers.
There are 43 specially designed bedrooms in Singapore that house 200,000 foreign workers. Some 7,000 of them working in essential services have been transferred to places like military camps and floating accommodation. The latest facilities to be activated as an alternative living room are some of ActiveSG’s sports halls.
READ: Singapore reports 623 new cases of COVID-19; one more person dies of the disease
READ: Some foreign workers will be accommodated in ActiveSG, Sports Hub rooms
Meanwhile, some employers have been monitoring their workers via WhatsApp and sending them messages of encouragement.
“Every day they tell me about their temperatures, so I hope that from there we can see (who is sick). But I know that not everyone has the symptoms too,” said Tabitha Lim, who works in human resources at Jerevin Industrial.
“One of my workers told me that he is very scared and very cold. And then (I had to) calm him down. “
With intensifying testing in the dorms, his company has seen seven of its workers, all of S11, which is Singapore’s largest COVID-19 group, diagnosed with the coronavirus as of Thursday.
Pugal displays the tablet he uses to update his blood pressure, pulse, and temperature readings.
“Although testing and segregation have come a little late, I am very grateful that our authorities have stepped forward to do something.” It really is a massive operation, ”said Jerevin Industrial Managing Director Jeremiah Tan.
Some workers also discussed the role they had to play.
Tamal, who lives at Sungei Tengah Lodge, is aware of the need to wear a mask, for example. When asked if it was a directive from the dorm administration, he replied wryly: “No, instructions from the Prime Minister.”
Some of the CNA Insider readers and viewers have posted messages of support for the workers after reading and watching the article and video about them last week.
In response to those who have offered words of encouragement, Pugal said: “I want to thank all the brothers and sisters who pray for me.
“Just pray … Very soon, I can recover.”
The Community Isolation Center for COVID-19 Patients at the Singapore Expo and Max Atria. (Photo: Ministry of Health)
