SINGAPORE: Singapore will set up more COVID-19 regional screening centres and testing facilities in dormitories, as well as offer night swabs for workers to “accommodate their work cycles”, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) said on Thursday (Oct 8).
There are currently 20 regional screening centres across Singapore, with 14 centres facilitating the rostered routine testing of migrant workers living in dormitories, as well as workers from the construction, marine and process sectors.
“More regional screening centres are in the pipeline to ensure that swab testing needs continue to be met,” said MOM and HPB in their joint press release.
“The plan is to have 25 to 30 regional screening centres progressively in operation by the end of the year and about two-thirds of these sites will be conducting (rostered routine testing).”
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Nine more in-dormitory rostered routine testing facilities will be set up by the end of October, in addition to the 24 facilities currently in operation.
Four of these facilities – Acacia Lodge, Cassia @ Penjuru, Central Staff Apartments and Westlite Mandai – will offer night swabs for workers.
More than 35,000 migrant workers can benefit from the new initiative, the agencies said.
On-site COVID-19 testing facilities at Avery Key dormitory in Woodlands. (Photo: Ministry of Manpower)
“Employers whose workers reside in dormitories with (rostered routine testing) facilities can schedule their workers’ (rostered routine testing) appointments at their dormitories, or at regional screening centres,” MOM and HPB said.
“This adds to the convenience and ease for employers and workers to undergo rostered routine testing.”
Using the Swab Registration System, employers can select their preferred swab locations and testing dates for their workers. Once workers attend their first appointment, they will be automatically scheduled by the system for successive routine testing appointments.
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Rostered routine testing is a “critical part” of early detection of COVID-19 and to contain its transmission, said MOM and HPB.
“Workers and employers are reminded to ensure that those who are required to undergo (rostered routine testing) continue to do so, in order to safeguard their health and that of the wider community,” the agencies added.
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