Singapore companies advised to test staff regularly for COVID-19

Such staff would include those who work in places where there is a high density of people who are unmasked and in close proximity for extended periods of time, said Enterprise Singapore (ESG).  

ESG has advised employers whose staff are not on polymerase chain reaction rostered routine testing to test them regularly using alternatives such as antigen rapid tests. 

The advisory comes before the country’s phase two (heightened alert) measures are set to be eased this coming Sunday and after prime minister Lee Hsien Loong’s announcement last month that Singapore will accelerate COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and vaccination to curb the spread of the virus. 

“If an employee or visitor has tested positive for COVID-19, you should immediately ask any staff who were in close contact with the employee or visitor in the last 14 days (for example, working in the same zone or on the same shift) to self-isolate, while the Ministry of Health performs contact tracing. This will minimise the risk of further spread if any of them are infected,” said ESG. 

If three or more positive cases are linked and formed at a workplace, the company should test all high-risk employees before resuming operations, it added. 

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High-risk employees are close contacts of COVID-19 cases and employees in roles with close or extended contact with customers. Such employees should be placed on seven-day rostered routine testing after a company reopens, according to The Straits Times.