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193 more foreign worker dormitories in Singapore cleared of COVID-19

193 more foreign worker dormitories in Singapore cleared of COVID-19

As of yesterday (14 July), an additional 193 more foreign worker dormitories in Singapore have been cleared of COVID-19.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), these comprise one Purpose-Built Dormitory (PBD), 170 Factory-Converted Dormitories and 22 Construction Temporary Quarters.

At the same time, 19 Blocks for Recovered Workers (BRWs) in eight PBDs have also been cleared. 

Among the 19 BRWs cleared, three are from Mandai Lodge dormitory. With this, the entire Mandai Lodge has been declared cleared of COVID-19 as the remaining one block had been cleared previously.

This takes the total number to 818 dormitories and 59 BRWs in 19 PBDs cleared of COVID-19.

MOM further revealed that about 215,000 workers have either recovered or have been tested to be free from the virus as of 13 July 2020. 

In its daily COVID-19 update yesterday (14 July), the Ministry of Health (MOH) revealed that the figure amounts to about two-thirds of those living in dormitories. Work is ongoing to prepare these dormitories to be declared cleared, and for workers to resume work. The MOH added that they are on track to clear about 80% of workers staying in the dormitories by end-July, and to complete the testing of dormitory residents around mid-August.

MOH noted that in the next few days, a larger population of migrant workers in various purpose-built dormitories will be completing their isolation period and being tested for COVID-19. Given that some of them came from dormitories with a higher prevalence of COVID-19 infection, a higher number of confirmed cases in the next few days can be expected from this group of migrant workers.

MOM added that among the workers who are free from the virus, some are pending movement to appropriate accommodations before they can resume work.

Whereas others can return to work once the dormitory operators, employers and workers have made the necessary preparations to complete the three required steps that will help minimise the risk of new infections as the workers go to work on a daily basis. Most of the dormitories completed the steps in a week or less.

At the same time, the Forward Assurance and Support Teams (FAST) are working closely with dormitory operators, employers and migrant workers to complete all the necessary steps and clear the remaining dormitories. The latest list of cleared dormitories and dormitories to be cleared can be found here.

As employees continue to gradually resume work, MOM urges employers and workers to remain vigilant and ensure that the Safe Working and Safe Living measures are rigorously followed.

Photo / 123RF

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