Additional Testing Regime for Newly Arrived Foreign Workers Staying in Dormitories to Ensure Safety of Foreign Workers

From 6 January 2021, newly arrived foreign workers approved for entry into Singapore and staying in dormitories will have to stay at a designated facility to go through an additional 7-day testing regime, after completing their 14-Day Stay-Home Notice (SHN). The workers will be able to move into their dormitories1 only after completing the additional testing regime. The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) introduced this new requirement to minimise the risk of an imported COVID-19 positive case transmitting the virus into the dormitories.

The 14-day SHN and a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) exit test reduces the risk of a missed positive COVID-19 case to very low levels. Nevertheless, as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has started approving the entry of a larger number of foreign workers into Singapore, the MTF considers it prudent to further reduce the risk of a missed COVID-19 positive case entering the dormitories and starting a new cluster.

During the 7 days at the designated facility, the newly arrived foreign workers will undergo additional swab tests, and will still be able to go to work. Any COVID-19 positive cases will be swiftly isolated and conveyed to a hospital or a Community Care Facility. Their close contacts will also be quarantined and isolated.

The Government will continue to review these latest measures and update our policies accordingly.