Asymptomatic healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19

3 May 2023 

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1887
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 8 MAY 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Miss Cheng Li Hui
MP for Tampines GRC

Question No. 2950

To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry has issued any standing directive or is aware of hospitals that have done so internally, which permits or requires asymptomatic healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 to return to work.

Answer

1     With COVID-19 being regarded as an endemic disease, it should be treated similar as other infectious diseases.  

2     Hence, healthcare workers who are unwell should rest at home and be granted sick leave. For individuals who feel well, but have tested positive for COVID-19, they are not required by law to self-isolate. Instead, they can work from home if possible, or return to work on-site with the necessary precautions, such as redeployment to non-patient facing areas.