One-time COVID-19 swab test for VWO staff looking after our elderly

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms Joan Pereira

MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC

Question No. 3656

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry will consider doing a one-time COVID-19 swab test for VWO staff looking after our elderly; and (b) if so, whether it will be done in phases so as not to overstretch medical resources.

Oral Answer

1      COVID-19 testing complements the existing precautionary measures in place for eldercare services, such as strict infection control, safe distancing and visitor restrictions. We have thus embarked on surveillance testing for staff of eldercare services to protect the seniors as they are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

2      This surveillance testing in eldercare services will be conducted in phases. Given that seniors living in residential care homes are at higher risks, we prioritised and completed swab tests for about 10,500 staff of residential care homes in May 2020. Test results for staff were all negative save for one staff member from Ren Ci Nursing Home @ Ang Mo Kio, which we have announced earlier. In June 2020, we will progressively test staff of other eldercare services in operation, including those working at day care centres. These initial sweeps will help guide our approach for future testing.