• Quick Test Centres will be available to the public who need to get a supervised self-swab test
• As the Government prepares to step up testing efforts, MOH urged everyone to test regularly
• This includes people who are fully vaccinated
• The tripartite partners will discuss further guidelines to promote the use of antigen rapid tests at workplaces

SINGAPORE — Members of the public who wish to take fast and easy tests for Covid-19 to fufil work requirements or for unvaccinated people to attend mass events will from next month be able to book an appointment to do so at 20 “Quick Test Centres” that have been set up.

These test centres have been set up to supervise people doing self-swab antigen rapid tests in order to meet requirements for work under the various testing regimes.

They will have to pay for the tests taken at these centres, which are located in areas across the island including Yishun Bus Interchange, Punggol Town Square and Bedok Town Square, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Friday (Sept 3).

Since mid-July, staff members who work in higher-risk settings where there are unmasked clients or patrons have had to be tested for Covid-19 once every 14 days under the fast and easy testing regime.

To help freelancers and small businesses that were unable to organise the supervised self-swabs on their own, the Health Promotion Board set up Quick Test Centres to help administer these tests, with the first ones being on Tekka Lane and at Yishun Central.

The Government is gearing up to step up testing efforts, including for people who are not working in “higher-risk” settings, to prevent a sudden increase of cases from overwhelming Singapore’s healthcare system.

“We will redouble our efforts to make regular testing part of the new normal,” MOH wrote. 

“We strongly encourage everyone, including fully-vaccinated individuals, to self-test regularly with antigen rapid test kits as a matter of social responsibility, especially if you are participating in higher-risk activities or attending large-scale events.”

The ministry added that it will look into setting up more testing sites across the island to make it easier for people to get tested regularly.

MOH urged employers to play their part in getting their employees to test regularly and said that the tripartite partners will discuss further guidelines to promote the use of antigen rapid tests at workplaces and as a key element of business continuity plans.

The ministry said these tests will go beyond the regular rostered testing for higher-risk settings and the “vaccinate or regular test” regime.

“Such regular testing will enable us to detect cases early, help to reduce workplace transmission and prevent large workplace clusters as more people return to on-site work.”

At a press conference on Friday by the Government’s Covid-19 task force, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who is the task force’s co-chair, said that Singapore is aiming to be “a nation of testing” and will make testing a new norm and “more pervasive”. 

“We have already reached very high levels of vaccination, we are one of the foremost countries in terms of vaccination, we should now aspire to be a nation of testing where testing becomes a way of life,” he said.

DISTRIBUTION OF TEST KITS

From Aug 28 to Sept 27, all households will be receiving a package of six antigen rapid self-test kits via mail. 

Self-test kits are also widely available at major retailers and e-commerce sites.

MOH said that it is actively reviewing new kits to be put for sale publicly and will continue to make self-test kits readily accessible.

Those who test positive for Covid-19 through the fast and easy tests or self-test kits should visit a Swab-and-Send-Home clinic for further testing.

There, they will take a government-funded polymerase chain reaction test to confirm their infection status. 

MOH will then take appropriate action and inform them of their next steps.

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 — such as fever, cough, fatigue or loss of smell — should visit a doctor immediately instead of self-testing or booking a test at the Quick Test Centres, MOH said.

LOCATION OF QUICK TEST CENTRES

• Badminton hall at 528 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10

• Pavilion at 325A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 

• Bedok Town Square

• Bishan Sports Hall car park

• 321 Clementi Avenue 5

• MOE Heritage Centre at 402 Commonwealth Drive

• 814 Hougang Avenue 10

• Jurong West Sports Centre car park

• Multi-purpose hall at 509 Jurong West 

• 75 Marine Drive

• 32 New Market Road, level 4

• Pasir Ris Sports Hall car park

• Punggol Town Square

• 84A Redhill Lane

• Pavilion at 55 Sims Drive 

• 506 Tampines Central 1

• Tekka Lane facility

• 2 Toa Payoh Lorong 7

• Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange

• Yishun Bus Interchange