62-year-old resident at welfare home in Admiralty tests positive for Covid-19

SINGAPORE — A 62-year-old resident of Acacia Home, a welfare home in Admiralty, has tested positive for Covid-19, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said in a statement late on Sunday (April 26).

A spokesperson for Sathya Sai Social Service, the managing agent for Acacia Home, said in a separate statement on Monday that the resident was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on Saturday as he was feeling unwell. 

“He was later confirmed to have Covid-19 and was warded on the same day,” it added. 

After Sathya Sai Social Service was notified of the positive test result, the home carried out thorough cleaning and disinfection of its premises on Saturday.

No visitors to the home have been allowed since April 3, it added. 

MSF said that all staff members and residents of the home are being tested for the coronavirus as a precautionary measure.

Acacia Home, a welfare home for destitute men, has 125 residents. It will not be taking in any new residents for the time being, MSF said.

The home has been implementing “precautionary measures according to MSF’s advisories for all residential and community-based facilities since January,” the ministry said.  

These include restriction of visitors, suspension of large group and communal activities, wearing of masks by employees, health checks and twice-daily temperature screening for all staff members and residents.

MSF reminded residential and community-based facilities to be “vigilant when conducting health checks on staff and residents, and to observe high standards of personal and environmental hygiene”.

“This includes keeping the facility’s environment clean, and frequent washing of hands with soap — especially before the preparation and consumption of meals, after toilet visits or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing.”