Additional serology tests for newly arrived maids, confinement nannies with recent travel history to higher-risk areas: MOM

SINGAPORE — From Friday (Feb 5), foreign domestic workers and confinement nannies who have recent travel history to higher-risk countries or regions must take a serology test on arrival, which will help identify those who have recovered from an old Covid-19 infection. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said this additional test will allow these workers to be released early from their stay-home notice in Singapore, as they already have antibodies from their past infection. 

Employers of these recovered workers will see lower stay-home notice costs, the ministry said. 

The serology test will be added on to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that has been a requirement for foreign workers arriving here since Jan 24. A PCR test is used to detect active Covid-19 infections. 

The number of imported Covid-19 cases in Singapore has remained high over the past weeks. 

Fifty-five imported cases were recorded last Saturday, the highest in a single day since Sept 11 last year. Thirty-two of the cases were foreign domestic workers.

In its statement, MOM added that all newly arrived work permit and S Pass workers in the construction, marine and process sectors from higher-risk countries or regions will have to stay at a designated facility for an additional seven-day testing regime, after completing their 14-day stay-home notice.

Previously, only those headed to dormitories needed to undergo the additional seven-days’ testing.

This new requirement will also begin on Friday and applies to workers who have yet to complete their 14-day stay-home notice by then, as well as all new arrivals to Singapore from that day.