Businesses shouldn’t use a person’s TraceTogether data to control or deny access to venues, activities: MOH, SNDGO

• Covid-19 exposure information from persons using the TraceTogether app may have been misused
• With the data, businesses are not allowing people to enter premises or take part in activities
• MOH and SNDGO said this should not be the case
• STB said businesses in the tourism sector should adhere to this guideline

SINGAPORE — Businesses should not be denying individuals entry into their premises even if their TraceTogether data shows that they have been potentially exposed to a Covid-19 case. 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) said in a joint statement on Friday (May 7) that those who have been deemed close contacts of someone who contracted the coronavirus would have received a quarantine order. They would not be out and about.

Their statement came after reports surfaced that some businesses have been using individuals’ TraceTogether records to allow or deny entry to premises.

TraceTogether is a contact-tracing application developed by Singapore’s authorities to quicken the speed of identifying people who may have been exposed to the virus. Users download the app on their mobile phones or carry a government-issued token to be scanned.

The app keeps records of where an individual has checked into for the past 25 days.

On the TraceTogether website, it is stated that possible exposure does not mean the person is a close contact of a Covid-19 case. If the person had close contact, he or she would have received a call from MOH.

The authorities have repeatedly emphasised the information on the app or the token will be used only for contact tracing. However, it was revealed earlier this year that it can also be used for criminal investigations. 

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, cruise operator Dream Cruises said that guests who were at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) from April 18 onwards are restricted from boarding the World Dream cruise between May 5 and 19. 

The hospital is now the site of Singapore’s biggest active cluster with 40 cases. 

Those who are close contacts of Covid-19 cases and have served a stay-home notice or quarantine are also restricted, Dream Cruises added. 

The Straits Times reported that another cruise operator Royal Caribbean has sent out messages to inform its customers that those who have been exposed based on their TraceTogether data will be denied boarding. 

In the joint statement, MOH and SNDGO said that individuals who were found to be in the same area as a Covid-19 case may have received alerts to monitor their health for 14 days and are advised to see a doctor if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection.

They are, however, not restricted from going about their daily activities. 

This is because the risk is very small as they may not have interacted with the case at close quarters given the size of a mall, for instance, it said. 

In response to queries from TODAY, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said that businesses in the tourism sector should adhere to MOH and SNDGO’s guidance on the use of data from the TraceTogether programme. 

This is pertinent especially since Singapore is tightening Covid-19 safety rules from May 8 to 30 to prevent a wider community spread following a rise in cases. Entry to high-traffic venues via TraceTogether will be made compulsory from May 17.

When told of MOH and SNDGO’s statement, Mr Michael Goh, the president of Dream Cruises, said that the company will “highly encourage” guests who were at TTSH from April 18 to postpone their sailing dates to after May 19. 

However, customers who had served a stay-home notice or quarantine will still be denied boarding. 

Passengers who choose to postpone their cruise dates may contact their original booking source for further arrangements on future cruise credits, he added. 

As for Royal Caribbean, a spokesperson said that it “strongly encourages” all guests with possible exposure to not sail for the safety of other passengers and crew on board.  

Guests who decide not to sail due to possible exposure will be offered a full refund.