SINGAPORE — Changi Airport will segregate flights and passengers from high-risk countries and regions from those arriving from low-risk places, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Saturday (May 15).

Flights arriving from high-risk regions will be assigned different piers. Passengers on these flights will use different arrival immigration halls, baggage belts and toilets from those arriving on flights from low-risk countries or regions.

Passengers on flights from "very high-risk countries" will be escorted through the airport and have their on-arrival Covid-19 tests done at separate health screening stations.

“This will reduce the degree of interaction with other passengers and staff,” CAAS said in a media release.

CNA has contacted the aviation authority on which countries and regions are classified as high risk or very high risk. 

The move comes after it was discovered that about 20 cases in the cluster of infections at the airport had been “quite congregated” around an area that receives travellers from higher-risk regions.

Speaking at a multi-ministry task force press conference on Friday, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said: “This is a zone with a finger pier that receives higher-risk countries' arrivals including South Asia, and then the conveyor belt and immigration... From that zone, workers go have their lunch, go have their meals at the Terminal 3 basement (level) two commercial areas and the food court and we suspect that from there, it is transmitted to members of the public who visited the place."

The cluster at Changi Airport has now grown to a total of 59 cases — Singapore's largest active cluster.

The first detected case in this cluster is an 88-year-old cleaner with Ramky Cleantech Services who was confirmed to have Covid-19 on May 5.

Of the 59 infections in the cluster, 35 are airport workers.

“None of the cases are in serious condition, require oxygen or are in the intensive care unit,” CAAS said.

ENHANCED PROTECTION FOR AIRPORT WORKERS

CAAS said that more measures will be taken to further protect airport workers.

“We are putting in place cohorting arrangements to reduce the risk of airport workers becoming infected.

“Different groups of airport workers will have separate rest areas, and work teams will be ring-fenced from other work teams. Those working in higher-risk areas will have their meals delivered to them.”

A special Covid-19 testing operation for airport workers has been under way since May 9, with all workers in Terminals 1 and 3, as well as retail complex Jewel Changi Airport, required to take tests.

Terminal 2 has been closed since May last year.

Close to 10,000 workers have been tested so far, with the vast majority of tests coming back negative, CAAS said.

The testing operation will be extended to cover office workers in Changi Airport passenger terminal buildings, with about 8,000 workers to be tested in the coming days.

“Subsequently, all airport workers in higher-risk roles will be placed on a seven-day rostered routine testing cycle, regardless of their vaccination status,” it said.

“This is a step-up from the current 14-day cycle.”

To date, 90 per cent of frontline aviation workers have been vaccinated against Covid-19. CAAS said that operations are being stepped up to vaccinate the remaining 10 per cent, as well as other essential aviation workers.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTION ONGOING

The cleaning and disinfection of the Kopitiam food court and NTUC FairPrice supermarket at Terminal 3's basement level two have been completed, and the outlets’ hygiene practices and safe management measures are now being reviewed.

“Cleaning and disinfection are also ongoing at Jewel Changi Airport,” CAAS said.

"In addition, we will extend cleaning and disinfection operations to the transit areas, in particular, those areas where airport workers were suspected to have been infected.”

Changi Airport’s passenger terminal buildings and Jewel are closed to the public until May 27.

FREE TESTING FOR VISITORS

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that it will offer free testing for members of the public who visited Terminal 3 from May 3 onwards. It later extended the free testing to those who visited the terminal from May 1.

"MOH will progressively inform these individuals via SMS notification with information on how to book an appointment for their test," CAAS said.

MOH has advised those who visited Terminal 1 and Jewel from May 1 onwards to monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit and see a doctor if they are unwell.

"They are strongly encouraged to visit a regional screening centre or Swab and Send Home Public Health Preparedness Clinic for a free Covid-19 test if they feel unwell," the ministry said. CNA

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