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Covid-19 protocols streamlined: ART to be primary mode of testing, no more quarantine orders and exit swabs from Oct 11

SINGAPORE — As part of sweeping changes to Covid-19 protocols in Singapore that will kick in from Monday (Oct 11), the antigen rapid test (ART) will become the primary mode of testing, close contacts of patients will no longer need to be quarantined for 14 days and patients recovering at home will not need a negative swab test result to be discharged.

Two vending machines dispensing antigen rapid test kits at Block 363 Woodlands Avenue 5, outside Woodgrove Zone 8 Residents' Committee, on Sept 19, 2021.

Two vending machines dispensing antigen rapid test kits at Block 363 Woodlands Avenue 5, outside Woodgrove Zone 8 Residents' Committee, on Sept 19, 2021.

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  • The Ministry of Health announced sweeping changes to Covid-19 protocols on healthcare, testing and isolation
  • Among the changes are the removal of exit swabs and quarantine orders, as well as using the antigen rapid test as the primary mode of testing
  • These changes came after a review to streamline protocols that people have found to be too complex and confusing
  • The shift now emphasises personal responsibility, with the onus on those infected to monitor their health and recover at home

 

SINGAPORE — As part of sweeping changes to Covid-19 protocols in Singapore that will kick in from Monday (Oct 11), the antigen rapid test (ART) will become the primary mode of testing, close contacts of patients will no longer need to be quarantined for 14 days and patients recovering at home will not need a negative swab test result to be discharged.

Instead of the complex web of protocols now in place, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will also be reducing them to just three, which it believes will cover the variety of situations residents here may face.

MOH announced these changes on Saturday (Oct 9) in a bid to streamline the Covid-19 healthcare, testing and isolation protocols so that they will be simple enough for residents to comply with them.

Last week, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced that his ministry would be reviewing these protocols since they have been complex and confusing for the man-on-the-street.

During a technical briefing with the media on Friday, representatives from MOH said that the shift in protocols would mean that residents here have to be more responsible in managing their own health, as well as those around them.

“Other than resolving confusion and helping people understand the protocol, the main purpose is that with simplicity and understanding, you can start to take personal responsibility and do your part in fighting the pandemic.”

THE THREE PROTOCOLS

MOH has set out three protocols for three main scenarios that people may encounter:

  • Feeling unwell and having tested positive for Covid-19

  • Feeling well and having tested positive for Covid-19

  • Found to be a close contact of an infected person

Protocol 1: For someone who feels unwell and tests positive for Covid-19

  1. The person should see a doctor as soon as possible for the doctor to assess his condition

  2. If the doctor thinks the patient could be infected with Covid-19, the doctor will arrange for the patient to undergo a swab test

  3. Most people will be undergoing an antigen rapid test, although the doctor may assess that a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test may be more suitable

  4. If the result is positive, the patient should go home to self-isolate

  5. The doctor will notify MOH of the positive test results

  6. MOH will then contact the patient on what the patient needs to do while recovering at home

  7. If the patient is fully vaccinated, he has to self-isolate for 10 days before being discharged. If not, he needs to self-isolate for 14 days before getting discharged

  8. No negative swab test at the end of the isolation period will be needed before one is discharged, which is the current requirement

  9. The alert on the patient's TraceTogether mobile application will be automatically removed once discharged

Protocol 2: For someone who tests positive for Covid-19 but is feeling well

  1. The patient has to self-isolate for 72 hours at home and he can continue working from home if the nature of his job allows

  2. Do an antigen rapid test one more time at the end of 72 hours

  3. Resume normal activities if the test result is negative

  4. If the test is positive, continue to isolate and do the rapid test in the subsequent days until the result is negative

  5. The rapid tests should be done at least one day apart

  6. If the patient’s condition deteriorates, he should see a doctor or consult a telemedicine provider if instructions have been given to do so

  7. The telemedicine provider may give further instructions, including dispensing medication to continue isolating at home or to visit a hospital for further medical attention

Protocol 3: For someone who is a close contact of a Covid-19 patient

  1. The person will receive a health risk warning (Day 1)

  2. He should take an antigen rapid test the day he receives the notification and inform MOH of the result by uploading it on a web portal 

  3. If the test is negative, he can continue on with normal activities for the day

  4. The person should continue testing over the next 6 days (Day 2 to 7)

  5. If the rapid test result is negative, he can leave home for that day

  6. If the test turns positive at any time, the person will be put on protocol 2

  7. At the seventh day since he received the health risk warning, the person must test himself with a rapid test

  8. If the test comes back negative, there is no further need to do more tests after that

MOH said that it has relaxed requirements for self-isolation and that a bathroom attached to a bedroom is no longer required, as long as the Covid-19 patient cleans it after each use. Hence, the majority of the population will be able to self-isolate.

After MOH is notified of a person’s positive status, it will find out, during the call, the living arrangements of the patient to see whether the patient or the household member should be moved to a community isolation facility.

The period when Covid-19 patients are self-isolating will be considered paid sick leave, but a medical certification is not required.

MOH said that it is reaching out to companies to explain these new protocols and that a medical certification is not required for the majority of the people as they are recovering from minor ailments.

Although most infected employees who feel well will not abuse this, companies that are concerned about their employees still needing to stay at home after isolating for 72 hours can ask their employees for more information about their condition and request a photo of their positive antigen rapid test result.

Although the new protocols emphasise personal responsibility, MOH did say that there are certain legal obligations to fulfil.

For example, someone who tests positive is legally required to self-isolate for 10 or 14 days, depending on his vaccination status. A person who receives a health risk warning also has to do an antigen rapid test.

MOH said that the streamlined protocols would resolve many of the problems plaguing the home recovery programme.

Many of the questions that people have when they call the MOH hotline relate to swab tests and these changes would remove 40 per cent of such calls, leaving staff members with more room to deal with more critical issues.

ANTIGEN RAPID TEST

As the strategy shifts to one that focuses more on personal responsibility, MOH said that PCR tests are no longer required when people are monitoring themselves at home.

This also means that a confirmatory PCR test is not needed after an antigen rapid test yields a positive result, which is the present protocol.

With the changes, someone who tests positive through the rapid test will either fall into protocol 1 or 2 and should start self-isolating at home as soon as possible.

However, PCR tests may still be required for those who have symptoms and at a higher risk, depending on the doctor’s assessment.

PCR tests will also still be used for pre-departure and on-arrival swab tests because these are required by other countries where residents in Singapore are going in their travels.

If the antigen rapid test kits distributed by the Government are not enough, people will be able to get them at the 200 vending machines located across the island, MOH said.

An individual who has received a health risk warning will be able to withdraw up to six antigen rapid test kits from a vending machine before heading home to begin self-isolation.

There are 7.5 million of these rapid test kits allocated for people who have received health risk warnings, MOH said.

If anyone is not able to get it from the vending machine, grassroot leaders or MOH officers may be able to help deliver these kits to the person’s home.

Individuals who are not comfortable with self-testing can book an appointment at one of 25 Quick Test Centres.

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

For people who are now Covid-19-positive or in quarantine, MOH said that transitional arrangements will need to be made for them. 

Covid-19 patients will serve out their 10-day of 14-day isolation, depending on their vaccination status. 

Those in quarantine will no longer require a negative PCR test to exit their quarantine. If they take an antigen rapid test and it comes back negative, they are able to go out for the day and they can exit quarantine after seven days from the day their quarantine started. 

MOH will also distribute 10 antigen rapid self-test kits to each household from Oct 22 to Dec 7 to better support regular self-testing at home.

Related topics

Covid-19 coronavirus Covid-19 testing MOH antigen rapid test

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