SINGAPORE — All residents of Block 559 in Pasir Ris Street 51 have been notified by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to undergo a Covid-19 swab test, following cases of coronavirus infection in the public housing block recently.

Mr Desmond Tan, Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency, said in a Facebook post on Sunday (May 23) morning that he was notified by the ministry of the cases.

“MOH has notified us that there have been cases of Covid-19 infection in Blk 559 Pasir Ris St 51 recently.

“As a precautionary measure and to ensure safety and well-being of our residents, MOH has notified all residents of the block to undergo a swab test at the regional screening centre at former Coral Primary School on May 23 to May 24, from 9am to 4pm (except lunch hour from 12pm to 1pm),” Mr Tan wrote in his post.

MOH and the Ministry of National Development said in a statement that four Covid-19 cases from two different households had been detected in the block.

MOH added that it would be conducting polymerase chain reaction testing for all 243 residents of the block.

The mass swabbing comes shortly after residents living in Block 506 on Hougang Avenue 8 went through mandatory Covid-19 tests on Friday and Saturday.

Mr Tan added that residents will also receive Short Message Service (SMS) notifications for their appointments for the swab.

“For residents living in the surrounding blocks, there is no need for you to get tested unless you have visited households in the block from May 2.” 

Aaprt from the swab tests, Mr Tan said that the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council has worked with the National Environment Agency to conduct a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the common area at Block 559 and the surrounding blocks.

In a separate Facebook post on Sunday, Mr Tan also said that infected residents are now hospitalised or in community care facilities, while their close contacts are in quarantine facilities.