Mandatory Covid-19 tests for residents of HDB block in Punggol after cases detected there: MOH

• MOH is doing another testing operation at a public housing block, this time in Punggol
• Residents of Block 325A Sumang Walk have to do a compulsory Covid-19 test on June 8 and 9
• Visitors to the block from May 10 to June 5 may go for a test if they wish
• MP Janil Puthucheary said the common areas at Block 325A and surrounding blocks have been cleaned and disinfected

SINGAPORE — Residents of Block 325A Sumang Walk in Punggol will be tested for the coronavirus on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 8 and 9), after Covid-19 cases were discovered there.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement that it will be conducting mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for all residents because eight people in three different households were infected and living in the block.

"This mandatory testing is carried out to prevent any possible spread in the community," it said.

"In the event that a positive Covid-19 case is detected, MOH will isolate the case, identify all close contacts, test and quarantine them to protect the community from further transmission." 

Investigations are ongoing to trace and find the source of transmission.

Visitors who have been to the block from May 10 to June 5 are also encouraged to come forward for voluntary testing, MOH added.

Testing operations will be done at the pavilion of Block 324 Sumang Walk between 9am and 4pm.

Leaflets have been distributed and SMS notifications have been sent to the residents to give them more information. Residents are also advised to monitor their health closely and consult a doctor immediately if they feel unwell.

"Those who are still awaiting their PCR test results are advised to minimise social interactions as much as possible. They should continue to monitor their health and seek immediate medical attention if they feel unwell," MOH said.

A circular from MOH to residents was seen by TODAY on Monday, telling them that there have been cases of Covid-19 in the block recently and they have to go for a compulsory test.

Dr Janil Puthucheary, Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency, which oversees the affected block, confirmed earlier with TODAY that the circular is authentic.

“The residents are calm and understand the need for these swab operations to be conducted, I have been in touch with a number of them,” Dr Puthucheary said.

He is also Senior Minister of State for Health, and Communications and Information. “Several have contacted me,” he added.

The circular stated that residents will receive an SMS notification from the Health Promotion Board to inform them of their allocated time slot. They are also to take along their national registration identity card for identification purposes.

Dr Janil added that he will be at the swabbing location on Tuesday at 8.30am.

In a Facebook post later at night, he said that for residents living in the surrounding blocks, there is no need for them to get tested unless they have visited someone at Block 325A between May 10 and June 5.

The town council of the estate and the National Environment Agency have conducted a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the common areas at Block 325A and the surrounding blocks, he said.

This latest swabbing exercise in Punggol is the latest after several others were conducted in the past weeks since Singapore went into a heightened alert phase to curb the spread of the disease on May 16.

Last Friday, residents, visitors and workers from shops located at Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8 underwent Covid-19 swab tests after the emergence of a new cluster there that had 13 cases.

On June 1 and 2, residents living at Block 745 Yishun Street 72 went for mandatory swab tests after Covid-19 cases were detected in the block.

MOH said that as of noon on Monday, 1,413 residents of Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8 and people working in shops in the neighbouring blocks have been tested. No infections were uncovered.

The neighbouring blocks comprise:

• 511 Hougang Avenue 10

• 681, 683 and 684 Hougang Avenue 8

• 682 Hougang Avenue 4

• 685 and 698 Hougang Street 61

For those who had been to Block 506, 3,778 people decided to get tested voluntarily. 

They included visitors to the block as well as residents and visitors of the neighbouring blocks mentioned above.

For this group, 3,531 people tested negative and 247 more test results are pending.