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Members of Parliament Tan Kiat How, Eric Chua test positive for Covid-19

SINGAPORE — Members of Parliament Tan Kiat How (East Coast) and Eric Chua (Tanjong Pagar) have tested positive for Covid-19.

Members of Parliament Tan Kiat How (left) and Eric Chua (right) said on Facebook that they have tested positive for Covid-19.

Members of Parliament Tan Kiat How (left) and Eric Chua (right) said on Facebook that they have tested positive for Covid-19.

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SINGAPORE — Members of Parliament (MPs) Tan Kiat How and Eric Chua have tested positive for Covid-19.

They posted about their illness on their Facebook pages on Thursday (Feb 3).

Mr Tan, who is also Minister of State for Communications and Information and National Development, said that he tested positive for Covid-19 over the Chinese New Year holidays this week and spent the period isolated in his study.

He "hardly had symptoms" and did not have fever or sore throat, the MP for East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) said. 

“I just felt slightly more tired than usual, which I thought was due to running errands to prepare for Chinese New Year," he added.

"I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t been doing almost-daily antigen rapid test."

Under Protocol 2 by the Ministry of Health, individuals who test positive but are well, or have been assessed by a doctor to have a mild condition, should isolate themselves at home for 72 hours.

"Over the next few days, I didn’t step out of the study except to use the bathroom and to collect my meals, which were left on the floor outside the study," Mr Tan said.

He performed rapid tests daily thereafter and tested negative on the fourth day on Thursday.

“With Omicron being highly transmissible, my wife and I have been mentally prepared for such a scenario. Still, it was rather unexpected,” Mr Tan added.

The MP said that his wife tested positive on Wednesday and they "scrambled to pack" their 18-month-old son’s belongings and took him to his grandparents for them to take care of him.

"We’re checking in constantly on Isaac and hoping he stays well," Mr Tan said of his son.

“On this note, I must say I fully empathise with parents of young kids who say that they worry about bringing Covid home to their family. It is nerve-wracking to keep wondering whether you have infected your kid,” he said.

FEELING 'HEATY'

Mr Chua, who is Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Social and Family Development, said that he posted on social media that he was feeling a little “heaty” on Wednesday night.

“Turns out I was actually Covid-positive,” the MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC said.

As a precaution and as part of his routine, Mr Chua tested himself on Thursday morning. He had disrupted sleep due to body aches and a low-grade fever the night before. 

When he saw a “faint line” on the test that showed that he was positive, he double-masked and drove himself to the nearest private clinic, he said.

He was placed on Protocol 2 and will be “free to roam” if he tests negative on Sunday, he added. 

“I’m still experiencing some light symptoms and I do apologise for the several cancelled events over the next few days — my sincere apologies. Hope to be back once I complete Protocol 2, and till then, take care everyone!!” he wrote. CNA

For more stories like this, visit cna.asia.

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Covid-19 coronavirus Tan Kiat How Eric Chua social media MP

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