Residents of 2 more blocks in Hougang to undergo compulsory Covid-19 tests

SINGAPORE — Residents at two more public housing blocks in Hougang will have to be tested for Covid-19 after “viral fragments” of the coronavirus were detected in wastewater samples collected there.

In a media release on Monday (May 31), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the residents of Blocks 501 and 507 on Hougang Avenue 8 will have to undergo the mandatory tests even though there are “currently no confirmed cases” there.

Testing operations will be conducted at the void deck at Block 507 from June 1 to 3 between 9am and 4pm.

“This mandatory testing is carried out when epidemiology investigations have assessed that there is likely ongoing transmission,” MOH said.

“It is done to prevent spread in the community. In the event that a positive case is detected, MOH will isolate the case, identify all close contacts, test and quarantine them to protect the community from further transmission.”

Leaflets will be distributed and SMS notifications by phone will be sent to the residents to give them more information on the tests.

“Residents are also advised to monitor their health closely and consult a doctor immediately if they feel unwell,” MOH said.

The announcement came after one housing block in Yishun was marked for Covid-19 testing this week.

Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency, said that the tests will be done from Tuesday to Wednesday for residents at Block 745 Yishun Street 72. 

Elaborating on the Yishun block, MOH said that it has detected six infected individuals residing at the block who were from two different households. 

Four of the cases were linked to a property agent who works for ERA Realty Network and the other two were linked to the Jin Tai Tong Food Industries cluster. 

Wastewater testing done there later has also detected Covid-19 viral fragments from the Yishun block, it added.

Earlier, residents of two other blocks — Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8 and Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51 — had been asked to go for mandatory testing after several cases emerged there.

The swabbing exercises for those two blocks were completed last week. No more cases were detected at the Pasir Ris block while two infections were uncovered at the Hougang block.