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Those aged 45 and above with acute respiratory infection will be tested for Covid-19: MOH

SINGAPORE — From next week, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will extend its Covid-19 testing regime to include all individuals aged 45 and above who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection.

A swab test being done at a regional screening centre at The Float@Marina Bay on June 12, 2020.

A swab test being done at a regional screening centre at The Float@Marina Bay on June 12, 2020.

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SINGAPORE — From next week, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will extend its Covid-19 testing regime to include all individuals aged 45 and above who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection.

The reason for this, said the ministry in a statement on Thursday (June 18), is that the risk of severe coronavirus infection increases from that age onwards.

MOH said the extension is part of its plans to increase its swabbing capacity to 40,000 tests a day.

It also plans to test all individuals who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection at first presentation to a doctor.

“There is clinical and scientific evidence to show that a person is most infectious right before and immediately after the start of symptoms,” explained the ministry.

MOH said it has increased its swabbing capacity in several ways, including stepping up the testing of close contacts.

Previously, it said it would only quarantine the close contacts of confirmed cases.

Now, the MOH said it would test all close contacts before the start of quarantine.

If anyone is tested positive, the ministry will start contact tracing again based on this person’s activity map.

“This way, we broaden the list of suspect cases, and are able to isolate them early and stop the virus from spreading,” it said.

MOH urged all individuals with respiratory symptoms to see a doctor immediately, so that they can be swabbed if necessary.

It added that the Covid-19 tests ordered by doctors at polyclinics and public health preparedness clinics are fully subsidised.

Meanwhile, MOH said it would continue to do more active surveillance testing in the community.

To make testing more convenient, MOH said it is setting up more regional screening centres to bring swabbing services closer to the people.

This will allow individuals with acute respiratory infection, or those requiring regular routine testing because they work in higher-risk sectors, to access such services conveniently.

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