Singapore takes steps to reduce risk of importing Covid-19 Omicron variant
Published at : December 01, 2021
The relaxation of social measures will be paused, and travellers entering Singapore will face stricter rules from 11.59pm on Thursday (Dec 2), as the country acts to buy time amid the spread of the new Omicron variant around the world.
The Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that while no cases of Omicron - identified by South Africa last week - have been detected locally, the pre-emptive measures are needed for Singapore to assess the implications of the new variant. They will also help to reduce the risk of importation of the virus.
People suspected of having the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 will be isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases until doctors are confident they are no longer infectious through repeat testing.
They will not be allowed to recover at home, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.
Full contact tracing will also be carried out for confirmed cases, with patients’ close contacts to be quarantined for 10 days at dedicated facilities instead of being able to isolate themselves at home.
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The Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that while no cases of Omicron - identified by South Africa last week - have been detected locally, the pre-emptive measures are needed for Singapore to assess the implications of the new variant. They will also help to reduce the risk of importation of the virus.
People suspected of having the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 will be isolated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases until doctors are confident they are no longer infectious through repeat testing.
They will not be allowed to recover at home, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.
Full contact tracing will also be carried out for confirmed cases, with patients’ close contacts to be quarantined for 10 days at dedicated facilities instead of being able to isolate themselves at home.
#STLive #covid19 #omicron #travel
SUBSCRIBE ➤ http://bit.ly/FollowST
--------------------
WEBSITE ➤ http://www.straitstimes.com
TWITTER ➤ https://www.twitter.com/straits_times
FACEBOOK ➤ https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes
INSTAGRAM ➤ https://www.instagram.com/straits_times
PODCASTS ➤ https://www.straitstimes.com/tags/st-podcasts
TELEGRAM ➤ https://t.me/TheStraitsTimes
The Straits Times, the English flagship daily of SPH, has been serving readers for more than a century. Launched on July 15, 1845, its comprehensive coverage of world news, East Asian news, Southeast Asian news, home news, sports news, financial news and lifestyle updates makes The Straits Times the most-read newspaper in Singapore.
Tags: ST Livecovid-19omicron