Written Answer by Mrs Josephine Teo Minister for Manpower to PQ on COVID-19 infections amongst foreign workers

NOTICE PAPER NO. 134 FOR THE SITTING ON 2 NOVEMBER 2020

QUESTION NO. 317 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the reasons behind the small, but persistent, numbers of COVID-19 infection among our migrant workers; and (b) what are the measures that will be put in place during Phase 3 to prevent another spike among our migrant workers.

Answer:

1. During dormitory clearance operations between May and August, we tested all workers using the most accurate tests we have – Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. During the incubation period of the virus, the PCR test results may not be positive because the viral load was not high enough. A small number of migrant workers would have fallen into this category. That is why after the dormitory clearance operation, diligent adherence to Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) is now part of our strategy to ensure that the virus is detected early before any significant transmission. Every migrant worker is required to be tested every 14 days. We have added a risk stratification strategy that identifies high risk dormitories. We are also developing the capability to do 7-day RRT in these high risk dormitories; and this is what we are trialling now with the alternating 7-day Antigen Rapid Test/ 7-day PCR test. Once an infection is identified, we move quickly to quarantine and test all close contacts. Strict implementation of RRT can bring down the spread of the disease. Just after dormitory clearance in September, we were identifying 26 positive case a day on average; in the latest two weeks, the average daily positive case is less than one.
2. RRT is one critical part of our multi-layered strategy to prevent, detect and contain COVID-19 infections. Let me mention two other key layers of our strategy. MOM and MOH have launched the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme with the aim of getting dormitory operators and migrant workers to take greater ownership of their personal hygiene and living environment. The IPC programme assigns clear responsibilities and provides education and training to dormitory operators and dormitory residents so that they can each play their parts. The programme will strengthen the implementation of Safe Living Measures (SLM) in dormitories and reduce the risk of infection transmission. Such measures include the wearing of masks, safe distancing practices, staggered timings for the use of communal facilities and prevention of inter-mixing among dormitory residents. Under the programme, regular audits will be conducted to ensure compliance.
3. Another key initiative is to distribute more than 450,000 contact-tracing devices to all migrant and local workers living or working in dormitories, as well as those in the Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process sectors. We expect to complete the distribution by early November. The contact-tracing devices, are designed for the dormitory and worksite environment. These devices will improve contact tracing and the quarantine process when new COVID-19 cases are detected. The number on Stay Home Notice/ Quarantine Order, which includes the contacts of COVID positive cases identified over the past two weeks, has fallen to below 1,500. This is about 0.52% of the workforce living in the dormitories, while the remaining 99.48% are available to continue working safely.
4. The fight against re-emergence of COVID-19 in the dormitories is a shared responsibility of migrant workers, employers, dormitory operators and the Government. Rigorous adherence to RRT, SLM and IPC measures will create a safe living environment in the dormitories for our migrant workers as we gradually move into Phase 3.