Safe Rest Days For Dormitory Residents In Phase 2

1. The Ministry of Manpower and the Inter-Agency Task Force (ITF) have been progressively clearing migrant workers of COVID-19 infections. Up to 75,000 workers are now in cleared premises. Dormitory operators, employers and workers are working with the ITF to put in place measures to allow the workers to leave the dormitories for work in a safe way.   
2. With daily movements in and out of the dormitories, we need to be vigilant to make sure that the workers remain COVID-19 free. There will already be some risk that infections are brought from workplaces back to the cleared dormitories. Movements of the workers beyond the workplaces will pose additional risks of cross-infections with the general community, in both directions. 
3. A wave of new infections will set back the hard work of the many stakeholders and the workers themselves in clearing the dormitories over the past months. Therefore, in the immediate period entering into Phase 2 of the re-opening, migrant workers will continue to stay within their dormitories on their rest days.
4. When the infection rates in both the community and dormitories are sustained at lower levels for a longer period of time, workers in cleared dormitories and blocks will have opportunity to leave the dormitories to run personal errands at approved locations such as the Recreation Centres. In the meantime, workers will be able to access communal facilities within the dormitories, with safe distancing measures in place. Employers must continue to ensure provision of food and daily necessities to their employees in dormitories.
5. The gradual restoration of a normal way of life for dormitory residents will give them a better chance of remaining healthy and continuing to earn a livelihood for themselves and their families.