Adjustments to health protocols for workers living in the dormitories will be made to align with similar changes for the local community.

The use of antigen rapid tests (ARTs) will be increased to make testing more convenient. Regular rapid testing was introduced in the middle of September for workers in addition to their  seven- or 14-day rostered routine testing cycles, in which polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are deployed.

Going ahead, only ARTs will be used. PCR tests will continue to be administered for dormitory residents with acute respiratory illness symptoms.

If a dormitory resident's PCR test is positive, his close contacts may be issued with either a Health Risk Warning or Health Risk Alert via TraceTogether.

Contact tracing will also be tightened to focus on those most at risk of virus exposure. Currently, quarantines may be imposed on entire blocks or sections when new cases emerged.

"With dormitories now more resilient, quarantine orders (QO) will only be issued to roommates of confirmed cases on PCR test," the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a press release on Saturday.

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"The quarantine period will also be reduced from 14 days to 10 days from the date of last exposure to the confirmed case, with workers to self-administer ART from Day 11 to Day 14."

The revised policy for QOs is expected to reduce the extent and duration of work disruptions while protecting public health. However, MOM said that wider quarantine rings may still be applied in the event of new large clusters.

For workers who tested positive for Covid-19 but are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, they will be allowed to isolate and recover in a dedicated facility within the dormitories for up to 10 days.

These asymptomatic vaccinated workers will be provided with telemedicine services, as well as thermometers and oximeters for self-monitoring. They will be required to take an ART after Day 3 and will be discharged when a negative ART result shows up.

As for Covid-positive, symptomatic workers, they will be sent to community care facilities or hospitals depending on their condition.

"With these new adjustments, employers and dormitory operators would have to adjust their workflows and processes as well," said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng at a multi-ministry taskforce briefing on Saturday evening. 

MOM said that 97 per cent of infected migrant workers currently are asymptomatic. Of the remaining 3 per cent, most experienced mild symptoms and a handful had been sent to the hospital or community care facilities. None was in the intensive care unit and only one needed oxygen supplementation.

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