More than 80% of foreign workers tested, all dorms to be cleared by Aug 7: Lawrence Wong

MORE than 80 per cent of Singapore's foreign workers have been tested for Covid-19, and the government is expecting to complete testing for all dormitories by the first week of August, with the exception of blocks that are being used as quarantine facilities, said a multi-ministry task force on the novel coronavirus on Friday evening.

Lawrence Wong, National Development Minister and co-chair of the task force, said during a virtual press conference: "Essentially, by Aug 7, we expect to clear all dormitories and the vast majority of migrant workers. And thereafter, we will be working very closely with all the companies who are engaging these workers, to allow them to start work and to allow work to resume as soon as possible."

Seventeen standalone blocks in eight purpose-built dormitories, which now serve as quarantine facilities and house 28,000 workers serving out their isolation period, are the exception.

The completion of the tests also means that Singapore's number of daily cases is expected to come down by then.

However, Mr Wong pointed out that there may be a lag before the cleared workers return to work, as their companies have to first implement safe-management measures.

He urged companies to start preparing for these measures so that they would be able to resume work as soon as possible, once their workers are cleared.

"Do not wait until the middle of August when all the workers are clear ... Start now, begin now, submit all the requirements now so that you can get all of this working in parallel," he said.

He added that the authorities will continue to put the workers through regular and routine testing and monitor them at their work sites.

As for the community, the task force noted that there has been crowding and poor adherence to safe-distancing measures at hot spots like night spots, beaches and selected malls and parks.

Mr Wong said the task force is stepping up on enforcement and putting in place enhanced control measures. This may include for example, closing off beaches and parks once they approach their capacity limits, he said.