Disposed or misplaced TraceTogether tokens should be reported and replaced immediately

Singaporeans who have disposed of or misplaced their TraceTogether tokens should immediately alert Government agencies to get it replaced. 

This is so that in the event when a new COVID-19 variant emerges and Singapore needs to reactivate TraceTogether and SafeEntry, the public will be ready for it. 

This was brought up by Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Monday (May 9). Mr Ong had made a speech about the easing of COVID-19 measures and was subsequently asked by Member of Parliament Nadia Ahmad Samdin if members of the public who threw away or misplaced their TraceTogether tokens have broken the law. This was surfaced by a Straits Times article earlier on Monday. 

The use of SafeEntry and TraceTogether tokens were stood down as part of the easing of measures on Apr 26. 

“For those who have inadvertently disposed of them (TraceTogether tokens), do report them. I am sure Government agencies will be as helpful as they can to try to replace them,” said Mr Ong.

“I think our key consideration is not so much about protection of the equipment but to make sure that should we have another variant concern, businesses and individuals are ready to respond.”

In his speech, Mr Ong explained that Singapore is taking a “cautious step down but not dismantle posture” on the COVID-19 measures. This is to ensure that if new concerns threaten public health, the public will be ready for the Government to step up on Vaccinated-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) and reactivate TraceTogether and SafeEntry. 

Criteria that will lead to the reactivation of these measures include: If a new variant more severe and infectious than the Omicron variant emerges and vaccines are no longer effective against the new variant, as well as the impact on hospital capacity.

“We do what is necessary to protect lives when danger is upon us and we will step down measures when they are no longer needed, no longer necessary, so that people can resume their normal lives,” said Mr Ong. 

“So the best step for the public to take is not to delete your TraceTogether app and not to throw away your TraceTogether tokens.”