Staff working in settings with unmasked clients to undergo mandatory 14-day regular COVID-19 testing from mid-July

Staff working in settings with unmasked clients, such as F&B workers, will have to undergo a 14-day regular fast and easy tests regime from mid-July.

These staff, which include those working in personal care services such as facial and nail services, spas, saunas, massage establishment, hairdressing and make-up services as well as in gyms and fitness studios, will have to take regular COVID-19 testing, such as rapid antigen tests (ART). 

The announcement was made by the multi-ministry task force for COVID-19 (MTF) on Friday (Jun 18).

To further minimise the risks of transmission, the government will facilitate earlier vaccination for individuals who work in these settings. 

Most of the fast and easy tests are expected to be done through a system of self-swabs, supervised by employers. 

Free training programmes over the next three months to train designated employees to supervise ART self swabs for their staff will be conducted.  ART kits will also be made available to establishments for these employer supervised self-swabs.

Quick test centres (QTCs) will also be set up for small businesses who are unable to organise the supervised self-swabs on their own. Two QTCs will begin operations from Jun 21 at Tekka and Yishun.

 More centres will be set up progressively. 

In addition, visits to residential care homes serving the elderly have also been suspended till Jun 20. 

From Jun 21, visitors will need to take a FET when they arrive and a negative ART result must be produced before entering the home. 

Those planning to visit their elderly relatives should schedule their visits ahead of time and consider the additional time required to complete the ART procedure. 

“We seek the patience and understanding of visitors that some homes may require more time to put in place the necessary procedures for ART and will only be able to resume visits at a later date,” the task force said.