Experts Say Rapid Pace of Growth of Changi Airport COVID-19 Cluster is Worrying

Changi Airport: once known for its exemplary design, fabulous passenger experience, and title as “The World’s Best Airport”.

Now, it’s been grounded, unseen by most of Singapore except in the daily COVID-19 updates, where it is inevitably the cover photo to the headline: “Changi Airport Cluster Grows to XX Cases”.

In less than a fortnight, the Changi Airport cluster has worsened to become Singapore’s largest community cluster to date with 78 cases, in an escalation that experts believe is deeply worrying.

Pace of Growth Changi Airport COVID-19 Cluster Concerning

Speaking to The Straits Times, Professor Teo Yik Ying of the National University of Singapore (NUS)’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health points out, “We have seen… up to three and even four generations that happened within a matter of less than two weeks.”

This is an unusually rapid pace of spread even with infection prevention and control protocols in place, such as the mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE). 

Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, who is also the director of medical services at the Ministry of Health (MOH), has already announced a review of frontline workers’ use of PPE.

The emergence of new COVID-19 variants like the B1617 strain ravaging India may have contributed to our increased susceptibility to infections, with even transient exposure posing a risk for transmission.

Prof Teo also points out that Changi Airport is “indoors and air-conditioned, thus meaning the air is cooler and less humid, creating an environment that likely permits the coronavirus to stay viable for longer, whether it is as droplets, aerosols, or on surfaces.”

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has already pointed out that those contracting COVID-19 mainly worked at a zone designated for travellers from high-risk countries, where immigration checkpoints and baggage collection areas pose significant risks for transmission.

These workers would then enter the rest of the airport for meals, where they come across people from elsewhere in the community. Terminal 3 Basement 2, where most who tested positive visited, has been closed since 10 May for disinfection.

The cluster started when an 88-year-old cleaner at Changi Airport Terminal 3 tested positive on 5 May. He was employed by Ramky Cleantech Services, where a total of 16 employees have been infected.

Since 14 May, the airport has separated travellers from high-risk regions and those from lower risk ones, and tested close to 10,000 airport workers. 35 have tested positive for the virus, and none are in serious condition.

It’s going to be a while before Changi Airport and its planes can spread their wings again.

Feature Image: Nawadoln / Shutterstock.com