Ion Orchard to Close for 4 Days After 3 Cases Reported There; Visitors to Get Free Swab Test

One thing we’ve learned from the massive COVID-19 cluster at Changi Airport Terminal 3 is that once a few infections are detected at one place, it’s best to close that place to the public as soon as possible.

Otherwise, more visitors and employees will get infected, and a certain air travel bubble with Hong Kong will never go ahead.

Coronavirus: That will never go ahead no matter what happens

Now, it isn’t an airport terminal but a shopping mall in Orchard that’s worrying the authorities.

Ion Orchard to Close for 4 Days After 3 Cases Reported There

Given that shopping is the national sport in Singapore, this news might devastate you. 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that ION Orchard will be shut for 4 days from today (12 June) after a few COVID-19 cases were detected there.

The closure will break any potential chain of transmission and enable deep cleaning of the premises, it said.

The popular mall will shut from 7am today until 7am on Wednesday (16 June).

“During this period, shoppers or members of the public will not be allowed to enter the mall,” the ministry said.

ION Orchard Link and Ion Paterson Link will still remain accessible, though.

Visitors to Get Free Swab Test

Many residents who have visited or work at the mall are about to get a long swab shoved up their noses.

The health ministry said it will be conducting special testing operations for staff who have been working in ION Orchard shopping mall from 28 May.

It is also offering free COVID-19 testing for members of the public who had visited ION Orchard between 3 June to 11 June.

Those who had visited the mall at the specified dates should monitor their health closely and minimise social interactions as far as possible for 14 days from their date of visit, it added.

As always, if unwell, they should see a doctor immediately.

“Individuals who had only walked through the mall to connect to neighbouring buildings or Orchard MRT station need not be tested,” MOH said.

MOH Investigating 3 Cases of Infection in the Mall

MOH said it’s currently investigating 3 cases of COVID-19 infection in the mall, namely:

• a 57-year-old Singaporean woman who works as a promoter at Guardian (ION Orchard)
• a 29-year-old male Myanmar national who works as a repair worker at Grandwork Interior
• a 35-year-old Malaysian woman who works as a retail assistant at Four Leaves (Ion Orchard and AMK Hub)

The latest infection is the Guardian promoter, who was confirmed to be a COVID-19 case yesterday (11 June).

She developed a dry throat on 7 June, but did not seek medical attention. She subsequently developed an ear ache on 10 June and sought treatment at a polyclinic, where she underwent both an ART and PCR test.

Both tests returned positive results. Her serology test result is negative.

Earlier, all staff at the Four Leaves outlet in Ion Orchard were quarantined and the outlet closed after the retail assistant tested positive.

The AMK Hub outlet where the 35-year-old was at for training in end-May has also been closed for a day for cleaning, and its staff will be swabbed as a precaution.

Hopefully, this closure prevents any potential clusters from forming, as we’re about two days away from seeing our tightened measures relaxed.

Featured Image: Facebook (ION Orchard)