Some Experts Think It’s Time to Lift Restrictions on Dorm Residents’ Movement

While the general community in Singapore are now allowed out onto the streets of Singapore amidst relaxed restrictions, there’s still one group of people who are still stuck at their residences.

Foreign workers living in dormitories.

Well, that might be changing soon.

Some Experts Think It’s Time to Lift Restrictions on Dorm Residents’ Movement

It’s been 19 days since the last Covid-19 case from the dormitories were reported, and some experts ST spoke to thinks it’s (finally) time to ease the strict movement restricts there.

The foreign workers living in dormitories have been placed under movement restrictions since the end of March.

Even now, 1 day before December, the foreign workers are stopped from leaving their dormitories most of the time.

They’re only allowed to leave to run errands or work. On rest days, they’re only allowed to visit specific recreation centres that were created for dorm residents.

These recreation centres are spartan compared to places like, say, Lucky Plaza and only contains F&B outlets, mini-marts, F&B outlets and communal facilities like a barber.

Differing Opinions

While the easing of movement restrictions in dormitories is something the experts agree on, how to do so is a whole different story.

Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases specialist, believes that workers can be given more freedom to move around the general community since Singapore’s many safeguards should be able to curb any outbreak that may occur.

Even if an infected person goes out into the community, people should remain safe as long as they abide by Covid-19 measures, including wearing a mask and practising social distancing, and of course not having a meal with 12 people in Seoul Garden.

Professor Teo Yik Ying, the dean of NUS’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, however, thinks that they should only be allowed to mingle with the general community when Singapore enters phase 3.

That is when, he pointed out, Singapore is ready for rapid contract tracing and testing.

One of the conditions for Singapore to enter Phase 3 is 70% TraceTogether participation rate.

Currently, Singapore’s TraceTogether takeup rate stands at 50% (2.9 million).

With higher TraceTogether participation, any transmission from dormitories to the general community can be mitigated quickly before it becomes an outbreak.

Dr Ling Li Min, an infectious diseases physician, however, feels that things needed to be taken slowly.

As the past weeks have shown, just because there are zero cases doesn’t mean there are no “pockets of asymptomatic infections lurking around”.

She is of the opinion that the authorities will take a “slow and gradual” approach when lifting restrictions.

MOM’s Response

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), they will “further ease” the movement restrictions if the dormitories’ infection rates are “sustained” at low numbers.

Other than that, the ministry also revealed that they’ve worked with community groups to organise excursions for dormitory residents.

While some workers hope restrictions can be eased soon as they’re “bored” stuck at the dormitories, employers who were spoken to says some of their workers are focused on making up for their income loss during the circuit breaker by working overtime hours.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, there are 3 unlinked community cases over the past week, with two of them linked to the Tekka Centre surveillance testing held on 26 Nov 2020.

You can read more here.

Featured Image: edphi / Shutterstock.com