Residents in 7 More HDB Blocks in Redhill to be Tested After COVID-19 Fragments Were Detected in Wastewater Samples

It looks like Redhill is in the red once more.

After the news that a confirmed COVID-19 case had visited Redhill Market and Food Centre, all stallholders had to undergo mandatory COVID-19 tests from 15 to 16 June.

But this time, it’s not just a market. More alarmingly, it has been discovered that the coronavirus may have visited some homes in Redhill.

Residents in 7 More HDB Blocks in Redhill to be Tested After COVID-19 Fragments Were Detected in Wastewater Samples

According to a media release today (21 Jun), the Ministry of Health (MOH) is investigating likely COVID-19 transmission in Redhill after COVID-19 viral fragments were detected in the wastewater samples collected from some blocks.

It is carrying out epidemiological investigations in Redhill to determine the origins of this transmission.

In efforts to break any possible chains of wider and undetected community transmission, MOH will be conducting mandatory COVID-19 testing for the residents of seven HDB blocks in Redhill: 81, 82, and 83 Redhill Lane, and 87, 88, 89, and 90 Redhill Close.

Testing is optional for those who have tested negative for COVID-19 from 18 June onwards.

MOH will also be conducting voluntary COVID-19 testing for those who have visited and interacted with residents of the affected seven blocks between 6 and 20 June.

Both the mandatory testing for residents and voluntary testing for visitors will be carried out at two locations: the pavilion at 84A Redhill Lane, and the void deck of 89 Redhill Close from today (21 Jun) to Wednesday (23 Jun).

Dates, testing locations, and time slots will be allocated to those getting tested based on which block they live in or visited.

MOH has promised that in the event a positive COVID-19 case is uncovered, it will immediately isolate the case, identify all close contacts to test and quarantine them to protect the community from further transmission.

Residents in 8 HDB Blocks in Bukit Merah View to Undergo Mandatory COVID-19 Tests

Redhill isn’t the only area that has to undergo rigorous testing in its HDB flats.

The Redhill testing comes a day after the announcement that residents of eight HDB blocks in Bukit Merah View have to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing due to the discovery of 21 infected individuals from nine different households at 119 Bukit Merah View.

The affected blocks are 116, 117, 118, 119, 124A, 124B, 125, and 126 Bukit Merah View.

Similarly, COVID-19 viral fragments were also found in the wastewater samples of a few blocks in Bukit Merah View.

The cluster at Bukit Merah View has now become the largest active cluster in Singapore, with a count of 73 as of Sunday (20 Jun).

Featured Image: Google Maps