Visitors to White Sands from 2 May to 11 May Offered Free COVID-19 Tests

Living in Pasir Ris? Wanted to get your daily groceries? Returned from White Sands to realise you might have got your daily COVID-19 infection too?

Fret not, the mighty Singapore Government is here to the rescue!

White Sands Patrons Offered Free COVID-19 Tests

White Sands mall rose to fame for a not entirely flattering reason: as of Sunday (16 May), it has been visited a total of 14 times by patients later diagnosed with COVID-19, CNA reports.

Key tenants visited include WOK HEY, Unity Pharmacy, FairPrice supermarket, and Koufu food court.

So… that’s essentially the whole mall.

Given the risks involved, the government is urging all visitors to White Sands from 2 May to 11 May to be tested for COVID-19. This is to “pre-emptively mitigate any potential risk of wider, undetected community transmission”, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Shove a cotton swab up your nose and do your part for the nation, people.

While close contacts of the COVID-19 patients would already have been separately informed and given a nice homestead vacation, SMSes will be disseminated to others who have visited the mall to notify them of the testing scheme.

The swab test will be free, and those who want to be tested can book an appointment from 28 May to 31 May at the following regional screening centres:

• Former Da Qiao Primary School, 8 Ang Mo Kio Street 54
• Former Shuqun Secondary School, 450 Jurong East Street 21
• Former Coral Primary School, 20 Pasir Ris Street 51
• Former Bishan Park Secondary School, 2 Sin Ming Walk

Testing for children, however, will not be offered at these centres, and those visiting the regional screening centres should be asymptomatic. 

If you are feeling ill, you are advised to see a doctor or visit a Swab and Send Home Public Health Preparedness Clinic. Immediately. And you could just be featured on the news.

You can also walk into Raffles Hospital, Raffles Medical at Shaw Centre Orchard, or book an appointment at Fullerton Health Testing Centre at the site of Szechuan Court @ Fairmont Singapore. 

A former fancy restaurant is now a COVID-19 testing centre. How appropriate for the times.

Those being tested should produce their photo identification and the SMS sent to them. Testing will be separately arranged for those who work at White Sands.

What Happens at a COVID-19 Test

There are two kinds of tests: the antigen rapid test (ART) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. You are more likely to be given the PCR test, which is slower but more accurate.

Both of these tests will be done by swabbing the back of the nose or throat, according to Gleneagles Hospitals. This involves inserting a swab through your nostrils to the back of your nose, where the viral load will be the greatest if you are infected. 

The process may feel uncomfortable and can cause some to tear up, though it is quickly over and you can enjoy your peace of mind a day later knowing whether or not you have COVID-19.

And if it turns out you do, there is no need to panic. Relevant authorities will assist you through the treatment process, which is free for all permanent residents, citizens, and long term pass holders who have been in Singapore since 27 March last year.

To know more about testing, watch this video to the end:

Feature Image: Google Maps