SINGAPORE: Students and employees who have recovered from COVID-19 infection are not required to present memos to return to work or school, including pre-schools and Institutes of Higher Learning.
This comes following a surge in patients visiting general practitioner clinics to get such letters or memos, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Education and the Early Childhood Development Agency said in a joint press release on Saturday (Feb 5).
“These visits are not necessary, and risk compromising the standard of care for other patients who genuinely require medical attention,” they said.
Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 with an antigen rapid test (ART) are required to isolate at home for at least 72 hours under the current health protocols.
“If they are well, they may exit isolation to resume normal activities once they test negative on their self-administered ART,” they added.
They also advised employers and employees to familiarize themselves with COVID-19 health protocols.
“Employees who test positive for COVID-19 (either through self-test or at a GP clinic) should immediately inform their employers and not return to the workplace, in order to prevent the virus from spreading,” they said.
Employees who are on Protocol 2 may self-administer ART after at least 72 hours of isolation. They should be allowed to return to the workplace without further recovery memo or medical assessment if they are feeling well and test negative, the ministries and CDA said.
Protocol 2 cases are those who are well or assessed to have a mild condition.
The guidelines also apply to students and staff who have contracted COVID-19, or those who have been issued a stay-home notice or health risk warning.
“To ensure a safer learning environment for everyone, it is important that we all exercise personal responsibility to monitor our own health and the health of our children and family members closely,” the ministries and CDA said.
“A student can return to school once he or she feels well, and test negative for COVID-19 after at least 72 hours of self-isolation.”
This is based on bookings already made, said MOE, adding that a similar number have already received the first jab, with around 75 per cent of primary school students having signed up for vaccination.
“In total, we have delivered close to 250,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, with a record number of almost 60,000 doses delivered in the most recent week of 24 to 30 January 2022,” said the Education Ministry.
Among those born between 2016 and 2017 - children who are or will turn five or six this year - nearly 13,000 have already received at least their first dose, with almost 18,500 registrations received so far, said MOE. These are children who are of the typical pre-school age.
MOE also said the Ministry of Health (MOH) has begun progressively inviting children aged 12 to 17 who are eligible for the national booster vaccination program, with those aged 16 to 17 invited first.
Mar 14, those aged between 12 and 17 will need to get a booster shot within 270 days of receiving their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, in order to maintain their fully vaccinated status.
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