GEIS-新闻详情

Covid-19 swabbing exercise begins for residents in Tiong Bahru's Eng Watt Street

2021-06-26 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - Residents from a block of flats in Tiong Bahru trickled slowly into a pavilion for mandatory Covid-19 swab tests on Saturday morning (June 26).

This comes after 13 residents from three households at Block 66 Eng Watt Street tested positive for the coronavirus, with the Health Ministry hoping to disrupt any wider, undetected community transmission.

Ms Janine Stein, 59, a publisher in the entertainment industry, was among the first to get swabbed when testing operations began at 9am.

She had found out about the mandatory swabbing the previous evening, from the notices put up around the block.

"I was really worried because this was my first time taking a swab. I spoke to some friends who said it was really painful, sore and uncomfortable, but actually it was okay. I could feel it, but it wasn't painful at all," said Ms Stein, who is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

One of her nostrils was blocked and the swabber had to try again, she said, adding that the swab took about 20 seconds in total.

Ms Stein said she was worried after hearing about the cases in her block, especially since it is not clear how the cases could be linked or how transmission had occurred.

She said she purchased an antigen rapid test self-test kit from a Guardian outlet on Saturday morning to have peace of mind, in case she met other people. The test result was negative.

"The staff at the pavilion said it is not a quarantine and I can carry on, but I think it's more responsible if I do the rapid test," she said.

Ms Stein said she is currently working from home but will be limiting her movements. She usually visits the nearby Tiong Bahru market every few days but decided not to go on Saturday afternoon.

"Until we see where these cases go, I'm really limiting my movements. It's not worth taking the risk," she said.

Madam Adeline Tan, 47, a sales manager, headed to the pavilion for testing with her eight-year-old daughter and her domestic helper at around 10am. All three completed their swabs within 15 minutes. Her husband, who was at home caring for their five-year-old son, took the swab later.

Madam Tan said there was no queue, possibly due to the rain, which began at around 9.45am.

"My daughter had a little bit of discomfort but it was manageable. I also felt it was okay," said Madam Tan, who has taken one dose of the vaccine and will be taking her second next Monday.