GEIS-新闻详情

Covid-19 swab tests for those who were at Fairprice outlet in Bukit Merah go smoothly

2021-06-22 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - Covid-19 testing for staff and members of the public who had been to the Fairprice supermarket at 166 Bukit Merah Central appeared to be running smoothly on Tuesday (June 22) morning.

A temporary testing site was once again set up at Block 125A Bukit Merah View after a number of Covid-19 cases were found among people who had visited the supermarket, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday night.

The testing for those who work there or had visited the outlet between June 3 and June 21, is to break any possible chains of transmission, MOH said.

When The Straits Times visited at about 10am this morning, there were no queues and people were leaving the testing site after their swabs in an orderly manner.

A group of workers who identified themselves to be from Fairprice told ST that they were asked to go for the swab test on Tuesday, despite having already been swabbed last Saturday. They declined to be named.

They added that they were not particularly worried about Covid-19 cases having visited the supermarket, but had gone for their tests as part of the company's directives.

Others were more anxious and had wanted to get tested for peace of mind.

Madam Lee Cheng Toh, 61, told ST in Mandarin that she felt compelled to get tested as she visits the Faiprice outlet every Monday for her groceries.

In addition, she had visited the Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre, also linked to the outbreak, on June 12 and 13.

"Though I had not received any SMS telling me to get tested, I was still a little worried," said Madam Lee, a designer.

The market had been closed for cleaning and disinfection on June 13 and is expected to reopen only on June 26.

As of Monday, a total of 78 cases have been linked to the Bukit Merah Market cluster.

Most people who got tested told ST that they had wanted to do so as a precautionary measure, after having visited the supermarket during the window period.

The testing site will be open till Thursday. Those who want to be tested will be required to make an appointment.

The testing site will be open till June 24, 2021. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Mandatory testing has also begun at four test sites in Redhill Lane and Redhill Close on Monday, after viral fragments were detected in wastewater samples collected from some Housing Board blocks there.

The affected blocks are 81, 82 and 83 Redhill Lane and 87, 88, 89 and 90 Redhill Close.

Testing is optional for those who have already tested negative for Covid-19 since last Friday, MOH said.

When ST visited the test site at 89 Redhill Close at about 11am, no queues were seen.

People queueing at the test site at 89 Redhill Close on June 22, 2021. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Retiree Catherine Lim, 87, had received a call and got tested at 10am. The process was smooth, though the swab itself was quite uncomfortable, she told ST in Mandarin.

Madam Lim lives in Block 90, opposite the testing centre.

Asked if she was worried about getting a positive test result, she said, half in jest, that she did not want to fall ill as she still has money she wants to spend and things she would like to do.