GEIS-新闻详情

No visitors to hospital wards for 4 weeks from Sept 24 amid surge in Covid-19 cases

2021-09-22 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - No visitors will be allowed in hospital wards for four weeks, from Friday (Sept 24) to Oct 23, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday.

This tightened restriction came amid the rise in Covid-19 cases in the community, and with more cases detected among hospital staff, patients and visitors.

This has led to ward closures and staff quarantine, putting a strain on hospital bed capacity and staffing at a time when more hospital beds are needed to care for hospitalised Covid-19 patients, MOH said.

There were 1,178 new Covid-19 cases reported on Tuesday, the third time in four days the number has exceeded 1,000.

The ministry added that from Friday, higher-risk patients - regardless of their vaccination status - will have to undergo mandatory antigen rapid testing (ART) in hospital emergency departments.

MOH noted that certain patient groups will be allowed visits on a case-by case basis, as assessed by the hospital.

They include patients who are in critical condition, paediatric patients, those giving birth or post-partum mothers, and patients requiring additional care support from caregivers.

The measure also covers the assistance of inpatients who have mental incapacities or family members who are undergoing caregiver training to better care for their loved ones after discharge. Such patients will be allowed only one pre-designated visitor, for one visit per day.

Patients who are in critical condition may be allowed up to five pre-designated visitors, with a maximum of two visitors at the patient's bedside at any one time.

But all approved visitors will have to produce a valid negative ART or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result obtained within the last 24 hours of each visit.

"This is a mandatory requirement for all visitors, regardless of the individual's vaccination status, except for persons who have recovered from Covid-19 and are able to present a valid pre-event test (PET) exemption notice," MOH said.

It added that all approved visitors must wear face masks with good filtration capability at all times, which include surgical masks and reusable masks that are made of two layers of fabrics.

There will also be no eating or drinking in the inpatient wards. Visitors cannot use the patients' toilets in the wards and must avoid sitting on patients' beds.

Meanwhile, MOH is also introducing measures to help emergency departments (ED), which are usually crowded.

"Currently patients presenting with acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms in the hospitals' ED or 24-hour emergency clinic will be segregated from other patients," MOH said.

"However, with more Covid-19 cases presenting pre-symptomatically or asymptomatically, testing will be needed to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission in the ED."