60 more COVID antigen rapid testing centres in Singapore next few weeks
SINGAPORE — At least 60 additional centres for COVID-19 antigen rapid testing will be set up in Singapore within the next few weeks, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (14 December).
These quick test centres will be set up in partnership with players in the private sector – general practitioners (GPs), mall operators, and hotel groups – at selected sites.
This will bring the total number of such centres to some 120 located across Singapore. At these centres, members of the public can conduct a self-administered antigen rapid test under supervision by trained personnel after making an appointment.
Each test, priced at $15, can be used to fulfil workplace requirements under the rostered routine testing (RRT) regime for pre-event or pre-activity tests, or for those who wish to get tested before attending a large-scale event.
"We will continue to work closely with the industry to grow the network of (private quick test centres) and would like to encourage interested eligible providers to come onboard this effort. This will go a long way in fostering a culture of testing, which is important for early detection of cases and for keeping our communities safe," said the MOH in a press release.
Separately, the ministry said that it will extend the subsidies for sectors on mandatory RRT, initially set to end on 31 December, until 31 March 2022.
Beyond that, employers and businesses should be prepared to factor in testing costs as part of their normal business operations, noted the MOH.
"With the emergence of the Omicron variant, our airport and other border frontline workers who are at heightened risk of exposure to the variant had recently reverted to a weekly PCR (polymerase chain reaction) RRT as a precautionary measure."
During this period as efforts are stepped up to quickly detect and ringfence Omicron cases, all sectors will remain on the mandatory RRT regime, until more information is available on the new variant, said the MOH.
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