Coronavirus: SAF to stagger meal times, step up disinfections
SINGAPORE — The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has implemented measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus – now known as COVID-19 – among its camps and bases, as servicemen continue their routine activities.
In a media release on Tuesday (11 February), the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said that it has implemented the measures after the Ministry of Health raised the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (Dorscon) level from Yellow to Orange on 7 February.
These measures include:
twice-daily temperature taking for all personnel,
temperature screening at all camps and bases,
stepping up workplace cleaning and disinfection schedules,
staggering meal times for servicemen,
deferring non-essential large-scale social activities.
Defence, soldiers’ health are priorities: Heng Chee How
On Tuesday, Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How visited the Basic Military Training Centre at Pulau Tekong to observe the enhanced measures put in place at SAF camps.
He said at the end of his visit, “We have to defend this country, regardless of whether or not there is a virus situation. That said, we must understand that where there is such a situation, we must take the necessary steps to safeguard the health of our soldiers.
“This is exactly what we are doing to make sure that both are our top priorities, as we continue with our training and as we look after the health of our soldiers."
Heng added that there are currently no plans to cancel in-camp training for operationally-ready national servicemen.
There are currently about 5,000 recruits who are training at the centre in Pulau Tekong. One batch will graduate in about three weeks. SAF are looking at the possibility of reducing the number of guests a recruit can bring to his graduation parade and to direct enlistment.
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