Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MoH) announced in a press conference that employees will not be required to be certified COVID-19 by GPs to return to the workplace. The change notes that employees will be able to exit isolation and resume normal activities once they have tested negative on a self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). The change in policy is also applicable to students returning to schools, including pre-school and Institutes of Higher Learning.
The change in policy comes as Singapore, like most of the world, takes a more open stance to live with COVID. According to the MoH statement, those who test positive for COVID-19 are only required to self-isolate at home for 72 hours and may exit isolation and go about their daily activities as soon as they obtain a negative result from a RAT.
“Employers should not ask for recovery memos upon return. Employees who test positive for COVID-19 should immediately inform their employers and not return to the workplace”
the MoH said. The department reminded workers and business leaders in the city to refamiliarise themselves with the latest COVID-19 protocols.
Opposite worlds
As much of the region continues on the path to living with the virus, China and Hong Kong remain two of the last holdouts with a zero-tolerance stance. China’s hard-line approach continues to impact businesses through tough, long-lasting locks downs whilst Hong Kong reintroduced some of its toughest restrictions yet as the city’s crisis reaches an all-time high.
The city has reintroduced harsh 2-person limits on public gatherings and has barred more than two households from mixing in a private setting for the first time. Business sentiments continue to nosedive with many finding it difficult to attract talent to the territory due to tough restrictions—putting them at a disadvantage in the war for talent and is forcing many to consider moving their operations to more open locations.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
