# Joint Statement by MOH and MND on Special Testing Operations at 506 Hougang Avenue 8 and 559 Pasir Ris Street 51

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2021-05-23T04:11:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/joint-statement-by-moh-and-mnd-on-special-testing-operations-at-506-hougang-avenue-8-and-559-pasir-ris-street-51
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing

## Featured rationale

The precautionary testing and enhanced cleaning may temporarily concern residents and service providers, but continued access to both blocks could limit disruption.

## AI summary

MOH ordered mandatory PCR testing for 407 people at 506 Hougang Avenue 8 and all 243 residents of 559 Pasir Ris Street 51.

## Original article

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will be conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at the housing blocks as stated below. These are blocks where infected cases have been located, and testing is done as a precaution to prevent any possible spread in the community. In the event that a positive case is detected, MOH will isolate the case, identify all close contacts, test and quarantine them to protect the community from further transmission. We will also report updates on any positive cases in our daily press releases.

So far, there is only one Housing & Development Board (HDB) block in Singapore with infected cases seen in more than two households. The tests are typically completed within three days. 

Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8

MOH had identified 10 COVID-19 cases1, from four different households, residing at 506 Hougang Avenue 8. They are largely Persons Under Quarantine who turned positive for COVID-19. This means that they have been isolated early and ring-fenced, and not likely to be moving around while being infectious. Nevertheless, MOH took all the necessary public health measures to prevent any further spread to the community.

We have established that four of the units with confirmed cases are in the same stack, and our initial assessment is that airborne transmission along the stack is highly unlikely. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine linkages and the source of transmission.

We are therefore not taking any chances. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has worked with the town council (TC) to carry out stepped up cleaning measures to clean and disinfect the block. At the same time, we are casting our surveillance net as wide as possible, including administering PCR tests for the whole block. 

MOH has just concluded mandatory PCR tests for 407 residents and visitors of the block. This was done from 21 to 22 May 2021. Thus far, one individual was found to be positive for COVID-19 with 126 more test results pending. More details on the positive case will be reported in upcoming press releases by MOH. 

Those who are still awaiting their test results are advised to stay at home and seek immediate medical attention if they feel unwell. Individuals who missed their test can proceed to any of the clinics in Annex A between 23 and 24 May 2021 for the mandatory free swab test. They are to bring along their NRIC and TraceTogether Tokens, for identification purposes.

Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51

Adopting the same cautious approach, MOH will be conducting mandatory PCR tests on 23 May and 24 May 2021 for all 243 residents of Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51, as four COVID-19 cases2 have been detected in two different households living in the block. 

Residents are advised to go to Coral Regional Screening Centre (Former Coral Primary School) between 23 May to 24 May, 9 am to 12 noon, and 1pm to 4 pm for their tests. 

Residents can call MOH at 1800-333-9999 if they have queries.

Stepped Up Measures by HDB and NEA

The HDB worked with MOH to contact residents living in the affected block to take the PCR test. HDB also deployed safe distancing ambassadors to ensure that safe management measures are in place in the swab ops centre set up at the void deck of the block.

Officers from NEA were deployed to closely monitor the cleaning and disinfection works carried out at Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8 and Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51 by the TCs and their cleaning contractors, to ensure that they were performed in accordance with NEA’s guidelines. Cleaning and disinfection works for Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8 and Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51 were completed on 21 May and 22 May respectively, with particular attention placed on frequently touched areas, such as lift surfaces, lift buttons, handrails, letterboxes, amongst others. As a precautionary measure, NEA had also worked with the TCs to expand the scope of disinfection to include amenities in the vicinity that could be used by residents, such as playground and central refuse chute.

In line with tighter precautionary measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community, NEA has reminded all TCs to step up their cleaning standards and implement measures to upkeep good public health hygiene such as increasing the frequency of cleaning of areas with high contact points and adhering to good practices reflected in NEA’s advisory on sanitation and hygiene.

Advisory on Provision of Services

We are testing the residents in these two blocks as a precaution. The residents are not under quarantine. They are allowed to leave their homes and continue with activities allowed under the prevailing Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures. Delivery of goods and services such as cylinder gas, food and general repair works to their premises can still carry on with the appropriate safe management measures and wearing of masks. We strongly urge service providers to continue to extend their services to the residents and support our fellow Singaporeans.

1 Cases 63055, 63074, 63150, 63286, 63292, 63392, 63455, 63456, 63517. The 10th case will be stated in a later press release.

2 Cases 63120, 63444, 63445, 62873

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 卫生部与国家发展部就后港大道8道506座及巴西立街51道559座特别检测行动的联合声明

卫生部（MOH）将在下列组屋组楼进行聚合酶链式反应（PCR）检测。这些组楼曾出现感染病例，检测是为防范社区可能传播而采取的预防措施。若发现阳性病例，卫生部将隔离该病例，识别所有密切接触者，并对其进行检测与检疫，以保护社区免受进一步传播。我们也将在每日新闻稿中通报任何阳性病例的最新情况。

迄今为止，新加坡仅有一座建屋发展局（HDB）组楼在超过两个住户中出现感染病例。检测通常在三天内完成。

后港大道8道506座

卫生部已确认，居住在后港大道8道506座的10起冠病病例1来自四个不同住户。他们大多是在检疫令下转为冠病阳性的人员。这意味着他们已及早被隔离并被“圈封”，在具传染性期间不太可能四处走动。尽管如此，卫生部仍采取了所有必要的公共卫生措施，以防止进一步向社区传播。

我们已确认有确诊病例的四个单位位于同一座梯间（stack），初步评估认为沿该梯间发生空气传播的可能性极低。流行病学调查仍在进行中，以确定关联与传播源头。

因此我们不会掉以轻心。国家环境局（NEA）已与市镇理事会（TC）合作，加强清洁措施，对该组楼进行清洁与消毒。与此同时，我们尽可能扩大监测范围，包括对整座组楼实施PCR检测。

卫生部刚完成对该组楼407名居民及访客的强制PCR检测。检测于2021年5月21日至22日进行。迄今发现1人冠病阳性，另有126份检测结果仍待出炉。有关该阳性病例的更多详情将在卫生部随后的新闻稿中通报。

仍在等候检测结果者，请留在家中；如感不适，应立即求医。错过检测者可于2021年5月23日至24日前往附件A所列任何诊所接受强制免费拭子检测。请携带身份证（NRIC）与TraceTogether令牌，以供身份核实。

巴西立街51道559座

采取同样谨慎做法，卫生部将于2021年5月23日及24日，对巴西立街51道559座全部243名居民进行强制PCR检测，因该组楼两个不同住户中已发现4起冠病病例2。

居民请于5月23日至24日上午9时至中午12时、下午1时至4时，前往Coral区域检测中心（前Coral小学）接受检测。

居民如有疑问，可致电卫生部热线1800-333-9999。

建屋发展局与国家环境局加强措施

建屋发展局与卫生部合作联系受影响组楼居民接受PCR检测。建屋发展局亦派遣安全距离大使，确保在组楼底层架空层设立的拭子检测作业中心落实安全管理措施。

国家环境局人员被派往密切监督后港大道8道506座及巴西立街51道559座由市镇理事会及其清洁承包商进行的清洁与消毒工作，确保符合国家环境局指引。后港大道8道506座及巴西立街51道559座的清洁与消毒工作分别于5月21日及22日完成，并特别关注频繁接触的区域，如电梯表面、电梯按钮、扶手、信箱等。作为预防措施，国家环境局亦与市镇理事会合作，将消毒范围扩大至居民可能使用的附近设施，如游乐场及中央垃圾槽。

为配合更严格的预防措施以减少冠病在社区传播，国家环境局已提醒所有市镇理事会提高清洁标准，并实施维护良好公共卫生的措施，例如增加高接触点区域的清洁频率，以及遵守国家环境局卫生与清洁通告中的良好做法。

服务提供通告

我们对这两座组楼居民进行检测是预防措施。居民并非处于检疫状态。他们可以离开住所，并在现行第二阶段（加强警戒）措施允许的范围内继续活动。在采取适当安全管理措施并佩戴口罩的情况下，向其住所运送货物与服务（如罐装煤气、食物及一般维修工程）仍可继续进行。我们强烈敦促服务提供者继续为居民提供服务，支持我们的新加坡同胞。

1 病例63055、63074、63150、63286、63292、63392、63455、63456、63517。第10起病例将在稍后新闻稿中说明。

2 病例63120、63444、63445、62873