Dr Fong confirms he will announce more measures related to masking & social gatherings this week

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong has confirmed that they will be announcing more stringent measures related to masking and social gatherings later this week.

He says they have always promoted individual COVID safe measures, even during the period of local cases prior to the current outbreak however it is evident that they need to have in place more stringent community-level measures to further enforce the message they are promoting.

Doctor Fong stresses that their testing capability is being tested at present and as such the public is reminded that they will need to prioritize testing for people at higher risk of severe disease to prevent severe outcomes as well as to suppress transmission.

He adds the festive season has brought about the significant movement of people as families reunite to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

Doctor Fong says gatherings have been observed where COVID-safe measures have not been followed or people have attended while having symptoms.

He says you should assume you are infected, and self-isolate, if you develop any cold/flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, body ache, fever.

Doctor Fong further adds if you have any of these symptoms, please stay home to prevent infecting others, especially those who may be more at risk of severe disease.

He adds you should get tested if you can, but especially if you are at higher risk of severe disease.

Doctor Fong stresses you are at higher risk of severe disease if you are over the age of 50, or have any significant chronic disease like heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, diabetes, hypertension or you are obese or pregnant.

He says if anyone in your home is at higher risk of developing severe disease, please try to isolate yourself away from them.

Doctor Fong confirms the isolation period is for 10 days.

He further says you may stop isolating once 10 days have passed since the start of symptoms (with at least 3 consecutive days of no symptoms) or since the positive test (for asymptomatic cases).

Doctor Fong adds the Ministry of Health is using a 7-day isolation period for their staff, requiring a negative rapid antigen test on days 6 and 7 to help maintain essential health services.

He says for the general public, a 10 day quarantine period will apply to all individuals who are close contacts of a case.

The Permanent Secretary says you do not need to be tested if you are a close contact unless you develop symptoms.

Doctor Fong adds a close contact is anyone who lives in the same house as a case, or has been in a confined space for at least 1 hour, or has come within 2 metres, or has had any physical contact, in the 2 days before the case’s symptoms started and up to ten days after.