SINGAPORE: Starting next week, those aged 45 and above who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection (ARI) will be tested for COVID-19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday (Jun 18).
This is part of the ministry's plan to expand its testing strategy as the economy reopens, with the aim of eventually testing all patients who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe risks of severe COVID-19 infection increases from age 45, said MOH, adding that this testing strategy will progressively be extended to include more groups.
"We aim to test all individuals who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection at first presentation to a doctor," said MOH in a media release.
"There is clinical and scientific evidence to show that a person is most infectious right before and immediately after the start of symptoms. Testing individuals diagnosed with ARI would therefore allow us to detect infected individuals early to quickly contain further spread."
Before this, the strategy to test those with acute respiratory infection applied to groups such as seniors 65 years old and above, healthcare workers, staff members of educational institutions, as well as students aged 13 and above.
AdvertisementAdvertisement[h=3]READ: 13 cases of COVID-19 detected through 'random testing' at GPs and polyclinics under MOH surveillance programme[/h][h=3]READ: Recent rise in COVID-19 community cases due to 'proactive' screening, situation remains 'under control'[/h]As part of Singapore's expanding testing strategy, close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases will also be tested before the start of their quarantine.
"If anyone tests positive, we start contract tracing again based on this person’s activity map," said MOH.
"In this way, we broaden the list of suspect cases, and are able to isolate them early, and stop the virus from spreading."
Individuals with respiratory symptoms should see a doctor immediately so that they can be tested if necessary, said MOH.
It added that it has started regular testing of frontline workers supporting its operations and those returning to work in the construction, marine and process sectors, as part of further "active surveillance testing" in the community.
More regional screening centres will also be set up to make testing more convenient.
[h=3]READ: COVID-19: Singapore launches drive-through facility for re-swab tests[/h]MOH also gave an update on smartphone-based contact tracing app TraceTogether, which now has two million users.
The wearable TraceTogether tokens will rolled out from the end of June, starting with the elderly.
[h=3]READ: COVID-19 contact tracing ‘absolutely essential’; wearable TraceTogether tokens to be rolled out in June[/h][h=3]BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments[/h]Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
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