All incoming travellers are to serve a mandatory 14-day Stay-Home Notice, so chances are you’ll know someone, or are even living with someone that’s been issued a SHN.
How much contact should you have with this person then?
While it is not necessary to be segregated from the person placed under SHN (you can continue to share the same room/apartment), you are encouraged to reduce interaction and minimise contact with them.
For instance, don’t share a bed, avoid common areas, have separate meal times or eat in dedicated spaces.
Here are 5 things you need to take note of:
- Avoid sharing the same toilet with persons under SHN where possible. If not possible, toilet must be cleaned after each use by the person under SHN.
- Avoid having visitors to the residence.
- Avoid sharing food, crockery, utensils and other personal hygiene items.
- Maintain good personal hygiene at all times. This includes flushing the toilet after use and regular hand washing with soap and water (including before and after handling food or eating, and after going to the toilet).
- Ensure that the home is clean and well-ventilated, and ensure that frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, taps, handles, countertops are wiped down with disinfectant regularly.
Are more precautions needed if there are vulnerable persons in the household?
Yes! Advise the person under SHN to avoid interacting with the vulnerable persons. Examples of vulnerable persons would include seniors aged 60 and above, or persons with underlying health conditions.
Consider alternative accommodation if these interactions cannot be avoided.
What if someone in the household develops a fever/respiratory symptoms?
Seek medical assistance right away at the nearest Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC).
Inform the doctor that you are living with a person on SHN.
Advisory for dorm operators, landlords and management of premises/facilites
- You should not evict occupants under SHN from their residence
- If an occupant under SHN is sharing a room with others, there should be a wide separation between beds and dedicated spaces for storage of belongings. Occupants under SHN should not mix in spaces allocated to other persons.
- Occupants under SHN should remain at their place of residence at all times. They are not to use public common facilities such as function rooms or gyms, and should avoid having visitors.
- Ensure that facilities/premises are kept clean. Routine cleaning of facilities/premises should be carried out as per normal. No special precautions, such as masks, gloves or disinfectant use, are needed beyond that used for routine cleaning.
- If the occupant under SHN becomes unwell, has a fever/respiratory symtoms, take down the names and contact details of all persons who have come into close contact with the occupant when he/she was feeling unwell.
The occupant should seek medical attention through the relevant channels. If the occupant is confirmed to have COVID-19, MOH officers will contact the facility operator/management to trace all those who came into contact with the occupant.
It is important to comply with the Stay-Home Notice.
Individuals who don’t and leave their residence may be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act.
First-time offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.
