PM Lee visits site as mandatory Covid-19 testing begins for residents of Block 456 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
SINGAPORE – Mandatory Covid-19 testing for residents of Block 456 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 started on Sunday morning (July 25).
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is one of the MPs for Ang Mo Kio GRC, arrived at about 12.20pm and spoke to residents, shop owners and swabbing staff before leaving around 1pm.
The testing operation is being held at the pavilion at Block 460A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 and began at 9am on Sunday.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is investigating likely Covid-19 transmission at the block after eight cases of Covid-19 infection was detected in four households.
Most of these cases are linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster and epidemiological investigations are ongoing, the ministry said on Saturday.
It is also testing owners and staff of commercial units at Block 456.
Testing is optional for those who have tested negative for Covid-19 infection from July 20 onwards.
One of those who went to get tested was Madam Adeline Lum, 43, who headed to the pavilion at about 10.45am.
The swab was slightly uncomfortable but the process was smooth, said the customer service officer who lives in Block 456.
She added that she is worried about the Covid-19 clusters and the spread of the virus, so she avoids going to malls and limits her meet-ups outside with others.
“We have to play safe and play our part. And in my home we have an elderly lady – my landlord – so we have to be more cautious,” said Madam Lum.
Her landlord, 82, is not vaccinated due to heart issues but the rest of the household has been vaccinated.
Mr Koh Kee Sheng, 26, said his parents, who own Koh Huat Heng Minimart at Block 456, were both swabbed on Sunday morning and were given priority as they are senior citizens.
He plans to head over in the afternoon when there are less people queuing.
His mother Madam Ng Kah Noi, 69, and father Mr Koh Kiang How, 73, both live nearby at Block 460.
The younger Mr Koh, a cashier at a food and beverage outlet, said that he is not too worried about the cluster, as his family had all tested negative with the Antigen Rapid Test kits given out by the Government earlier.
He had collected the kits when MOH said that residents who had visited or lived near Chong Boon Market & Food Centre at Block 453A Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 could get the free test kits.
He is not yet vaccinated and is unsure of his parents’ vaccination status.
He added: “Times are quite bad for us during the pandemic, but the cluster here should not affect our business too much because most of our customers are residents in this area so it is still convenient for them.”
MOH also said that to detect possible asymptomatic cases in the community, it will also conduct voluntary Covid-19 testing for visitors and those who have interacted with residents of Block 456 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 between July 9 and 23.
Testing will be conducted by appointment only at designated Regional Screening Centres from Saturday to Monday and at the pavilion at Block 460A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 from Sunday to Monday, between 9am and 4pm, it added.
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