Visits to hospital wards and residential care homes will be suspended with effect from 24 January 2022 to 20 February 2022.
This decision was made by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to provide extra protection to the patients and healthcare workers as Singapore is currently in the midst of a Omicron wave.
Discretionary visits allowed
Discretion will still be given by hospitals and care homes for visitors to visit if the patients are critically ill during the suspension period.
Phone and video calls will be the main form of communication to help patients and residents keep in touch with their families and loved ones.
Patient groups which are allowed visitors
MOH added that there will still be a few patient groups which will be allowed visitors during this period of time, after an assessment by the hospitals based on the unique circumstances of each case.
They are:
- Patients in critical condition
- Paediatric patients
- Expectant mothers or have mother who have just given birth
- Patients needing extra care from caregivers, eg: those with mental incapacities or whose family members are undergoing caregiver training to provide them with better care after their discharge.
One designated visitor will be allowed and they are only entitled on one visit a day.
Critical condition patients may also be allowed up to five, with two at the bedside at a time.
Entry conditions
Safe management rules in place must be strictly adhered to such as wearing of surgical masks or masks with good filtration and no food and drinks in ward.
Regardless of vaccination status, visitors must show a negative ART test result within a 24 hour period from their last visit.
Visitors who have recovered within 180 days may be exempted from these by showing an exemption notice.
Proof of valid result which shows a time stamp and photo identity must be shown by the fully vaccinated or the ineligible while those who are unvaccinated must show results done under supervision of approved MOH test providers.
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