Ang Siu Yen, 22 year old Singaporean Permanent Resident, has been given three weeks jail on Wednesday (Sep 1) for breaching her Covid-19 stay home notice after she has been told to stay home till she receives a negative swab test result.
She was diagnosed with respiratory symptoms but shortly after, went to take public transport multiple times and met her boyfriend for shopping in various malls.
The story
Ang visited Healthway Medical Clinic along Yishun Avenue 11 on Oct 24 last year as she was experiencing runny nose, cough with phlegm and a dry sore throat.
She was issued a four day MC after being diagnosed to have upper respiratory tract infection and had to go for a Covid-19 swab test and stay home till the swab results came out.
She acknowledged this but left her Yishun flat several hours later after being swabbed.
She also took public transport like buses and trains to various places like Junction Nine in Yishun, Yew Tee Point and National Library in Bugis and also mingled with her boyfriend and her friends while still on her Stay Home Notice.
Offence came to light
Ang’s swab results came back inconclusive, the doctor went to her residence to inform her but she was not home and therefore contacted her through her housemate to remind her not to leave home.
She did not bother and still continued going out the next day.
The authorities subsequently traced her movements via her EZ-link card records.
She ultimately tested negative for Covid-19 but in her sentencing, the judge said that it was irrelevant whether she was still symptomatic or not as those who have Covid-19 might also be asymptomatic.
Ang could have been given up to six months imprisonment, fined up to S$10,000 or both for breaching the Covid-19 laws in place.
Image source: ica.gov.sg and Google Maps