Currently, daily new COVID-19 cases are hitting above the 2,000-mark. Unlike the beginning of 2020, when cases were confined to dormitory, today’s cases are predominantly within the community. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is forecasting daily new cases to cross 3,200 “soon” and even 5,000 cases by mid-October.
The latest tightened measures already mean that we are in a 100% work-from-home between 27 September 2021 to 24 October 2021, for employees who can do so. Going forward, employers (and employees) must be ready to work through various Safe Management Measures (SMM).
Employees May Be Served With Different Types Of COVID-19 Notices
Like it or not, businesses must manage various operational challenges. One of those is how to treat employees that have been issued the different types of notices. These include:
- Isolation Order for Home Recovery
- Quarantine Order (QO)
- Leave of Absence (LOA)
- Stay Home Notice (SHN)
- Health Risk Warning (HRW)
- Health Risk Alert (HRA)
When Employees Are On Isolation Order for Home Recovery
Home Recovery is the default model for majority of COVID-19 patients today. The Isolation Order issued to COVID-19 patients for Home Recovery falls under the Infectious Diseases Act.
This is meant to free up hospital resources for those who require it more. An Isolation Order for Home Recovery will be issued to COVID-19 patients if they are:
- Full vaccinated
- Aged 12 to 69
- No or mild symptoms
- No other severe illness or co-morbidities
- No household members over 80 or deemed vulnerable
The Isolation Order for Home Recovery will last for 10 days. There will not be any need to wait for a discharge after Day 10. However, individuals should minimise social interactions for the next 7 days.
For employers, it’s safe to assume that individuals on Isolation Order for Home recovery should be considered on MC or hospitalisation leave. Since social interactions are discouraged for the next 7 days, employers can consider work-from-home arrangements for the following 7 days.
Household members must register as close contacts to receive their own Quarantine Order (QO). This means employees who are close contacts of COVID-19 patients may have to register themselves for QO.
When Employees Are Issued With A Quarantine Order (QO)
A Quarantine Order is a legal order under the Infectious Diseases Act. Those suspected to be a carrier of the COVID-19 virus will receive an SMS from the Ministry of Health (MOH) to inform them of their Quarantine Order (QO). Household members of those on Home Recovery will also have to self-register for their Quarantine Order.
Once individuals receive a QO, they must go home immediately to self-isolate (preferably with an attached bathroom). Individuals can serve their QO at home or at a dedicated Government Quarantine facility.
The QO will last 10 days from an individual’s date of exposure. They are not allowed to leave self-isolation except to travel to designated centres for their Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests at the start and end of their QO.
If their PCR test is negative, within 24 to 48 hours, they will receive another SMS to rescind their QO. They will have to administer Antigen Rapid Test (ART) from Day 11 to Day 14.
According to MOM, QOs should be treated as paid hospitalisation leave or exercise compassion to grant additional paid hospitalisation leave. Employers may require their employees under QO to work-from-home.
Read Also: 7 Uniquely Singapore Care Packages Companies Can Send To Employees And Clients
When Employees Are Issued With A Heath Risk Warning (HRW)
Individuals who are close contacts or have been in close proximity with a confirmed COVID-19 case for an extended period of time will receive a HRW via SMS. HRWs will last 10 days.
Such individuals should take a PCR test within 48 hours. They should also self-isolate immediately. On Days 3, 5 and 7, they should self-test using an ART, and submit their results. They also need to book their second PCR test on Day 8, and can end their HRW with a negative PCR result on Day 10.
While employees can technically return to work after a negative PCR test result from Day 8, they should “only go to your workplace if absolutely necessary”. As HRWs are legally binding, employers should allow employees to use their medical leave or hospitalisation leave for their HRWs.
When Employees Are Issued With A Health Risk Alert (HRA)
Individuals who had a possible exposure to a COVID-19 case will receive a Health Risk Alert via SMS. While they are not subject to any actions by law, they should self-test with an ART within 24 hours. On Days 3 and 5, they should repeat self-tests and submit their results.
While there is no obligation on employers, you can consider allowing such employees to work-from-home. This will reduce any possible spread of COVID-19.
When Employees Are Issued With A Leave of Absence (LOA)
Individuals may be asked to go on an LOA by public agencies as a precautionary measure. When this happens, individuals should remain in their residences as much as possible and minimise social interactions. They should also monitor their health closely.
Individuals on LOA can leave their home for daily necessities or important matter, but must minimise time spent in public space and contact with others. They should also refrain from attending social or public gatherings.
According to Gov.sg, residents, long-term pass holders who return from China and all workers from mainland China are required to take a 14-day LOA. All employers must also report to MOM when such workers are returning.
As such employees are required to minimise social interactions, employers can similarly provide such employees with paid hospitalisation leave.
When Employees Are Issued With A Stay-Home Notice (SHN)
Typically, travellers granted entry into Singapore will be issued a Stay-Home Notice (SHN). This is to minimise risk of imported COVID-19 cases. Individuals will have to remain in their residence at all times, except for their COVID-19 test appointment. Individuals who breach their SHN may be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act.
The number of days they will be in SHN depends on the location they are arriving from. For Category 1 locations, they just have to self-isolation until they receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test result (usually within 24 hours). For those arriving from Category 4 locations, the SHN can go up to 10 days.
Such individuals can do their SHN in their home. They should avoid interactions with others they live with and are prohibited from interacting with people they are not living with.
Employers who require employees to travel from overseas location should be ready for the required SHN duration.
Employees Who Test Positive For ART
As part of the Routine Rostered Testing (RRT) and for work-from-home employees who return to the office, they are required to self-test via ART.
When employees test positive, they are advised to self-isolate at home instead of immediately seeking medical care if they are physically well. There is no need for such individuals to undergo a confirmatory PCR test either.
Employers should allow employees to work-from-home or allow them to take sick leave or hospitalisation leave.
Employees should self-test again after 72 hours of self-isolation, if the result is negative, they may return to their workplace and daily activities. If the result is positive, they should continue to self-isolate and take another ART every 24 hours until they receive a negative ART result. When they eventually receive a negative result, they can return to their workplace and daily activities.
Household members and other employees who are close contacts of ART-positive employees should monitor their health for 10 days and do regular ART self-test. Nevertheless, there is no movement restrictions placed on such individuals.
Read Also: 6 Things To Note About The Fast and Easy Testing (FET) For Employees (According to MOH)
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