SINGAPORE — From Dec 3, up to 3,000 vaccinated migrant workers a day will be allowed to leave their dormitories to go anywhere in the community for up to eight hours each time, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday (Nov 15).

Currently, the community visit programme for migrant workers allows only up to 3,000 workers a week into the community, and only to visit Little India and Geylang Serai.

The necessary safeguards, such as taking an antigen rapid test before they leave their dormitories, will remain in place after the expansion of the programme.

The expansion comes at a time when 98 per cent of migrant workers residing in dormitories are fully vaccinated, the ministry said.

Migrant workers are also taking up booster vaccinations at “an encouraging pace” as they become eligible, it added.

Coronavirus infections in workers' dormitories have stabilised over the last few weeks, with an average daily number of 143 migrant workers testing positive in the last week. The residents also have to undergo weekly testing, regardless of vaccination status.

RECREATION CENTRE VISITS

MOH said that it will also make recreation centre visits more accessible for migrant workers.

From Dec 3, they will be allowed to visit their designated recreation centre daily with an extended duration of eight hours for each visit, up from the thrice-weekly cap on recreation centre visits that is now in place.

Unvaccinated migrant workers must undergo a pre-visit antigen rapid test to be allowed entry into the centres.

From mid-December, MOH will further increase access to the recreation centres and allow migrant workers to visit any recreation centre of their choice.

The Ministry of Manpower is working with recreation centre operators to increase the variety of activities at these venues, such as organising screenings of movies and sports games, and putting in place processes to manage a larger number of visits from migrant workers.