SINGAPORE — A site at Tanjong Pagar Terminal is being set aside to make space for a Covid-19 isolation facility should the need arises, the authorities said.

Large tentages and hydraulic cranes were seen at the site when TODAY visited on Thursday (April 23).  In response to TODAY’s queries, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said that the Government is continuing to seek out more space to cater to future medical needs, including facilities for suspect cases or infected workers, and also for workers who are recovering or who have fully recovered.

This is on top of existing community isolation facilities at D’Resort NTUC in Pasir Ris, the Singapore Expo Convention Hall and Exhibition Centre and, soon, the Changi Exhibition Centre. 

“The Tanjong Pagar Terminal site is part of this broader plan to ensure we have adequate space to meet such future demands,” MND said.

At the Singapore Expo, there are close to 2,000 patients being housed in a few halls there, while Changi Exhibition Centre can take up to 2,800 people when open.

Singapore’s migrant worker population has come under the spotlight as the recent spike in Covid-19 cases has largely stemmed from workers living in dormitories and the extensive testing by the health authorities. These cases have pushed infections in Singapore past the 10,000 mark this week.

MND said in its statement that the inter-agency task force dealing with the Covid-19 crisis has moved about 10,000 workers, including those working in essential services, out of the dormitories. 

These workers who are healthy are housed in various locations such as Singapore Armed Forces camps, Home Team facilities, floating hotels, vacant Housing and Development Board blocks and converted sports halls.  

“They will be self-isolated and tested before they are allowed to work,” it said.

The multi-ministry task force has separately announced that with effect from April 22 this month, there will be no more movement of workers from the dormitories.

Even so, MND said that the Government will continue to explore setting aside more space for various reasons related to the housing of Covid-19 patients or suspect cases.

To ensure that acute care hospitals will have the continued capacity to treat patients suffering from the coronavirus, two community isolation facilities have been set up, with a third underway.

These facilities are meant to accommodate patients who are clinically well but still test positive for the coronavirus or they are newly confirmed cases with mild symptoms who do not need extensive medical treatment.