Changi Airport Terminal Buildings, Jewel closed to public for 14 days

Special covid testing operation as Changi Airport Cluster grows

As the Changi Airport cluster continues to grow, Changi Airport Terminal Buildings and Jewel will be closed to the public for 14 days starting today (13 May) while a special testing operation takes place to test all workers in Terminals 1 and 3.

All airport workers and staff working in Jewel are also urged to refrain from going out for the 14 days except for essential work or activities, or until they have been tested negative for COVID-19. They should also not be redeployed to other workplaces or outlets during this period, CAG said in a statement.

This follows from the detection of COVID-19 cases forming the Changi Airport cluster. The first case in the cluster was detected on May 5 when an 88-year-old man who works as a cleaner at Terminal 3 tested positive.

A Victoria Junior College student who tested positive for the virus on May 7 is also linked to the Changi Airport cluster. The cluster is now the second-largest cluster in Singapore.

The special testing operation is mounted to quickly detect, isolate and treat any potential COVID-19 cases in the airport community, Changi Airport Group (CAG) said in a statement.

While the terminal buildings and Jewel will be closed to the public, Changi Airport remains open for air travel during this period. Passengers may also continue to be dropped off and picked up from the airport, CAG said. Access to the Passenger Terminal Buildings will be restricted to only passengers with air tickets and essential airport workers. Some essential services and food & beverage outlets will remain open to serve them. Members of the public will not be allowed to enter the Passenger Terminal Buildings.

Given the evolving nature of COVID-19, CAG said they will continue to review and adjust the measures as necessary, including extending the closure if required.

Co-chair of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce, Lawrence Wong said in a ministerial statement in Parliament on Tuesday that Singapore is now on a knife-edge, with community case numbers that could go either way over the next few weeks.

While Singapore has a chance of “getting things under control” by the end of the month, it only takes “one lapse or one irresponsible action” for an infection to happen, he said.

Let’s all play our part well to keep each other safe.

[irp posts=”8144″ name=”Stricter measures from 8 May through 30 May brings us back to Phase 2″]

Share:

On Key

Related Posts