Three Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers based at ICA Building, 10 Kallang Road, tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on 8 April 2020. They are listed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) as Cases 1553, 1650 and 1698. Case 1553 is currently warded at National University Hospital, while cases 1650 and 1698 are warded at Changi General Hospital. ICA is in touch with all three officers to render support and assistance.

2.         In addition, a healthcare assistant and an Auxiliary Police Officer engaged by ICA at ICA Building also tested positive for COVID-19. The healthcare assistant is listed as Case 1733 and tested positive on 8 April, and is currently warded at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. The Auxiliary Police Officer is listed as Case 1950 and tested positive on 9 April, and is currently warded at Changi General Hospital.

Case 1553

3.          Case 1553 last reported for work on Monday, 6 April 2020 and developed a high fever that night. He sought medical treatment at a polyclinic the next morning, and was referred to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) for further medical examination. He was subsequently confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on 8 April.

4.          On 6 April, the officer was deployed at ICA’s e-Lobby^[1] for approximately two hours to assist customers with their transactions. He was wearing a surgical mask throughout his deployment.

Case 1650

5.          Case 1650 last reported for work on Friday, 27 March 2020. On the night of 29 March, the officer developed a sore throat, cough and had diarrhoea, and sought medical treatment at a clinic the next morning. He was given five days of medical leave from 30 March to 3 April, which was later extended to 7 April. He was subsequently confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on 8 April. The officer is deployed at a staff unit and primarily works in a staff-only area.

Case 1698

6.          Case 1698 last reported for work on Thursday, 26 March 2020. The officer felt unwell on 28 March and sought medical treatment at a clinic on the same day. She was given five days of medical leave from 30 March to 3 April. As her condition did not improve, the officer was admitted to Changi General Hospital on 7 April, where she was subsequently confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on 8 April. The officer is deployed in the same staff unit as case 1650.

Case 1733

7.          Case 1733 last reported for work on Saturday, 28 March 2020. She developed a fever and cough on 30 March and sought medical treatment at a polyclinic on the same day. She was on medical leave from 30 March to 7 April. She was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital on 7 April, and confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on 8 April. Case 1733 was assisting with temperature screening at the entrance of ICA Building. She had worn a surgical mask throughout her deployment.

Case 1950

8.          Case 1950 last reported for work on Tuesday, 7 April 2020. He developed respiratory symptoms on 8 April and was on medical leave from 8 April to 12 April. He was subsequently confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on 9 April. Case 1950 is an Auxiliary Police Officer deployed at ICA Building to provide security services. He wore a surgical mask throughout his deployment.

Actions Taken Following Confirmation

9.          ICA, together with our healthcare and security service providers, are assisting MOH with contact tracing efforts. As a precautionary measure, those who were identified to be in close contact with the officers have been instructed to stay home, monitor their health, and practise strict safe distancing.

10.        Upon notification of the confirmed cases, ICA immediately proceeded with thorough disinfection of the public and staff areas that the officers could have gone to at ICA Building. These areas have been disinfected thoroughly in accordance with NEA’s guidelines for environmental cleaning and disinfection of areas for COVID-19 cases. These include areas such as the e-Lobby, public and staff entrances, public and staff lifts, escalators, work stations, meeting rooms, pantries, and public and staff toilets.

11.        As a precautionary measure, ICA Building will be closed on Saturday, 11 April for another round of thorough disinfection. Customers who have appointments with ICA for their urgent requests during this period should make a trip to ICA Building on Monday, 13 April instead.

12.        Meanwhile, ICA is closely monitoring the condition of the affected officers as well as the health of other ICA officers at ICA Building.

Precautionary Measures Taken Before Confirmed COVID-19 Cases of ICA Officers

13.        ICA had implemented precautionary measures since the outbreak of COVID-19 in January 2020.

14.        These measures were further strengthened following the Multi-Ministry Taskforce’s announcement of the elevated set of safe distancing measures announced on 3 April 2020. The measures include the following:

• All officers have been actively monitoring their health and reminded to practise good personal hygiene in accordance with MOH’s advisories, which are disseminated to officers regularly. They are also reminded to practise strict safe distancing measures at work.
• All officers and staff are required to check their temperature twice daily. Those feeling unwell, having a fever or any respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, cough, runny nose) are required to wear a mask and seek medical attention promptly, and stay at home till they have fully recovered. They are required to update their supervisor on their health condition as soon as practicable.
• All officers who can telecommute are required to do so.  
• Frontline officers at the checkpoints and services centres, who interact with members of the public, minimally wear reusable masks. Officers assigned to perform clearance or screening duties on travellers with symptoms are required to wear surgical masks, while those assigned to handle suspect cases are required to wear full personal protective equipment (i.e. N95 mask, disposable gloves and disposal gown).  
• All counters at our checkpoints and services centres are provided with hand sanitiser for officers’ use during their course of duty. Hand sanitiser is also available at the arrival and departure halls as well as our services centres for travellers/members of the public and staff to use.
• The frequency of cleaning of checkpoint premises and ICA Building, in particular the immigration clearance and service counters, has been increased. Fingerprint scanners are also regularly sanitised.
• ICA has implemented temperature screening at the entrance of ICA Building for all members of the public and officers since 13 February 2020, as well as safe distancing measures within the building to ensure that physical distancing of at least one metre is maintained in non-transient settings.
• With the announcement of the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker period, ICA has implemented elevated safe distancing measures at our services centres in ICA Building from 7 April to 4 May 2020. During this period, ICA will restrict over-the-counter services at the ICA Building, and we will attend only to urgent services with pre-approved appointments. (See the announcement on Implementation of Elevated Safe Distancing Measures at ICA.)
• Para counsellors and psychologists are on standby to support any officers who may be psychologically affected.

ICA Officers Remain Steadfast in their Mission

15.        ICA remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of our officers. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and support the Whole-of-Government’s efforts to manage the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore, on top of our duties to secure our borders.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
11 APRIL 2020