Response To Media Queries On ICA’s Enforcement To Ensure Compliance With SHN
The Stay-Home Notice (SHN) was implemented on 18 February 2020, 2359hrs for all travellers returning from mainland China (outside of Hubei) who are Singapore residents (Singapore citizens, permanent residents), Long-Term Pass holders, and foreign employees issued with a Work Pass, to remain at their place of residence at all times for a 14-day period. This is a precautionary measure to minimise the risk that such travellers returning from mainland China may transmit the virus in Singapore, if they were infected while in mainland China.
The SHN was progressively expanded to include travellers returning from:
- Daegu city and Cheongdo county in the Republic of Korea from 26 February, 2359hrs
- The whole of the Republic of Korea, as well as Iran and northern Italy from 4 March, 2359hrs
As of 9 March, 0800hrs, more than 7,000 SHNs have been issued.
To ensure compliance, ICA adopts a three-pronged enforcement approach:
- Text messages are sent at various times a day to persons issued with the SHN. They are then required to update ICA of their location within an hour, through their phone’s GPS location service via a unique web link provided in the text message.
- Phone calls are made randomly, and also to those who do not respond to the text messages. These persons will be required to take photos of their surroundings, for verification of their whereabouts.
- House visits are conducted on those who did not respond to the calls or text messages. Random house visits are also conducted.
ICA will not hesitate to take enforcement measures against those who do not comply with the requirements of the SHN. Anyone who fails to comply with an SHN may face the following penalties:
- Prosecution under Section 21A of the Infectious Diseases Act;
- If one is a Singapore Permanent Resident, Long-Term Visit Pass holder, Dependant’s Pass holder or Student’s Pass holder, the validity of their passes may be shortened, or their passes revoked;
- If one is a foreign employee issued with a Work Pass, it may be revoked; and
- d. If one’s child/ward is a full-time student attending a preschool, school or other educational institutions in Singapore, the child/ward might be subjected to disciplinary action, including suspension or dismissal. For foreign students, we may also cancel the child/ward’s Student’s Pass or Dependant’s Pass.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
11 March 2020