The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Changi Airport Group (CAG), in consultation with the Ministry of Health (MOH), are stepping up measures to strengthen our defence against Covid-19. F
rontline workers at the airport have been doing their best to secure Singapore’s borders while ensuring that Singapore stays connected to the world even during the pandemic.
However, the occurrence of eight Covid-19 cases at Changi Airport over the last ten days is worrying.
Whilst 92% of frontline aviation workers have been vaccinated, the risk of infection remains.
All workers in Changi Airport’s Terminals 1 and 3 (Terminal 2 is not operating), as well as in Jewel Changi Airport, will undergo a mandatory Covid-19 test in a special testing operation starting 9 May 2021, to quickly detect, isolate and treat any potential Covid-19 cases in the airport community. About 9,000 workers will be tested.
Changi Airport Terminal 3 Basement 2 (T3 B2) will be closed to the public temporarily with effect from 10 May 2021, pending MOH’s epidemiological investigations.
T3 B2 is of particular concern as several of the Covid-19 cases had visited outlets there.
CAAS and CAG will work with affected companies to minimise the impact of these arrangements on their staff and airport operations.
The main cleaning contractor for Changi Airport Terminal 3 will be placed on a safety time-out for 14 days with effect from 10 May 2021, following the detection of four Covid-19 positive cases amongst its cleaners.
During this period, the contractor will be required to conduct a full safety review, complete refresher training for their cleaners, and reinforce segregation arrangements at work for their cleaners to minimise mixing.
It will resume cleaning of Terminal 3’s public areas when all these requirements have been met and all its staff have tested negative for Covid-19.
The airport’s main security service provider will also be stepping up its Safe Management Measures (SMMs) given the discovery of two Covid-19 cases amongst its airport staff.
All workers and travellers are required to comply strictly with SMMs whilst in the airport.
Given the evolving nature of Covid-19, the measures will continually be reviewed and strengthened as necessary.
