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As the government plans to push for antigen rapid tests (ART) for businesses whose staff are in “high-risk settings”, affected business owners are hoping that the government would help to subsidise the cost, especially for those who are already struggling with current operating costs.
With regular COVID-19 testing set to become mandatory for businesses whose staffs are involved in “higher-risk mask-off activities”, business owners are hoping the government would help them subsidise the costs for such tests if they are to become a long-term measure, reported The Business Times (BT).
The tests may be in the form of antigen rapid tests (ART), which can yield results in less than 20 minutes.
Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who also serves as Singapore’s COVID-19 taskforce co-chair, on Thursday revealed plans to push for more regular testing of staff in “high-risk settings” in businesses like eateries, facial studios and gyms.
He noted that the cost of testing will be paid for by the government for the first three months.
“We are doing that during this period because it’s important to get tested regularly, and to put this in place,” he said as quoted by BT.
“Beyond that, I think employers themselves will have to start thinking about incorporating these processes as part of their business continuity plans.”
BT reported that while businesses agree that regular testing would improve safety within their premises, they are concerned about the mounting costs that come with the frequency of these tests.
“We’re in support of measures to keep our clients safe . . . and if this is required as part of it, then we will certainly do what was asked of us; but I think for some businesses, it becomes an extra expense – and that could be problematic,” Chris Richards, Managing Director of Asia Pacific and the Middle East at Ultimate Performance, told BT.
This is especially hard considering that these businesses would be operating following a period of closures, he said.
Gyms and fitness studios had to close from 8 May after authorities tightened restrictions following a surge of COVID-19 infections fuelled by the Delta variant that was first detected in India. And while Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) is set to end this Sunday (13 June), gyms and fitness studios are only allowed to reopen on 21 June.
Singapore Fitness Alliance President Sean Tan hopes the government would extend the period for paying for the cost of ARTs, saying providing them “some level of subsidies would be much appreciated”.
“The pressing question for businesses is how regularly they are expected to perform these tests,” said BT.
A spokesperson from Urban Spa told BT that conducting the test once or twice a week would still be okay for them, but requiring them to do it every day “doesn’t make sense”.
Oompf! Fitness Founder and Chief Executive Agnes Liew agreed, noting that the costs could easily add up for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which are already struggling with current costs.
Nonetheless, she described having the tests as a “lesser evil” compared to repeatedly closing and reopening amid rising and falling COVID-19 infections, said BT.
Meanwhile, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has granted interim authorisation for four ART self-test kits as part of efforts to make testing more available.
Two of the self-test kits are manufactured by SD Biosensorm while the rest by Abbott and Quidel. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said the kits will be sold at retail pharmacies including Watsons, Unity and Guardian from 16 June.
MOH advises persons who test positive on an ART to immediately approach a Swab and Send Home Public Health Preparedness Clinic for a confirmatory polymerase chain reaction test.
They are also mandated to self-isolate until they get a negative result, added the ministry.
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Victor Kang, Digital Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this story, email: victorkang@propertyguru.com.sg
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