FairPrice supermarkets at Hillion Mall, Bukit Panjang Plaza among places visited by COVID-19 cases while infectious
by Ian ChengSINGAPORE: FairPrice supermarkets at Bukit Panjang Plaza and Hillion Mall have been added to a list of public places visited by COVID-19 cases during their infectious period.
The new places identified on Wednesday (May 27) by the Ministry of Health (MOH) are the Jurong West 505 Market and Food Centre at 505 Jurong West Street 52, an NTUC FairPrice store at Hillion Mall and a FairPrice Finest store at Bukit Panjang Plaza.
The updated list of places are:
The NTUC FairPrice store and a Japanese “food street”, both at Jurong Point shopping centre, were listed on Monday, the first time MOH released such a list.
The wet market at Block 963 Jurong West Street 91 and FairPrice Xtra store were added to the list on Tuesday.
In response to queries from CNA, FairPrice said it is monitoring all employees at its Jurong Point outlets, and that none have been unwell.
It added that all FairPrice staff members have been given masks, which are worn while they are working, and their temperatures are taken at least twice a day.
"FairPrice continues to work closely with the authorities to protect the well-being of our staff and customers during this circuit breaker period," it said.
The supermarket chain also urged members of the public to make their purchases quickly and return home, and not linger outside unnecessarily.
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The health ministry said on Monday the list includes public places COVID-19 cases had visited for more than 30 minutes.
"As a precautionary measure, persons who had been at these locations during the specified timings should monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit," said MOH.
"They should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history."
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Those who had been identified as close contacts of confirmed cases would already have been notified, the ministry said.
The list will be updated on a 14-day rolling basis to cover one incubation period and as epidemiological investigations progress, MOH added.
It excludes the cases’ residence, workplaces, healthcare facilities and public transport.
Singapore reported 533 new cases of COVID-19 as of noon on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 32,876.
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