Stay-Home Notice To Replace LOAs, Those Returning To S’pore From China Must Remain Indoors For 14 Days

Stay-Home Notice Will Enforce Returnees From China To Remain Indoors For 14 Days

From 19 Feb onwards, Singapore will replace Leaves of Absence (LOAs) with a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in a bid to up its containment regime of Covid-19.

Singaporean residents and those on long-term passes returning from mainland China must stay at home 24 hours a day, for 14 days.

Source

The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed the move in a press release today (17 Feb).

The new SHN will take effect from 11.59pm on Tuesday (18 Feb).

Those on Stay-Home Notice may share rooms with family

Unlike the LOA which allows people to leave their homes briefly for grocery runs and such, the SHN forces them to stay strictly at home throughout the 14-day period.

Channel NewsAsia (CNA) quoted Minister For Development Lawrence Wong, who told reporters that family members can still stay in the house with those on SHN.

They may also receive visitors, but those people will have to take “some precautions”.

Mr Wong advised that family and visitors follow good hygiene practices.

Penalties for those who disobey SHN

Just like the LOA, those who flout the SHN will risk facing substantial penalties.

Under Section 21A of the Infectious Diseases Act, the following punishments will apply:

• Revocation of work passes & repatriation of foreign workers
• Withdrawal of work pass privileges for employers
• Disciplinary actions for students
• Shorter validity or revocation of Re-Entry Permit, LTVP or DP for PRs, LTVP and Dependant’s Pass (DP) holders

Image sourced via AFP 

Hopefully with a stricter containment measure in place, Singapore will be able to curb the Covid-19 spread more effectively and efficiently.

Featured image adapted from AFP.