On 26 March 2020, the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 Stay Orders) Regulations 2020 ("Regulations") was promulgated.

The period between 26 March 2020 and 30 April 2020 (both dates inclusive) has been determined as the "control period".

An "at-risk individual" refers to an individual:

  1. who enters Singapore (by any means) during the control period;
  2. before or during the control period, comes into contact with someone who is infected or suspected to be infected with COVID-19;
  3. before or during the control period, underwent a COVID-19 test swab and test results are pending or uncertain; or
  4. during the control period appears to be exposed to the risk of infection. 

Regulations

During the control period:

  1. Any at-risk individual ordered to stay at a specified place of accommodation for a period not exceeding 14 days (e.g. an individual served with a 14-day Stay-Home Notice) must not leave said place of accommodation;
  2. Any individual issued a medical certificate certifying that he/she has an acute respiratory symptom must not leave his/her place of accommodation for a period of 5 days.

A breach of the Regulations amount to a criminal offence. A person found guilty shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

Implications

Employers must ensure all employees who are serving Stay-Home Notices do not go to work under any circumstance. Similarly, employees certified to have an acute respiratory symptom by a medical practitioner must not report to work under any circumstances.

If possible, employers should allow affected employees to work from home. If working from home is not feasible, employers may consider:

  1. Treating employees' absence from work as paid hospitalisation leave or paid outpatient sick leave;
  2. Allowing employees to apply for annual leave / no pay leave or use advanced paid leave;
  3. Reaching mutually agreed arrangements between the employers and employees / unions.

Employers should also advise all employees who are coughing, sneezing, having a runny nose or experiencing breathlessness to seek medical attention immediately.

If you would like information on this or any other area of law, you may wish to contact the Partner at WongPartnership whom you normally work with or any of the following Partners:

Jenny TSIN
Joint Head – Employment
d +65 6416 8110
e jenny.tsin@wongpartnership.com
Click here to view Jenny's CV.

Vivien YUI
Joint Head – Employment
d +65 6416 8009
e vivien.yui@wongpartnership.com
Click here to view Vivien's CV.