All stallholders selling fresh fish and seafood at markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or operators appointed by the agency were not allowed to open shop on Sunday morning as a precaution, said NEA.
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The move is to prevent any further transmission in the light of Covid-19 clusters involving fishmongers who visited the Jurong Fishery Port to collect their stock and sell at the markets, NEA said in a statement on Sunday.
Stalls not selling fresh fish or seafood can continue to operate while the testing of stallholders is taking place over the next few days.
NEA also urged all stallholders and stall assistants to get tested, and all visitors to avoid crowds at food centres and markets.
They should visit during off-peak hours where possible, and to strictly observe safe management measures, it added.
These stallholders have or will be receiving an SMS Health Risk Warning (HRW) from the Ministry of Health. The HRW means that they are required by law to get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at designated testing centres.
Until tested negative, they are required to self-isolate and not leave their homes.
Affected fish and seafood stallholders can also to walk in to specified regional screening centres at the former Da Qiao Primary School in Ang Mo Kio, the former Coral Primary School in Pasir Ris, the former Bedok North Secondary School, the former Bishan Park Secondary School and the former Shuqun Secondary School for testing.
Once they receive a negative PCR test result, they will be able to resume business.
Fresh fish and seafood stallholders will also be issued with self-test antigen rapid test (ART) kits and are required to self-administer an ART on the seventh day from the last time they were exposed to a likely Covid-19 case.
They will be required to undergo another PCR test at designated testing centres around the 14th day from their date of last known exposure.
The Ministry of Health has also arranged with NEA to conduct Covid-19 testing for all stallholders and stall assistants of market stalls and cooked food stalls at hawker centres and markets managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operators.
These stallholders and stall assistants will receive an SMS notification with details of the scheduled test. ■