Estimated Timeline for Wide Availability of Viable Rapid COVID-19 Test Kit to Allow Progressive Resumption of Economic Activities
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Sitoh Yih Pin’s inquiry regarding the timeline for viable rapid COVID-19 test kits and their potential to facilitate the progressive resumption of economic activities. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong responded that the Ministry of Health is currently evaluating alternative testing technologies based on factors such as clinical performance, cost, and ease of administration. He noted that such kits, combined with contact tracing and safe management measures, could support the reopening of travel-related industries and large-scale events. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong stated that some tests may be deployed in the months ahead as the ministry works out practical incorporation into the national response. He emphasized that testing is not foolproof and must be accompanied by mask-wearing, personal hygiene, and safe distancing to mitigate transmission risks.
Transcript
14 Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the estimated timeline of when a viable rapid COVID-19 test kit will become widely available; and (b) whether this, coupled with universal contact tracing, can allow sectors such as aviation, hospitality and other related businesses to resume progressively.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Ministry of Health (MOH) currently deploys Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing using nasopharyngeal samples as the main mode of testing and sampling. As new testing technologies become available, MOH actively evaluates these alternative tests and sampling methods to ensure that they can be deployed in a safe and effective manner. The key evaluation considerations include: the combined clinical performance of the test and sampling method, ease of administration, throughput, total turnaround time when using the test, and cost.
Some of the rapid COVID-19 test kits under evaluation are showing promising results. Increased testing facilitated by such rapid test kits, coupled with strengthened containment efforts including contact tracing, and adherence to appropriate safe management measures, have potential to allow us to resume more activities, including travel related industries and larger scale events. We hope to be able to deploy some of these alternative tests in the months ahead, as we work out practical ways to incorporate such rapid testing into our national COVID-19 response.
While testing can help to reduce transmission risks, it is not foolproof. A negative test does not mean that an individual is free from COVID-19. For example, an individual who may be incubating the virus might not be picked up at the point of test.
We therefore need to combine testing with contact tracing and other public health measures. The public must also continue to adhere to safe management measures such as the wearing of masks, practising good personal hygiene, and observing safe distancing, to keep everyone safe.