A thermal scanner installed at Changi Airport of Singapore checks passenger's body temperature (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Singapore has begun to chargeforeigners infected with coronavirus for treatment after recording three newimported cases.
In its statement, the country’s Ministry ofHealth said foreigners who are short-term visit pass holders seeking treatmentfor COVID-19 in Singapore will need to pay for their treatment. However,testing for the novel coronavirus that causes the disease remains free.
It noted: “In view of the rising number ofCOVID-19 infections globally, and the expected rise in the number of confirmedcases in Singapore, we will need to prioritise the resources at publichospitals.”
Treatment of severe respiratory infections inpublic hospitals of Singapore costs between 6,000 – 8,000 SGD (4,300 – 5,800USD), according to the ministry’s website.
The new policy came into force on March 7, whenlocal authorities announced two Indonesians with COVID-19 symptoms arrived inSingapore. Earlier, they had reported symptoms in Indonesia, and one of themhad sought check-up at a hospital in Jakarta.
Another case is a Singaporean citizen whovisited a relative who had pneumonia in Indonesia.
So far, Singapore has confirmed 160 cases ofCOVID-19 infection. Of those, 33 were infected with the virus in othercountries, including 24 cases from China, three from Indonesia, and some othersfrom Italy, the UK, France and Germany./.
VNA
