To return to work or school after you have fully recovered from Covid-19, you will no longer need a recovery note or memo from a doctor.
In a press release by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (5 February), there has been a reported surge in the number of patients across General Practitioner (GP) clinics. Many of these patients visit clinics just to obtain a letter or memo to support them going back to work or school.
"These visits are not necessary and risk compromising the standard of care for other patients who genuinely require medical attention," said MOH.
Return To Work or School Note From Doctor Not Needed
The ministry gave a reminder on the current health protocols in Singapore. They are as follows:
- Those who have tested positive for Covid-19 with an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) are to self-isolate at home for at least 72 hours.
- If they are well, they can exit isolation to resume normal activities once they test negative on their self-administered ART.
So they will not need a letter or memo from doctors to certify they have recovered from Covid-19 to get back to work or return to school. This includes preschools and Institutes of Higher Learning.
Employers and Employees Advised to Familiarise Themselves With Health Protocols
MOH advises employers and employees to familiarise themselves with the Covid-19 health protocols. For instance, employers should not be asking for recovery memos from their employees when they get back to work.
Meanwhile, employees who test positive for Covid-19 should immediately inform their employers. They should also not return to the workplace to prevent spreading the virus. If they are well, then they should be allowed to work from home if they are able to do so.
For those unable to work from home, employers should treat their period of absence as paid sick leave without requiring a medical certificate (MC) from the employees.
Employees on Protocol 2 may self-administer ART after at least 72 hours of isolation. Those who feel weel and test negative should be allowed by their employers to return to the workplace without requiring any further recovery memo or medical assessment from a doctor.
"Sharing of the self-test ART results or on-site ART administration can serve as alternatives," the ministry added."
Students Do Not Need a Recovery Memo
Students and staff who contracted Covid-19 will not need to obtain a recovery note from their doctors before returning to school. This applies to the following:
- Preschools
- Early Intervention centres
- MOE Kindergartens
- Primary schools
- Secondary schools
- Special Education schools
- Junior colleges
- Millennia Institute
- Institutes of Higher Learning
Students can return to school once they feel well and test negative for Covod-19 infections after at least 72 hours of self-isolation.
"To ensure a safer learning environment for everyone, it is important that we all exercise personal responsibility to monitor our own health and the health of our children and family members closely," reminds MOH.
Source: MOH
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