At a time when we are all highly dependent on our TraceTogether tokens for movement and tracing, it has become more dear– thanks to a replacement fee.
From 4 June, if you lose your TraceTogether token more than once, you will have to pay a replacement fee of S$9 for a new device.
This announcement was made by the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) in a Facebook post on Thursday, (3 June).
TraceTogether Token Lost: Steps To Follow
Image courtesy: Gov.sg
If you or your child has managed to lose the TraceTogether token more than once, here’s what you need to remember:
- You can get your replacement tokens at any community centre.
- If you are facing financial difficulties, you can approach the SNDGO for a fee waiver.
- Faulty or damaged tokens or those with dead batteries will be replaced for free.
- $9 will be taken to cover the cost of the token.
- Payment of the replacement fee can be done via PayNow, ez-link, Nets Flashpay, MasterCard, Visa, JCB and Union Pay.
- Authorities will not accept cash. However, if you can pay only with cash, then you also have the option to approach the TraceTogether counter staff for help.
- To get the replacement token, you will have to show your NRIC or relevant identity documents that have barcodes.
SNDGO stated that with this they hope that the public will be more mindful about taking care of their tokens and be careful not to misplace them.
However, since these tokens were issued in late June last year, the number of people who have lost them multiple times appear to be quite low.
About 95 percent of tokens that have been replaced so far were faulty or had run out of battery. Less than five percent lost their tokens and of these just two percent were lost two or more times.
TraceTogether Tokens Mandatory At All High-Risk Venues
Since May 17 TraceTogether tokens have been made mandatory. This means that you will have to carry them while travelling to higher-risk venues such as malls, workplaces and places of worship, and where people are likely to be in close proximity for prolonged periods.
So, if you don’t have your TraceTogether token, you will not be allowed entry.
The check-ins at these places can be done either with the token or the TraceTogether mobile app.
Note: Other modes of SafeEntry check-in, such as scanning QR codes with a mobile phone or using the Singpass app, have been discontinued.
Care Instructions For TraceTogether Tokens
Image courtesy: Gov.sg
- Always bring your token with you when you step out of your home.
- Check that the green signal is blinking.
- Do not cover up the QR code that is on the token.
- Don’t drop or tamper with the token.
- Never put the token into the heat or on water.
- Token battery lasts 4-6 months. If you notice a blinking red light, or if there is no light, it means that the Token needs a replacement. You can visit any of the CC and get your token replaced for free.
Purpose of TraceTogether Token:
Are TraceTogether tokens safe?
Last month a video surfaced online and on social media claiming that the token exposes a user to a high level of radiation. This 2min 30sec clip shows one using a radio-frequency meter to check and measure the amount of radiation from the TraceTogether token.
This left people questioning the safety of the token.
Refuting the claims, the Singapore government soon issued a clarification saying that the TraceTogether token is safe to use. It further said that they transmit at lower power than even mobile phones, Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and smartwatches.
The government has also stated that the token uses Bluetooth low energy to send and receive data. It added that the token has been tested by an independent laboratory and is “well within Singapore’s regulatory limits for short-range devices” and is “safe for everyday use”.
After the video went viral, Government Technology Agency (GovTech), urged the public not to be “misinformed by fake news”.
Amid the rise in community COVID cases, when contact tracing has become essential for the government to control the cases, people are urged to not pay heed to any rumours. Always believe in any communication from the government’s side and stay safe.
Lead / Feature image courtesy: Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO)
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