ASIA: WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS FOR CLOSE COVID-19 CONTACTS
This update considers the latest development (as at 25 June 2022) on workplace requirements for close contacts across the region.
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Singapore
Hong Kong
PRC
Indonesia
What is the isolation period for positive cases?
The isolation periods differ depending on the severity of symptoms.
Protocol 1
Higher-risk individuals or those with severe symptoms will be required to undergo both an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) and a Polymerase Chain Reaction test. Thereafter:
those with severe symptoms will be conveyed to the hospital for further assessment. The duration of the isolation periods will depend on the result of the assessment;
the remaining cases will be advised to immediately return home and self-isolate while waiting for their test results. If they test positive, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will contact them and, if assessed suitable, place them under the Home Recovery Programme
The applicable isolation periods are as follows:
at least a 14-day isolation period at community isolation facilities or under home quarantine for unvaccinated positive cases with no or mild symptoms. The individual is released from isolation if they obtain a negative test result on day 14 or on the first day they test negative after day 14;
at least a 7-day isolation period for individuals who have received at least 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The individual is released from isolation if they obtain a negative COVID test result on the sixth and seventh days following the day when they first tested positive (inclusive) or after two successive days of negative results after day 7;
The relevant requirements vary across cities.
In Beijing, there are no specific regulations on the duration of isolation or treatment for positive cases.
Individuals who test positive will be isolated in a centralised isolation facility or sent to designated hospitals for treatment. An individual will be released from isolation or discharged from the hospital depending on their test results and/or clinical symptoms. After being released or discharged, an individual will be required to monitor their health at home for 7 days.
The following criteria are applied in assessing whether an individual may be released from isolation or discharged from the hospital:
An individual who tests positive (either on the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) or Rapid Diagnostic Test Antigen (RDT-Ag)) must isolate no later than 24 hours since they receive the test result.
The length of the isolation period depends on the severity of the symptoms:
asymptomatic case: at least 10 days since the positive test result;
symptomatic case: 10 days from the onset of symptoms plus at least 3 days after fever and respiratory symptoms disappear.
Employees undergoing isolation may obtain a statement from a local health service facility (puskesmas) or hospital to certify their absence. A negative NAAT test and a certificate of isolation completion or certificate for return to work from a local health
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(HRP). Otherwise, they will until discharged from
having a normal body
service facility are required for
be conveyed to a care
hospital isolation by medical
temperature for more than 3 the employee to return to work.
facility.
practitioners for serious or
days;
Under the HRP, individuals are
critical cases,
significant improvements in
required to self-isolate from other see the latest Hong Kong
respiratory symptoms;
household members in a separate room for 72 hours and take an ART self-test after 72
Government guidance (updated on 16 May 2022).
significant improvement as shown on lung scans;
hours. If they test negative, they
two consecutive COVID-19
can resume normal activities and
tests with Ct values of 35
exit self-isolation. If they test
(taken at least 24 hours
positive, they will need to
apart), or two consecutive
continue to self-isolate until they
negative COVID-19 tests
test negative or:
(taken at least 24 hours
for vaccinated individuals,
apart).
until 12PM on Day 7; or
for partially vaccinated/unvaccinated individuals, until 12PM on Day 14
(Day 1 being the day the individual tests positive).
After being discharged, individuals should minimise social activities for 7 days.
Protocol 2
Mildly symptomatic individuals or individuals who are physically well but test positive are required to self-isolate at home for 72 hours and take an ART self-test
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Questions
Is there a definition of 'close contact'?
Singapore
after 72 hours. If they test negative, they can resume normal activities and exit selfisolation. If they test positive, they will need to continue to selfisolate until they test negative or:
for vaccinated individuals, until 12PM on Day 7; or
for partially vaccinated/unvaccinated individuals, until 12PM on Day 14
(Day 1 being the day the individual tests positive).
Employees should immediately inform their employer when they test positive for COVID-19 and begin their isolation. They must not report to the workplace.
Hong Kong
PRC
MOH no longer conducts contact tracing to identify individuals who have been in contact with a positive or issues a Health Risk Notice to close contacts from 26 April 2022.
There is no legal definition of a 'close contact'.
However, MOH website generally refers to close contacts as "individuals who have been
A 'close contact' generally refers to:
persons who live with a positive case in the same household; or
persons who have had faceto-face close contacts with a positive case (especially where the positive case did not wear a mask, such as
In Beijing, a 'close contact' is defined as an individual who came into close contact with a positive case without having adequate protection within a specified period, namely:
2 days before the onset of symptoms for symptomatic positive cases; or
Indonesia
A 'close contact' is defined as an individual who has had contact with a probable case (ie an individual who dies with strong clinical indications of COVID-19 but without a positive NAAT or RDT-Ag result) or a confirmed case, and in particular: had a face-to-face
interaction within a 1m distance for 15 minutes or more;
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Questions
Singapore
informed of their exposure to an infected person".
Hong Kong
PRC
when having meals
2 days before the test date
together),
for asymptomatic positive
see the Hong Kong
cases.
Government's FAQ (last updated
on 16 May 2022).
The tracing period for close contacts is two days before the positive case's onset of symptoms or two days before the positive case's test date (for asymptomatic individuals).
Indonesia
had a direct physical contact (eg shaking hands, holding hands);
provided direct care without using adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); or
satisfies other situations that may indicate contact based on a local risk assessment established by the local epidemiological investigation team.
Are there workplace requirements for close contacts?
Employees who are close contacts should:
take an ART self-test each day over the next 5 days;
be socially responsible and only leave their place of residence if test result is negative. If the ART test result is positive, see Protocol 2. If ART result is negative on Day 5, no further test needed.
Employees who are close contacts may access the workplace if they test negative before leaving home on that day.
According to the Government flowchart (as of 7 March 2022), 'close contacts' of household members who test positive for COVID-19 are required to undergo quarantine for 14 days after their last contact with the positive case. However, if they have received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and obtained negative results on the sixth and seventh days following the day when they first received a positive test result (inclusive), they can be discharged from isolation on day 7. According to the StayHomeSafe Scheme and an infographic (as of 8 March 2022), some 'close contacts'
The relevant requirements vary across cities.
In Beijing, an individual identified as a close contact must undertake the following measures:
14 days of intensive isolation. The individual must take COVID-19 tests on each of the first 5 days and on days 7, 10 and 14; and
14 days of home health monitoring after leaving isolation. The individual must take COVID-19 tests on days 1, 4, 7 and 14.
Close contacts (whether symptomatic or not) must selfquarantine and test for COVID19 on the first day of quarantine. Employees who are close contacts are prohibited from leaving the house (including for work); they may work from home where possible.
An employer should report and coordinate with the local health service facility (puskesmas) where the employee lives to monitor the self-quarantine.
On day 5 of quarantine, the individual will have to undergo another test. If the result continues to be negative and the
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may undergo quarantine at home, during which they must remain at home and will not be able to attend work at the office.
According to the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 which was gazetted on and takes effect from 17 June 2022, if a close contact is absent from work on a day because he/she has been (i) issued a quarantine order, (ii) subject to a compulsory testing notice or order, or (iii) required not to leave a restricted premises, that day will be considered to be a 'sickness day' under the Employment Ordinance and the employee will be entitled to statutory sick pay. Also, the employee's failure to attend work will not be a valid reason for dismissal or variation of contract.
PRC
Indonesia
individual remains asymptomatic, the individual may exit quarantine. If the individual tests positive, the individual is a confirmed case and must undergo isolation as set out in the first column above. If the test is not carried out, the quarantine must be carried out for 14 days.
If possible, employers may facilitate a centralised quarantine or isolation facility for employees who are close contacts or test positive, where their homes do not meet the requirements for quarantine or isolation.
Employees undergoing quarantine may obtain a statement from a local health service facility (puskesmas) or hospital to certify their absence. Employees can return to work if they have completed the quarantine period, as evidenced by a certificate of quarantine completion from a local health service facility (puskesmas).
For completeness, please note that in the event that there is a confirmed COVID-19 case at the workplace, the workplace must be closed for 3x24 hours. The
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room/area where the confirmed case works must be thoroughly disinfected. The employer must report to the Provincial Manpower, Transmigration and Energy Office of DKI Jakarta via bit.ly/covid-19.
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