ICA: Frontline officers don’t wear masks because risk from transient contact assessed to be ‘low’
Why do the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)’s frontline staff not wear masks even though they meet thousands of travellers each day?
It’s because, the ICA says, their contact with the general public and travellers passing through our immigration counters is too transient to result in potential virus transmission.
The ICA said this in a statement shared with
Mothership on Friday (Jan. 31) in response to complaints from some parties online that frontline staff were not accorded their necessary protection from the ongoing Wuhan virus outbreak.
They pointed out that health authorities here define the level of close contact necessary for virus transmission to be an exposure of at least 30 minutes, within two metres of a person who is infected.
Hence, officers who are well do not need to wear a mask, and those who are not well, especially if they have any flu symptoms, should put on a mask and seek medical attention immediately, ICA said.
Additionally, those assigned to perform clearance duties on travellers with various respiratory symptoms will wear masks and disposable gloves.
ICA stressed that the well-being of its officers is of utmost importance, and will adjust its measures as Ministry of Health guidelines evolve as well, as the current situation changes.
Here’s their full statement: