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WHY COVID-19 SELF-TESTING IS NOT THE NORM FOR SOME S'POREANS

In Singapore, the prices of the self-test kits range between $8 and $13
each.PHOTO: ST FILE
Jolene Ang and Wallace Woon
 * Published
   2 hours ago

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SINGAPORE - When chef Sameer Chablani, 37, goes to visit his parents - who are
in their late 60s - he conducts an antigen-rapid test (ART) on himself, waiting
for a negative test result before he makes the weekly trip to their home.

Mr Chablani, who is fully vaccinated, said that he tests himself at least once a
week as the high number of Covid-19 cases reported daily means that getting the
virus may be inevitable.

He said: "When we're with family, we remove our masks. And if I can help protect
them (his parents), then why not perform a regular test to make sure that I
don't have the virus?"



He added that the regular testing regime for someone working in the food and
beverage industry has made self-testing more of a habit, making the hassle an
easier one to deal with when he factors in the potential guilt of infecting his
parents as well.

But Mr Chablani seems to be an exception.

The Straits Times spoke to a number of Singaporeans, many of whom said that they
have only conducted ARTs on themselves when they are required to for work or for
medical reasons.





The Government had distributed six kits to each household from August to
September, and is currently distributing another 10 kits from October to
December.

Individuals who need more kits have been advised to buy them from major
retailers and e-commerce platforms.

Retailers told ST that demand for ART kits has been mostly steady, with
sufficient stock in storage and more expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

The Guardian Pharmacy chain said it expects a slight increase in demand
following the gradual reopening announced by the Government, while a spokesman
for FairPrice, which manages the Unity pharmacies, said demand has been rising
in the past three months.



Stressing that Guardian has sufficient stock of ART kits, its spokesman urged
customers to "shop safely and purchase only what they need".

Watsons said its sale of ART kits is stabilising. "We are monitoring the
situation closely and have sufficient stock in the warehouse to meet the
market's demand," it added.

Across the Causeway, more Malaysians are self-testing without being asked to,
such as before attending get-togethers, ST reported on Thursday (Nov 11).


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This comes as the country prepares its people for an "endemic" phase, where
Malaysians live with the virus and exercise self-responsibility.

When asked about the difference in behaviour, experts said that one reason
Singaporeans do not regularly self-test could be that ART kits here are
"affordable but not cheap".

In Singapore, the prices of the self-test kits range between $8 and $13 each,
with the price per kit lower for larger packs.

Over in Malaysia, in a bid to encourage regular self-testing, the government had
gradually reduced the prices of test kits to make them more affordable for the
public.

The test kits there are available for as low as RM6.90 (S$2.24) a unit and are
sold in supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations across Malaysia.

Associate Professor Alex Cook, vice-dean of research at the Saw Swee Hock School
of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, said: "You could get
one or two meals in a hawker centre for (the price of one ART kit), so it's
affordable but not cheap, and it's not surprising that most people don't
routinely test themselves whenever they are going to socialise with others," he
said.



Public health guidelines could also have given the impression that testing
should be done only when necessary, Prof Cook added.

"Because we've outlined the situations in which testing must be done - if (one
is) a contact of a case, at work or school, before mass events, when taking a
cruise to sea and back again - it may have created the impression that testing
should be done then and should not be done at other times."

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung had addressed concerns in Parliament earlier this
month on the supply and price of ART kits.

In written replies to a number of related questions, Mr Ong said: "Both the
Ministry of Health (MOH) and commercial retailers are already buying in bulk to
replenish our stock and supply their stores respectively."

MOH has sourced and approved affordable and effective kits, held one round of
distribution of free kits to all households, and is doing a second round, he
noted.

He pointed out that individuals who receive a health risk warning can collect an
extra six free kits from 200 vending machines around the island, while workers
on mandatory regular testing regimes are provided free kits by the Government.


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EASIER

"We also monitor the overall supply levels and are prepared to release
government stock to retailers when there are shortages," Mr Ong added.

Ms Rachel Koh, 33, recalled having to spend "a couple of hundred dollars" on ART
kits when her 71-year-old father, a security officer, tested positive for
Covid-19 in October.

"We didn't receive any SMS, so we couldn't redeem the free ones (for those with
a health risk warning)," said the adjunct lecturer at Lasalle College of the
Arts, who lives with her father and 67-year-old mother, an administrative
assistant.

All three of them are fully vaccinated.

Now, Ms Koh tries to administer a self-test once a week or more if she has been
in an indoor crowded place such as a restaurant for an extended period of time.

"I want to avoid getting infected with Covid-19 from my parents or passing it to
them. We can't afford the downtime of recovery as we might lose income."


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Topics: 
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