Changi Airport's Covid Testing: What You Need To Know

Changi Airport in Singapore has implemented various measures to ensure safe travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport has conducted special COVID-19 testing operations for its staff and passengers, including mandatory testing for all workers in Terminals 1 and 3, and Jewel Changi Airport. Changi Airport also houses a dedicated COVID-19 testing laboratory, which uses high-sensitivity tests to filter out the virus at the border. This laboratory can test up to 10,000 samples per day and aims to facilitate travel by reducing the need for border closures and stay-home notices. Additionally, Changi Airport has taken other precautions, such as routine testing and the use of PPE for staff, to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Testing lab at Changi Airport

Changi Airport in Singapore has implemented various measures to ensure the safety of its staff and passengers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. One notable measure is the dedicated COVID-19 testing laboratory set up at the airport. The testing lab was announced by Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung in October 2020 and was slated to open in the first quarter of 2021.

The COVID-19 testing lab at Changi Airport is a crucial component of Singapore's strategy to reopen its borders to international travellers and revive its aviation industry, which has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. The lab uses the Resolute 2.0 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kit, jointly developed by DSO National Laboratories and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. PCR tests are known for their accuracy in detecting COVID-19 infections.

The testing facility at Changi Airport can handle up to 10,000 samples per day and can double this capacity if needed. The lab shortens the time required for test results, reducing it from 2.5 hours to 1.5 hours. This expedited testing process is essential for efficient airport operations, as noted by Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung.

The testing lab at Changi Airport complements the existing facility and is part of Singapore's comprehensive approach to COVID-19 testing for travellers. The country has also increased its overall COVID-19 testing capacity, with the ability to test more than 27,000 individuals daily using swab tests. Additionally, Singapore is encouraging the private sector to develop commercial testing capacity to further enhance its testing efforts.

The establishment of the testing lab at Changi Airport demonstrates Singapore's commitment to ensuring the safety of its staff, passengers, and the wider community while gradually reopening its borders and revitalising the aviation industry.

Testing for staff

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has implemented routine COVID-19 testing for Changi Airport staff to prevent transmission. Staff who come into close contact with passengers, such as swab assistants, are required to wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) and undergo testing every two weeks.

In January 2021, MOH announced a special testing operation for staff who had worked at Jewel Changi Airport and its Terminal 3 shops since 31 December 2020. This followed three reported community cases testing positive for the highly contagious British variant of COVID-19. MOH offered testing to staff as a precautionary measure.

In October 2020, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that approximately 2,500 airport workers had been tested for COVID-19, with all results coming back negative. Another 1,000 workers were expected to be tested in the coming days. This was in response to two workers at Terminal 3 testing positive for COVID-19. One was a security officer, and the other was a screener and swab assistant at Raffles Medical.

In December 2021, MOH reported that a 42-year-old male loading assistant at Terminal 3 had tested preliminarily positive for the Omicron variant. He was a close contact of another staff member infected with the Omicron variant. As of December 2021, there were 24 confirmed Omicron cases in Singapore, including four Changi Airport staff members.

In May 2021, a cluster of COVID-19 cases emerged at the airport, with 100 cases linked to the Changi Airport cluster, the largest community cluster in Singapore at the time. As a result, the testing regime for airport workers and arriving passengers was tightened. All arriving passengers from very high-risk countries or regions were required to take an on-arrival antigen rapid test in addition to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Airport workers in higher-risk roles were mandated to take an extra antigen rapid test between their seven-day rostered routine tests.

Testing for travellers

Changi Airport has implemented several measures to ensure the safety of travellers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some key points regarding testing for travellers:

• Dedicated COVID-19 Testing Laboratory: Changi Airport has established a dedicated COVID-19 testing laboratory to facilitate testing for travellers and support the resumption of international travel. This laboratory uses high-sensitivity tests to filter out the virus and mitigate the risk of spreading it in Singapore. The lab can handle up to 10,000 tests per day, complementing the existing testing facility at the airport.
• Pre-Departure Testing: Travellers departing from Changi Airport may need to present a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of recovery before boarding their flight. This requirement varies depending on the destination country's regulations. It is essential to check the specific requirements for your destination before travelling.
• On-Arrival Testing: Inbound travellers, including Singaporean citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders, may be required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival at Changi Airport. Pre-booking and payment for the test may be necessary.
• Special Testing Operations: In the event of detected COVID-19 cases at the airport or the emergence of new variants, special testing operations may be conducted for staff members. This proactive approach helps detect, isolate, and treat potential cases promptly.
• Testing Technology: Changi Airport employs various testing technologies to balance accuracy and speed. While PCR tests are the gold standard for accuracy, the airport also explores less intrusive options, such as deep throat saliva tests and breathalyser tests, for quicker results.
• Testing Costs: The cost of COVID-19 testing for travellers is generally not covered by the government. Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung has stated that travellers choosing to travel should bear the cost of testing. However, insurance policies may provide coverage for testing expenses, so travellers are advised to check with their insurance providers.

It is important to stay updated with the latest announcements and guidelines provided by Changi Airport and the relevant health authorities to ensure compliance with testing requirements for travellers.

Testing for airport workers

Changi Airport in Singapore has implemented various measures to ensure the safety of its workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is some information regarding testing specifically for airport workers:

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) have implemented several testing operations for airport workers. In May 2021, a surge in COVID-19 cases linked to a cleaner at the airport prompted the authorities to conduct a massive testing operation for all staff. This included workers in Terminals 1 and 3, as well as the retail complex, Jewel Changi Airport. The testing operation was later extended to cover office workers in the passenger terminal buildings, with about 8,000 workers in total being tested.

Testing Frequency

As part of the enhanced safety measures, the testing frequency for airport workers has been increased. Initially, they were placed on a 14-day rostered routine testing cycle. However, to step up protection, CAAS announced that all airport workers in higher-risk roles would be tested every seven days, regardless of their vaccination status. This was an improvement over the previous testing cycle.

Special Testing Operations

In certain instances, special testing operations have been carried out. For example, when three more workers at Changi Airport tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2021, the Ministry of Health (MOH) conducted a special testing operation for all staff members in Terminals 1 and 3, as well as Jewel. This was a precautionary measure to identify and contain any potential spread among the staff.

Omicron Variant Precautions

With the emergence of the Omicron variant, CAAS introduced enhanced testing measures for frontline staff. Starting December 22, 2021, Changi Airport frontline staff underwent a 7-day PCR rostered routine testing (RRT) cycle instead of the previous ART RRT cycle. Additionally, workers interacting with arriving passengers were required to wear N95 masks and face shields for increased protection.

Changi Airport has taken proactive steps to safeguard the health and safety of its workers through regular testing and the implementation of precautionary measures. These measures aim to identify and contain any potential COVID-19 outbreaks among the airport staff, ensuring a safe working environment.

Testing for visitors from safe countries

Changi Airport in Singapore has implemented a series of measures to ensure the safety of its passengers and staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a bid to encourage visitors from safe countries, a dedicated COVID-19 testing laboratory was set up at the airport. This allows for high-sensitivity tests to be conducted at the border, mitigating the risk of the virus spreading in Singapore. The Transport Minister, Ong Ye Kung, emphasised the importance of testing as a means to unlocking air travel and replacing border closures and stay-home notices, which serve as a "big deterrent to travel".

Changi Airport has the capacity to swab up to 10,000 passengers per day, and with these testing precautions in place, Singapore is prepared to lift border restrictions for travellers from countries with comparable incidence rates and comprehensive public health surveillance systems.

In addition to the testing laboratory, Changi Airport has introduced various contactless and cleaning innovations to enhance safety. This includes the use of touchless technology, such as infrared sensors for check-in kiosks and contactless passenger lift buttons, as well as the deployment of autonomous cleaning robots that disinfect surfaces using ultraviolet-C (UV-C) LED technology.

The airport has also implemented safe distancing measures, increased cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and installed sensor-activated hand sanitiser dispensers throughout the terminals. These comprehensive safety measures aim to provide peace of mind for passengers and visitors while travelling through Changi Airport.

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