All Singapore households to receive COVID-19 ART kits from 17 July 2023

To be drawn from the national stockpile, the current batch of ART kits have a remaining shelf life of about six months.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will distribute six COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (ART) kits to all residential Singapore households from 17 July to 30 September 2023.

According to MOH, the ART kits will be drawn from Singapore's national stockpile, which was built to mitigate supply chain disruptions and sudden surges in usage. As the stockpile needs to be refreshed to maintain resiliency, the current batch of ART kits have a remaining shelf life of about six months, it shared.

The distributed ART kits are expected to expire in the first quarter of 2024. As explained in MOH's statement, their usable period can still cover the year-end, coinciding with the northern hemisphere winter season, during which respiratory viruses including influenza and COVID-19 may spread more easily globally. The kits will also come in handy during travels in the period.

"Everyone plays a part in being socially responsible. With the shift towards COVID-19 endemicity, Singaporeans are reminded to take measures to protect themselves and their families, especially seniors and medically vulnerable persons."

With this, persons who test positive with an ART test should regard themselves as being infected with COVID-19.

• They should avoid close contact with others while still symptomatic, and return to normal activities when their symptoms resolve.
• If there is a need to go out while symptomatic, MOH advises them to wear a mask when leaving home, minimise social interactions, and avoid crowded places.
• Those who are medically vulnerable or with severe, prolonged or worsening acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms should see a doctor.

Eligible persons are also encouraged to receive the recommended vaccine doses. Persons aged five years and above who have not completed their minimum protection of vaccinations are urged to do so. Further, individuals aged 60 years and above and medically vulnerable persons are recommended to receive the updated bivalent vaccine booster around one year after their last booster dose, starting as early as five months after their last booster dose.

Lead image / Shutterstock