Coronavirus: Freeing up bed space in hospitals

Covid-19 patients with mild or no symptoms have been progressively transferred to private and community hospitals, as well as community isolation facilities, since a month ago. Patients in such facilities now make up almost 90 per cent of those who are still infected. Straits Times journalist Rei Kurohi looks at these facilities.

Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the
Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the number of coronavirus cases in Singapore continues to increase, ST has learnt. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the
Above: The community facility at D'Resort NTUC in Pasir Ris. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the
Above: The community facility at the Singapore Expo. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF HEALTH, KHALID BABA
Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the
Above: The Changi Exhibition Centre has been repurposed to house recovering or early Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms, and can hold around 2,800 patients. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

Accommodation spaces set aside

A facility being built at Tanjong Pagar Terminal is the latest to be prepared to house Covid-19 patients or foreign workers.

EXISTING FACILITIES INCLUDE:

Community facilities

• D'Resort NTUC in Pasir Ris (500 people)

• Singapore Expo (950 people for two halls, with another four due to open progressively)

• Changi Exhibition Centre (2,800 people)

• More than 10 private and community hospitals

Housing for foreign workers

• Jurong Camp II and Bedok Camp II (1,300 people)

Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the
Foreign workers had to register before moving to their temporary accommodation at Jurong Camp II. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

• 21 vacant Housing Board blocks in Bukit Merah

• Four vacant "diamond" HDB blocks in Taman Jurong (456 units)

Four vacant Housing Board blocks in Taman Jurong were refurbished to house foreign workers in essential services. ST PHOTO: KHALID BABA

• Three floating accommodation facilities at Tanjong Pagar Terminal (1,300 people)

• Home Team Academy and Civil Defence Academy (700 people)

Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the
A dormitory block at the Home Team Academy in Old Choa Chu Kang Road where foreign workers in essential services are staying. PHOTO: HOME TEAM ACADEMY

• Northshore Primary School in Punggol North

• Outdoor Adventure Learning Centres in Dairy Farm and Labrador

• Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang

Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the
Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

OTHER FACILITIES BEING CONSIDERED

• SuperStar Gemini cruise ship

Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, one of the premises being used to house foreign workers. Marquees at Tanjong Pagar Terminal on Wednesday. A large facility is being set up that could house up to 15,000 Covid-19 patients or foreign workers, as the
Two cruise ships including the SuperStar Gemini (above) were being assessed for their feasibility to house healthy foreign workers. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

• SuperStar Aquarius cruise ship

This article has been updated for accuracy.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 25, 2020, with the headline Coronavirus: Freeing up bed space in hospitals. Subscribe