PART 3 | CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES WITHIN SINGAPORE |
| Notification of prescribed infectious diseases |
| 6.—(1) Every medical practitioner who has reason to believe or suspect that any person attended or treated by the medical practitioner is suffering from a prescribed infectious disease or is a carrier of that disease must notify the Director-General of Health within the prescribed time and in such form or manner as the Director-General of Health may require. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] | (2) Every person in charge of a laboratory used for the diagnosis of disease who becomes aware of the existence of a prescribed infectious disease in the course of his or her work must notify the Director-General of Health within the prescribed time and in such form or manner as the Director-General of Health may require. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
(3) A person in a prescribed class, who is aware or suspects that —| (a) | another person is suffering from, or is a carrier of, a prescribed infectious disease; or | | (b) | another person has died while suffering from, or being a carrier of, a prescribed infectious disease, |
| must notify the Director-General of Health, within the prescribed time and in such form or manner as the Director-General of Health may require, of the fact in paragraph (a) or (b), as the case may be. |
[5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (4) Any person who is required to notify the Director-General of Health under this section must give any other particulars required by the Director-General of Health insofar as they can be reasonably ascertained by the person or are within the person’s knowledge. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (5) Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this section or provides as true information which the person knows or has reason to believe to be false shall be guilty of an offence. |
| (6) Any person who is charged with failing to comply with the requirements of subsection (1), (2) or (3) in relation to the notification of a prescribed infectious disease is presumed to have known of the existence of the disease unless the person proves to the satisfaction of the court that the person had no such knowledge and could not with reasonable diligence have obtained such knowledge. [5/2019] |
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| Public health surveillance programmes, etc. |
7.—(1) The Director-General of Health may, from time to time, institute public health surveillance programmes or undertake epidemiological investigations or surveys of people, animals or vectors in order to determine the existence, prevalence or incidence, or to determine the likelihood of a possible outbreak, of —| (a) | any infectious disease; or | | (b) | any other disease which the appropriate Minister, by notification in the Gazette, declares to be a disease to which this section applies. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
(2) For the purpose of any public health surveillance programme, epidemiological investigation or survey under subsection (1), the Director-General of Health may require any person or class of persons —| (a) | to provide the Director-General of Health, within or at the times and in the form or manner the Director-General of Health specifies, with any of the following where the Director-General of Health requires:| (i) | any information known to the person (or any person in the class of persons) at those times; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (ii) | any sample of any substance or matter in the possession or control of that person (or any person in the class of persons) at those times, whether obtained under this Act or otherwise; and [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| | (b) | to submit to a medical examination at the times the Director-General of Health specifies. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| (3) If a person (including a person in a class of persons) who is required by the Director-General of Health under subsection (2) to furnish the Director-General of Health with any information or sample, or to submit to any medical examination, fails to do so, without reasonable excuse, the person shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (4) The Director-General of Health may send any sample obtained under subsection (2)(a)(ii) for such test, examination or analysis as the Director-General of Health may consider necessary or expedient. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
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| Medical examination and treatment |
8.—(1) The Director-General of Health may require the following persons to submit to medical examination or medical treatment within or at such time and at such place, and comply with such measures relating to the medical examination or treatment, as the Director-General of Health may determine:| (a) | any person who is a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease; | | (b) | any class of persons mentioned in paragraph (a); | | (c) | any person who is suspected to be a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the medical examination may include X‑rays and the taking of the person’s blood and other body samples for testing and analysis. [10/2008] |
| (3) Any person to whom a requirement or measure under subsection (1) applies who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the requirement or measure shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (4) [Deleted by Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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9. Where any person has died while being, or suspected of being, a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease, the Director-General of Health may order a post‑mortem examination of the body of that person for the purpose of —| (a) | determining the cause or circumstances of the death of that person; or | | (b) | investigating into any outbreak or suspected outbreak of, or preventing the spread or possible outbreak of, that disease. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| Director-General of Health may require information from healthcare professionals, etc. |
10.—(1) The Director-General of Health may, for the purpose of investigating into any outbreak or suspected outbreak of an infectious disease, preventing the spread or possible outbreak of an infectious disease, or treating any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease —| (a) | require any healthcare professional to obtain from his or her patient such information as the Director-General of Health may reasonably require for that purpose and transmit that information to the Director-General of Health; and [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] | | (b) | prescribe by order any general or specific measures or procedures for that purpose for compliance by any healthcare professional or holder of a licence granted under the Healthcare Services Act 2020. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 3 of 2020 wef 03/01/2022] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2) Any person who fails to comply with a requirement or an order referred to in subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. |
| (3) A patient of a healthcare professional who fails to provide the healthcare professional or a person acting on behalf of the healthcare professional with any information sought from the patient that is within the patient’s knowledge pursuant to a requirement under subsection (1)(a) shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] |
| (4) A healthcare professional must comply with a requirement under subsection (1)(a) to transmit information to the Director-General of Health despite any restriction on the disclosure of information imposed by any written law, rule of law, rule of professional conduct or contract; and the healthcare professional is not by so doing treated as being in breach of any such restriction despite anything to the contrary in that law, rule or contract. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
(5) In this section —| [Deleted by Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
“healthcare professional” means —| (a) | a medical practitioner; | | (b) | a dentist registered under the Dental Registration Act 1999; | | (c) | a registered nurse or an enrolled nurse, or a registered midwife, within the meaning of the Nurses and Midwives Act 1999; | | (d) | a pharmacist registered under the Pharmacists Registration Act 2007; | | (e) | a person registered under section 14 of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Act 2000 for the carrying out of any practice of traditional Chinese medicine prescribed under that Act; or | | (f) | any other person providing any other healthcare service in Singapore. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
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| Offence for supplying false or misleading information |
11.—(1) Any person who —| (a) | donates any blood or blood product at any blood bank or hospital in Singapore for any use or purpose; and | | (b) | directly in connection with such donation of blood or blood product, supplies any material information which the person knows to be false or misleading, |
| shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both. |
| (2) In this section, “material information” means any information directly relating to the likelihood of transmission of an infectious disease by the use of any blood or blood product. |
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| Treatment of premises, vessel or vehicle |
| 12.—(1) The Director-General of Health may, by written notice, require the owner or occupier of any premises or vessel, or the owner of any vehicle, to cleanse or disinfect it, and carry out any additional measures in relation to the premises, vessel or vehicle, in the manner and within the time specified in the notice. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | (2) Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of the notice served under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(3) Without affecting any proceedings under subsection (2), where a written notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) has not been complied with, a person authorised by the Director-General of Health may, without warrant and with such force as may be necessary —| (a) | if the notice relates to premises or a vessel — enter the premises or vessel and carry out or cause to be carried out the measures specified in the notice; or | | (b) | if the notice relates to a vehicle — take control of the vehicle and carry out or cause to be carried out the measures specified in the notice. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| (4) The cost and expenses incurred by the Director-General of Health under subsection (3) must be paid by the person in default and may be recovered as a debt due to the Government. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| Destruction and disposal of infected animals, food and water |
13.—(1) If the Director‑General of Health considers any animal, food or water to be a source for the transmission of an infectious disease, the Director‑General of Health may —| (a) | if the source is an animal — order the person who owns or is in possession of the animal to destroy it; or | | (b) | if the source is food or water — order the person who owns or is in possession of it to dispose of it, |
| and impose any requirement that the Director-General of Health thinks fit in relation to the destruction of that animal or the disposal of that food or water, as the case may be. |
[Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | (2) Any person who fails to comply with an order made or requirement imposed by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(3) Without affecting any proceedings under subsection (2), where an order made or requirement imposed by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) has not been complied with, the Director-General of Health, a Health Officer or a police officer may —| (a) | without warrant and with such force as may be necessary, enter the premises where the animal, food or water (as the case may be) is to be found; and | | (b) | take or cause to be taken the measures specified in the order for the destruction of the animal or the disposal of the food or water. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| (4) The costs and expenses incurred by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (3) must be paid by the person in default and may be recovered as a debt due to the Government. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
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| Wakes and disposal of corpses |
14.—(1) Where any person has died while being, or suspected of being, a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease, the Director-General of Health may by order —| (a) | prohibit the conduct of a wake over the body of that person or impose any conditions that the Director-General of Health thinks fit on the conduct of such wake; or [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] | | (b) | impose any conditions that the Director-General of Health thinks fit for the collection, removal and disposal of the body of that person. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(2) If any person contravenes any order under subsection (1) —| (a) | that person shall be guilty of an offence; and | | (b) | any Health Officer may take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the order is complied with, including entering any premises at any time without warrant and with such force as may be necessary to collect, remove and dispose of the body of the deceased person. |
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| (3) Any costs and expenses incurred by a Health Officer under subsection (2)(b) must be borne by the person in default and may be recovered as a debt due to the Government. |
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| Isolation of certain persons |
15.—(1) The Director-General of Health may order the following persons to be detained and isolated in a hospital or other place for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health may determine:| (a) | any person who is a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease; | | (b) | any class of persons mentioned in paragraph (a); | | (c) | any person who is suspected to be a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(2) The Director-General of Health may order the following persons to remain and to be isolated and (if necessary) be treated, in the person’s own residence for such period of time as may be necessary for the protection of the public and subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health may consider necessary for this purpose:| (a) | any person who is a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease; | | (b) | any class of persons mentioned in paragraph (a); | | (c) | any person who is suspected to be a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease; | | (d) | any person who has recently recovered from or been treated for an infectious disease. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| (3) [Deleted by Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(4) Any person (including any person in a class of persons) against whom an order under subsection (1) or (2) is made shall be guilty of an offence if the person —| (a) | without reasonable excuse, fails to proceed to the place in which the person is to be isolated within the time specified in the order; | | (aa) | without reasonable excuse, fails to proceed to the place in which the person is to be isolated as soon as possible, in a case where there is no time specified in the order; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (b) | without the permission of the Director-General of Health, leaves or attempts to leave the place in which the person is being isolated; or [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] | | (c) | without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any condition to which the person is subject. [10/2008] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| (5) Subsection (4)(a) or (aa) does not apply where the person is already at the place he or she is ordered to be isolated in under subsection (1) or (2). [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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16.—(1) The Director-General of Health may order the following persons to undergo surveillance for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health thinks fit:| (a) | any person who is a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease; | | (b) | any class of persons mentioned in paragraph (a); | | (c) | any person who is suspected to be a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2) [Deleted by Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (3) Any person (including any person in a class of persons) subjected to surveillance by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an order made under subsection (1) or any condition relating to the surveillance imposed by the Director-General of Health shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (4) [Deleted by Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| 17.—(1) The Director-General of Health may, for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of an infectious disease, declare any premises to be an isolation area for a period not exceeding 90 days. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | (2) The Director-General of Health may, from time to time, extend the period mentioned in subsection (1) for a period not exceeding 90 days at any one time, and this period must be specified in a notice published in the same manner as the notice of the declaration made under subsection (1). [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2A) The Director-General of Health must cause to be published a notice of the declaration made under subsection (1) and any extension made under subsection (2) in a manner that he or she thinks necessary for bringing it to the notice of all persons who in his or her opinion ought to have notice of the declaration. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(2B) A declaration made under subsection (1) or any extension made under subsection (2) has effect —| (a) | as soon as notice is given in accordance with subsection (2A); and | | (b) | until the expiry of the period specified in the declaration or extension, or until that declaration or extension is revoked by the Director-General of Health, whichever occurs first. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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(3) The Director-General of Health may, in relation to an isolation area, by order —| (a) | prohibit any person or class of persons from entering or leaving the isolation area without the permission of the Director-General of Health; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] | | (b) | prohibit or restrict the movement within the isolation area of any person or class of persons; | | (c) | prohibit or restrict the movement of goods; | | (d) | require any person or class of persons to report at specified times and places and submit to such medical examinations, answer such questions and submit to such medical treatment as the Director-General of Health thinks fit; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] | | (e) | authorise the destruction, disposal or treatment of any goods, structure, water supply, drainage and sewerage system or other matter within the isolation area known or suspected to be a source of infection; and | | (f) | prohibit, restrict, require or authorise the carrying out of any other act that may be prescribed. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
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| (4) A Health Officer or a police officer may take any action that is necessary to give effect to an order under subsection (3). [10/2008] |
| (5) Any person to whom an order under subsection (3) applies who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes the order shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (6) A person (including a person in a class of persons) who leaves or attempts to leave or is suspected of having left an isolation area in contravention of an order under subsection (3) may be arrested without warrant by any police officer, or by any Health Officer appointed under section 4(1)(a), (b) or (e) and authorised in writing by the appropriate Minister. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (7) Without affecting any of the orders which the Director-General of Health may make under this Act, the Director-General of Health may issue an order under section 15 against a person who is arrested under subsection (6) as if the person were a person referred to in that section. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (8) Goods brought into or removed from an isolation area in contravention of an order under subsection (3) must be forfeited to the Government and may be seized, dealt with and disposed of in accordance with section 55(2) and (3) as if those goods were any substance or matter referred to in section 55(1)(c). |
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| 17A. [Repealed by Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| Abatement of overcrowding |
| 18.—(1) If, in the opinion of the Director-General of Health, a building is so overcrowded as to expose its occupants to the risk of infection by an infectious disease, the Director-General of Health may, by written notice, direct the owner or occupier of the building to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or part of the building, and carry out any other measure relating to the abatement or closure, in the manner and within the time specified in the notice. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | (2) Any owner or occupier who fails to comply with a notice given to the owner or occupier by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (3) When a building or any part of the building has been directed to be closed under subsection (1), any person who enters the building or any part of it without the permission of the Director-General of Health shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (4) Without affecting any proceedings under subsection (2), where a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) has not been complied with, the Director-General of Health, a Health Officer or a police officer may, without warrant and with such force as may be necessary, enter the building and take or cause to be taken such measures as are necessary to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or any part of the building, as specified in the notice. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (5) The costs and expenses incurred by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (4) must be paid by the owner or occupier in default and may be recovered as a debt due to the Government. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (6) Any person who is aggrieved by any direction of the Director-General of Health as contained in a notice given to the person under subsection (1) may, within 7 days from the date of the notice, appeal to the appropriate Minister whose decision is final. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (7) Even though an appeal under subsection (6) is pending, a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) takes effect from the date specified by the Director-General of Health, unless the appropriate Minister otherwise directs. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
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| Closure and disinfection of premises |
19.—(1) If the Director-General of Health has reason to believe that there exist on any premises conditions that are likely to lead to the outbreak or spread of any infectious disease, the Director-General of Health may, by written notice —| (a) | order the closure of the premises for a period not exceeding 14 days; or | | (b) | prohibit the sale or distribution of food or water at the premises for the period specified in the notice, |
| and may require the owner or occupier of the premises to — |
| (c) | cleanse or disinfect the premises in the manner and within the time specified in the notice; or | | (d) | carry out the additional measures that the Director-General of Health may require in the manner and within the time specified in the notice. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (2) A notice under subsection (1)(a) directing the owner or the occupier of the premises to close the premises may be renewed by the Director-General of Health from time to time for such period, not exceeding 14 days, as the Director-General of Health may, by written notice, specify. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (3) Subject to subsection (7), any person who fails to comply with a notice given to the person by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (4) When any premises have been ordered to be closed under subsection (1)(a), any person who enters those premises without the permission of the Director-General of Health shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (5) Without affecting any proceedings under subsection (3), where a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) has not been complied with, the Director-General of Health, a Health Officer or a police officer may, without warrant and with such force as may be necessary, enter the premises to which the notice relates and close the premises or take or cause to be taken the measures specified in the notice. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (6) The costs and expenses incurred by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (5) must be paid by the person in default and may be recovered as a debt due to the Government. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (7) Any person who is aggrieved by any order or requirement of the Director-General of Health as contained in a notice given to the person under subsection (1) may, within 7 days from the date of the notice, appeal to the appropriate Minister whose decision is final. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (8) Even though an appeal under subsection (7) is pending, a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) takes effect from the date specified by the Director-General of Health, unless the appropriate Minister otherwise directs. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
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| Surveillance and contact tracing measures at premises |
19A.—(1) If the Director-General of Health is satisfied that any surveillance or contact tracing measure is necessary to prevent the spread or possible outbreak of any infectious disease at or in the vicinity of any premises, the Director-General of Health may, by written notice, direct any person in charge of the premises to —| (a) | conduct any surveillance or contact tracing measure at the premises, and carry out any other measure relating to the surveillance or contact tracing measure, as specified in the notice; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (b) | allow any Health Officer, or any person authorised by a Health Officer, to conduct any surveillance or contact tracing measure at the premises as specified in the notice; or | | (c) | facilitate the conduct of the surveillance or contact tracing measure by any Health Officer or person authorised by a Health Officer mentioned in paragraph (b). [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (1A) Despite subsection (1), if a PHT Order or PHE Order is in force, the appropriate Minister may, by order in the Gazette, direct all persons or any class of persons in charge of any premises to carry out all or any of the measures in subsection (1). [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (1B) Where an order is made under subsection (1A), a written notice under subsection (1) is not required. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2) Any person in charge of the premises who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any direction to the person in a written notice under subsection (1) or an order under subsection (1A) to which the person is subject shall be guilty of an offence. [5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2A) Any person on any premises in respect of which a direction is given by written notice under subsection (1) or by order under subsection (1A) must cooperate with the person in charge of the premises so as to enable the person in charge of the premises to comply with the direction. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2B) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (2A) shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), where any direction in a written notice under subsection (1) or an order under subsection (1A) has not been complied with in relation to any premises, the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer may, after giving reasonable notice, and without warrant and using such force as may be necessary, do all or any of the following:| (a) | enter the premises; | | (b) | take or cause to be taken such measures at the premises as specified in the written notice or order. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| (4) The costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (3) may be recovered as a debt due to the Government from the person in default. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
(5) In this section, “person in charge of the premises” includes —| (a) | any occupier, lessee or person who is responsible for the management of the premises; or | | (b) | any manager, assistant manager or supervisor of the premises or any person holding an analogous appointment. [5/2019] |
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| Prohibition or restriction of meetings, gatherings and public entertainments |
| 20.—(1) Where it appears to the Director-General of Health that the holding of any meeting, gathering or any public entertainment is likely to increase the spread of any infectious disease, the Director-General of Health may by order prohibit or restrict, subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health may think fit, for a period not exceeding 14 days, the meeting, gathering or public entertainment in any place. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] | (2) An order under subsection (1) may be renewed by the Director-General of Health from time to time for such period, not exceeding 14 days, as the Director-General of Health may, by written notice, specify. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (3) Any person who holds, is present at or has taken part in any meeting, gathering or public entertainment in contravention of an order or any condition imposed by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (4) A Health Officer or a police officer may take any action that is necessary to give effect to an order under subsection (1). [10/2008] |
| (5) Any person who is aggrieved by any order of the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) may, within 7 days from the date of the order, appeal to the appropriate Minister whose decision is final. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
| (6) Even though an appeal under subsection (5) is pending, an order made by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) takes effect from the date specified by the Director-General of Health, unless the appropriate Minister otherwise directs. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
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| Control of business, undertaking or work |
21.—(1) The Director-General of Health may give a direction to —| (a) | any person who is a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease and is carrying on or may carry on any business, undertaking or work; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (aa) | any class of persons mentioned in paragraph (a); [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (ab) | any person who is suspected to be a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease and is carrying on or may carry on any business, undertaking or work; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (b) | any person carrying on any business, undertaking or work in a manner as is likely to cause the spread of any infectious disease; or [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (ba) | any class of persons mentioned in paragraph (b), [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| about the taking of preventative action that the Director-General of Health reasonably believes is necessary to prevent the possible outbreak or prevent or reduce the spread of the infectious disease. |
[5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (2) Without limiting subsection (1), “preventative action”, in the case of a direction given to a person or class of persons carrying on or who may carry on any business, undertaking or work, includes requiring the person or class of persons to do any one or more of the following:| (a) | to stop carrying on, or not carry on, the business, undertaking or work during a period of time specified in the direction; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (b) | take specified steps within a period of time specified in the direction, to ensure that the business, undertaking or work is conducted in compliance with conditions specified in the direction; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (c) | until the actions in paragraphs (a) and (b) are complied with, to ensure —| (i) | the premises at which the business, undertaking or work is or may be conducted is, for the period of time that is specified in the direction, not used for any activity; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (ii) | any vehicle, plant, article, machinery or equipment on those premises is, for the period of time that is specified in the direction, not used, moved, sold or otherwise handled; or | | (iii) | any vehicle, plant, article, machinery or equipment on those premises and specified in the direction is, for the period of time that is specified in the direction, not removed from those premises, for any purpose or in any circumstances specified in the direction. [5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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(3) If a person refuses or fails to comply with any requirement of a direction given to that person or a class of persons to which that person belongs under subsection (1), the Director-General of Health may —| (a) | take any steps reasonably necessary to ensure control of the premises at which a business, undertaking or work is or may be conducted or any vehicle, plant, article, machinery or equipment on those premises, including entry to a place or vehicle without warrant and with the use of necessary force; and [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (b) | carry out the requirement, and recover the costs and expenses reasonably incurred in carrying out the requirement as a debt due from that person to the Government. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| (4) A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any requirement of a direction given to that person or a class of persons to which that person belongs under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence. [5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (5) A person (including a person in a class of persons) given a direction under subsection (1) may, within 7 days after the direction is given, appeal against the direction to the appropriate Minister, whose decision is final. [5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (6) A direction under subsection (1) takes effect despite any appeal under subsection (5), unless the appropriate Minister otherwise directs. [5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| Certain persons not to act in manner likely to spread disease |
| 21A.—(1) A person (A) who knows, or has reason to suspect, that he or she is a case or carrier or contact of, or knows of the existence of facts by which he or she is deemed under section 27 to be infected with, a disease set out in the Second Schedule must not expose other persons to the risk of infection by his or her presence or conduct in any public place or any other place used in common by persons other than the members of his or her own family or household. [5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | (2) A person having the care of A must not cause or permit A to expose other persons to the risk of infection by A’s presence or conduct in any place mentioned in subsection (1). [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2A) A must not deliberately or recklessly put another person in A’s own place of residence at risk of infection by A’s conduct, or by A refusing to isolate himself or herself or take reasonable precautions against exposing that other person to the risk of infection. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (3) A person must not lend, sell, transmit or expose, without previous disinfection, any clothing, bedding or rags which he or she knows to have been exposed to infection from a disease set out in the Second Schedule, or any other article which he or she knows to have been so exposed and which is liable to carry such infection. [5/2019] |
| (4) Any person who contravenes subsection (1), (2), (2A) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(5) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (4) for contravening subsection (1) or (2), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused’s presence or conduct in the place mentioned in subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be —| (a) | was necessary for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment; or | | (b) | was authorised by the Director-General of Health. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
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| (6) Where the Director-General of Health has designated a hospital or other place for the treatment of any disease set out in the Second Schedule, subsection (5)(a) applies only in relation to the obtaining of medical treatment at the designated hospital or place for that disease. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] |
(6A) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (4) for contravening subsection (2A), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused’s conduct or refusal to isolate himself or herself or take reasonable precautions against exposing persons to the risk of infection in the place mentioned in subsection (2A) —| (a) | was necessary or unavoidable in the circumstances; or | | (b) | was authorised by the Director-General of Health. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
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| (7) A person shall not incur any liability for contravening subsection (3) by transmitting with proper precautions any article for the purpose of having it disinfected. |
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| Order to disseminate health advisory |
21B.—(1) The Director-General of Health may, for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of any infectious disease in Singapore, or the spread of any infectious disease into Singapore or from Singapore to outside Singapore, by written order, direct any relevant operator or class of relevant operators —| (a) | to disseminate any health advisory, in such form and manner as the Director-General of Health may require, to any relevant person or class of relevant persons specified in the order; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (b) | to provide any information, in the possession or control of the relevant operator or those relevant operators, to the Director-General of Health to facilitate the Director-General of Health or any other person in the dissemination of a health advisory to a relevant person or class of relevant persons; or [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] | | (c) | to provide any information, in the possession or control of the relevant operator or those relevant operators, to another relevant operator or class of relevant operators who is or are required to disseminate a health advisory under paragraph (a), to facilitate in the dissemination of the health advisory. [5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (2) The Director-General of Health may disclose any information obtained from a relevant operator or class of relevant operators under subsection (1)(b) to another relevant operator or class of relevant operators who is or are required to disseminate a health advisory under subsection (1)(a), to facilitate in the dissemination of the health advisory. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (3) The Director-General of Health may impose conditions as to the use of any information provided or disclosed to any relevant operator or class of relevant operators under subsection (1)(c) or (2). [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
(4) Any relevant operator (including a relevant operator in a class of relevant operators) who, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with —| (a) | an order under subsection (1); or | | (b) | a condition under subsection (3), |
| shall be guilty of an offence. |
[5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] |
| (5) This section does not affect any other right of disclosure a relevant operator may have under any written law or rule of law. [5/2019] |
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