Do I need to get an MC if I have COVID?

According to an advisory issued by tripartite partners – the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), it is mentioned that we DO NOT need to take an MC, even though we are physically well. Instead, we should inform our employer immediately if we are tested COVID-positive and start to self-isolate at home. We are not required to go back to our workplace.

We do not need to submit an MC if we are unable to work from home as well. It will be considered as paid sick leave during this period of isolation. You should not worry if there are not enough sick leave, as the ministry notes that all employees are entitled up to 60 days of paid sick leave including hospitalisation leave, as long as they have at least 3 months of service. This should suffice to cover one’s period of self-isolation.

Should you be tested COVID-positive and is able to work from home, you can do so without having to visit a clinic. Ensure that you continue to self-isolate at home for 72 hours. If you happened to get a five-day MC and feel well to go back to work (after self-isolation of 72 hours), you can do an antigen rapid test (ART). If you have no symptoms and your ART test result is negative, you may return back to office even before your MC expires. But if your ART test result is positive, you should continue to self-isolate and take an ART every 24 hours to check for negative result. Self-isolation can end either with a negative ART result, or on the seventh day if the employee is vaccinated and on the 14th day if unvaccinated.

If you are feeling unwell and would like to visit a doctor, you may contact us or head down to our respective Healthsprings clinics:

Healthsprings Clinics

1) Healthsprings Medical Associates (Orchard)

Contact no: +65 6734 5260 / +65 9728 7793

Address: 541 Orchard Road #10-02, Liat Towers Singapore 238881

2) Healthsprings Medical Clinic (Bukit Panjang)

Contact no: +65 6892 6681 / +65 8799 8936

Address: 524A, Greenridge Shopping Centre, #02-01, Jelapang Road, Singapore 671524

3) Healthsprings Medical & Laser Clinic (Woodleigh / Bidadari)

Contact no: +65 6970 7933 / +65 8616 6166

Address: 105A Bidadari Park Drive, #01-09 Singapore 341105