swordfishunter 117 points 21 hours ago
Contact tracing and QO issuance is probably very overwhelmed. Which is surprising, considering all the time MTF had to prepare for this. As of yesterday I see 25k people under quarantine, so probably due to lack of bandwidth/ space/ there is a huge backlog of QO.
If I were you I’d just order some quick tests from panda mart or something and chill at home. Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands, especially your own safety.
agressive ringfencing seems to be +/- 4 days now.
Inferring from your drama, data at 12pm everyday is 4 days old.
Stay safe and well.
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 13 points 20 hours ago
Yeah, you'd think by now they would have had a better system You're right, I'm gonna get a self-test kit, thank you.
[–]honbhige Developing Citizen 51 points 21 hours ago
The Quarantine Facilities are all clogged up with people whose QOs are expiring soon so you might be put into some limbo. As for the system I think they did not expect this (yes they should have but you think they got learn their lesson from 2020?)
Last year's problem was the vast volume. So many migrant workers to quarantine in a short time. But what's easy is that they are all from a single location so easy to charter buses to bring them to QO.
This time most are from the community AKA anywhere so you have people from all walks of life with all sorts of family issues that makes this even more complicated. Then the people sending you to the facilities will also stop along the way to other properties to pick up other people on QO. Sibei inefficient but no choice.
[–]swordfishunter 40 points 20 hours ago*
I can’t help but ponder if this is why there is a constant 130. Why is this guy not sent for a test like others who have been exposed? It’s already 5 days since exposure.
Anyway, what you say is really a lack of foresight and preparation. What the point of plastering all over the media when someone breaks QO / SHN when they can’t even issue / execute one properly in the first place.
Quite sad when there are people trying to do the right thing here like him / her and the system is failing them.
Now let’s infer that this isnt the only case, imagine the people who don’t give a shit and are out and about now. Who is responsible?
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 22 points 19 hours ago
(I'm a she/her.) YEAH! We've been in this pandemic for so long. They should at least already have a protocol to adapt to sudden surges.
[–]Varantain 20 points 18 hours ago
Then the people sending you to the facilities will also stop along the way to other properties to pick up other people on QO.
What? That sounds incredibly unsafe for all the QO detainees not wearing full PPE.
[–]honbhige Developing Citizen 15 points 18 hours ago
Yep the detainees, lack of a better word, are only wearing masks throughout their journey. They get picked up from various places and end up at the same hotel. The driver and the person acting as role of the school bus auntie are in full PPE though
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 2 points 5 hours ago
Makes sense in terms of resources since there are so many people to gather for quarantine.
[–]bohiew 1 point 4 hours ago
QO transport cluster incoming!!
[–]JokerMother Senior Citizen 45 points 21 hours ago
father was in the same spot as u.. was told that a close contact was detected based on his registered home address. None of us have went for a test, much less tested positive. Called and called MOH to no avail. After few days managed to get through and they said something along the lines of him not under quarantine but just a welfare check? Wasted so much of our time and caused great inconvenience. Been so paranoid about covid/contact tracing esp after the whole mess they made with DJ rasif
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 17 points 20 hours ago
Yeah, I keep about thinking about DJ Rasif's case too. A lot of ambiguity in the midst of an already trying time.
[+]tinboyboy comment score below threshold
(2 children)
[–]tenbre 32 points 9 hours ago*
I commend you on your patience. I think you definitely should push for the black and white confirmation SMS but other than that just make your own arrangements to protect your own and your household's health. In the absence of official help, help yourself.
Well guys, you wanna know what happens if the "healthcare system" gets overwhelmed with covid? Here it is. Systems and processes breaking down, not meeting targets and deadlines, lower priority cases gets bumped or ignored or delayed, dropped messaging, dropped calls, no updated information. There's no red line to cross or alarm bell ringing, this is it.
Look at MOH daily press release, delayed a few more hours each day. Can't even release by midnight now, it's become 2am. Even when they have stopped putting out full case details. Are we even sure their daily tallies are 100% accurate? Their unlinked cases are high partly because they don't have time to contact trace 130 community cases within the same day.
Imagine this all happening to the actual hospital side rather than the quarantine system. Imagine not being able to get warded for a stroke or accident, or just having to wait extra 12 hours to be admitted.
It's disappointing that it's happening at 130 cases, quarantine process ought to be able to ramp up much better. It's mostly administrative issues like sending info, sending sms. These should not fail. Just send the notices and give information like quarantine at home until unless we have available logistics and capacity to bring you to a GQF.
It's disappointing that Govtech isn't helping out on this. They can come out with stupid ARTgowhere websites but can't do up a proper quarantine lookup info system with notifications, acknowledgement, current status, start and end dates etc.
It's disappointing that mainstream media hasn't had their ears on the ground and picked up on this situation, crisis, developing and reported on it and questioned the taskforce on it. Heck why is Business Times the only article I saw.
The fight of P2HA of July 2021 will not be saved by banning dine in, it will be lost by a failure of the quarantine and case management system to isolate and stop continued spread of clusters. 2 weeks in, the quarantine machinery should be taking effect by now but it isn't.
If this was sufficient for previous strains, it's not sufficient for Delta's transmissibility.
What if MTF is giving up on GQF quarantine because logistically they can't keep up with rising numbers? Is it a symptom of deeper issues?
Does the MTF see this as a dead end - that quarantines will be going away in their "endemic" plan and thus not worth investing long term resources into it? Do they just throw it to Cisco to handle? Well we know how efficient and smart large government linked enterprises can be.
For a situation where we have entire industries bemoaning lack of customers lack of work lack of revenue lack of jobs, it hardly feels like there's any lack of warm bodies to throw into quarantine grunt work, if only the systems and SOPs were more flexible, faster to adapt, or the persons in management had more decisive power.
I hope someone is reading reddit cuz it's obviously not coming through on ST, and none of the inside staff seem to dare to post on here.
SMH.
Edit: you know what, if you're persistently not getting through to MOH, and you need a problem solved: call your MP.
[–]DuePomegranate 1 point 5 hours ago
How do you know that GovTech isn’t helping out with this?
[–]mellowminister 4 points 12 hours ago
Similar situation whereby school has informed my sis kids that they will need to be on LOA cos one of the household members has close contact with an active case. But nobody in the house received any QO and they hardly head out anyway. Been calling the MOH hotline for 2 days but to no avail.
The school’s VP called the next day to clarify on the situation and gave the name of the close contact, whom nobody knew this person. Apparently, my sis family just moved out of her condo last month, and there’s rumours going around that there’s an active case in that block. Maybe there’s a lapse in the system and assumed they’re still in that condo, and hence the instruction from the school.
But what’s really perplexing is, how is it that MOE has the info but MOH hasn’t contacted anyone in the house? It was causing so much unnecessary anxiety. I’m sure everyone who’s experiencing this QO thing aren’t having it easy too. All the best and stay safe everyone!
[–]gydot asdasddas 2 points 10 hours ago
LOA is what the sch/org gives you to play safe. Let you not come in with reason. It isn't a legal document. The QO is a legal document.
[–]muten85 5 points 8 hours ago
That looks out of control and not adapted to a Delta Variant in a context where the majority of the population is now vaccinated. Something is out wack here. At this pace the whole population will be under quarantine order.
[–]_IsNull 37 points 21 hours ago*
There’s literally nothing you can do. Just have to wait. It could take up to a week plus for them to appear. Won’t be surprise if they turn up after your QO ended.
The Moh hotline isn’t useful as you will likely get the answer of “we have no information.”
If I were to design the system.
I would send out sms by batch on a hourly basis. And request user to acknowledge within 4 hours. Provide an online link where they can verify or read more information. And a phone number as well. Folks with special request can apply online or via the call. Special request such as having infant along or elderly. Or special needs.
No response means the person haven’t seen it or don’t know how to read sms. That’s when u call them and inform them.
Once acknowledgement is received or call is complete. The system will update with the list and Match it with a hotel room availability and forward to Cisco every 6 hours for them to arrange pick up.
Since MOH block x amount of room per hotel for this purpose. It’s really easy to calculate if the hotel is full or not.
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 5 points 20 hours ago
MOH should hire you
[–]limelemonginger 4 points 11 hours ago
Hey how about asking a friend to buy an ART kit and leave it at your door?
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 2 points 2 hours ago
I did today! Free delivery through Grab during off peak hours. I'm negative so far but will need to test every 2 days, or until they finally collect me for quarantine
[–]limelemonginger 1 point 2 hours ago
All the best and hopefully no covid!
[–]mrwaggaMature Citizen 20 points 21 hours ago
Keep calm and stay put. Firewall yourself from your family. Pack your bag for the quarantine.
There is no use getting flustered since either way you are quarantining for 14 days. There is really no where you need to rush to.
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 10 points 19 hours ago
Bro, my bags were packed the very night of receiving the call lol. I actually share a room with a family member so it's hard to completely isolate myself from family but I've been reducing interaction.
I know it's no use being flustered but TMI I have a bit of anxiety and I sometimes get a slight fever from stress. My temperature has been 37.2 since last night
[–]tallbean_ 3 points 7 hours ago*
THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY DAD!
He got a QO call on Monday, no SMS. The person on the phone said someone would get him in 48 hours, and that his QO would last until 31st July (today—his contact with the person was on 17 July). So my entire family has been staying since monday.
48 hours pass, no updates, not even the QO SMS. He tries again and again to call MOH and only gets through on Wednesday. They escalate to Certis but the person on that end said they didn't have his details too!! After much back and forth they finally sent the SMS yesterday, and someone just came to swab us today (Dad's ART is negative, waiting on PCR results).
Really annoyed because my second jab was today, and the person who came to swab our family couldn't tell me if I could get a jab. I went down to the vaccination centre and got turned away at the door, now I'll have to reschedule again.
Totally understand that MOH is insanely overwhelmed, and I hope they are able to receive more support. But this doesn't take away the frustration my family has been feeling. Especially since my dad's a private-hire driver. No SMS means no way of claiming the QO allowance. It really sucks that many of us are trying to be responsible citizens but are left hanging by this inefficient process. I'm more disappointed than anything with the way this situation has unfolded for my family.
[–]2_8_2_7 3 points 3 hours ago*
Had a friend who got his QO on 19 July
Apparently he was told that he should have been in the QO facility on 15th instead.
He repeatedly ask both MOH and Cisco for the details of when he was in close contact with the infected person, based on the assumption that he had indeed had a close contact with a confirmed case just so that he could at least inform his friends/colleagues/family memebers etc if they had interacted with him after the presumed close contact with the confirmed case.
His experience was similar to yours, couldnt get through, couldnt get answers and worried as hell for his family and his primary school going son
He was released 5 days ago and still has no idea on why the hell he was issued a QO
Yes it's understandable that MOH is probably bloody busy now with the various clusters and increase in cases, but I honestly feel that they should at least give him an answer to at least know about the details on why he got his QO instead of leaving him in suspense
Edit: spelling
[–]bourbunz 1 point 3 hours ago
Does he use the TT app? I know possible exposures can show up there super late too
[–]2_8_2_7 1 point 2 hours ago
yes but it didnt show that he went to anywhere with possible exposure
It's more likely he had a close contact with an infected person cos his job interacts with quite a number of people
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 1 point 2 hours ago
Yikes. That's bad. At least I know my exact exposure because it was a booked cab ride, and they verified that I was the one who took the ride and alone. But on my TT app, it shows no exposure alert.
[–]abigbluebird 9 points 13 hours ago*
Contact tracing side is overwhelmed. My wife got a QO order due to being a close contact and the staff told her to tell her colleagues that they were under QO as well. I don’t want to turn it into a “it’s your job” kind of thing but with the lengthy delay between that and the official sms, there’s a chance some people might think it’s a prank/misinformation etc.
The good news is, the QO starts from the day of last possible exposure rather than the day they notify you lol.
Also after she finished her QO, they asked her to drop by NCID for another blood test despite all the tests results being negative. She was in the hotel all this while and they couldn’t carry out the test then? Also imagine going down to NCID for the test, being in close contact and going into QO again. Insisted they come over at our convenience but haven’t heard back since.
[–]musrWho am I? 3 points 7 hours ago
Also imagine going down to NCID for the test, being in close contact and going into QO again. Insisted they come over at our convenience but haven’t heard back since.
Thanks for this pro-tip. My mum got QO because she went for a voluntary test due to visiting a market between certain dates. The contact time was literally 10 minutes before she was swabbed.
So if you're not a doctor or anything, it's entirely possible to get a series of QOs by following their advice.
[–]gydot asdasddas 5 points 10 hours ago
Cisco doesn't have your data because MOH has not sent it to them yet. Meaning the case they're working on has many contacts. They usually send it all one shot to Cisco per case.
[–]dazark 3 points 6 hours ago
no wonder. i waw issued QO this past Tuesday, 24hrs later got my official sms confirmation plus a couple of calls from MOH but zero from cisco so I'm just chilling at home till QO-expiry next Monday.
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 1 point 2 hours ago
Makes sense then since my exposure was to a taxi driver..... but it has been 73 hours at this point
[–]NuDelphi 5 points 20 hours ago
Sounds messy, maybe this might help
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 1 point 20 hours ago
Thank you! It is helpful, at least I know what are the possible gaps to look out for.
[+]Prize_Used 6 points 19 hours ago
(0 children)
[–]TraditionalMacchiato 3 points 17 hours ago
8,000 to be quarantined in less than a week? Where do these individuals go?
[–]DuePomegranate 1 point 5 hours ago
Hotels
[–]jhmelvin 2 points 19 hours ago
I have a friend's son and another friend's father waiting for QO. The latter packed his bags and waited 48 hours without any further news.
[+]Nurulyacob 1 point 18 hours ago
(0 children)
[–]zoinks10 1 point 15 hours ago
I thought they quarantined the household not dragging individuals away to a separate location?
If this is the process they may as well not bother.
[–]ostricheryMature Citizen 10 points 14 hours ago
Came here to say this. My colleagues father in law was given a QO on thursday but they told him no space so just quarantine at home.. Uhh and the rest of the ppl in the same house can just go about their normal business.
[–]bourbunz 7 points 10 hours ago
Wait what
[–]athrun2015 3 points 13 hours ago*
You can request for the whole household to be quarantined instead of the close contact only in QO facility. Certis acknowledged our request and informed there will be swab tests (twice - now and at end of QO) .The next day, early morning call from Certis that full home QO has been approved by MOH. Next early morning, called to say the full home QO request was only submitted and was rejected, we have young unvaccinated kids, told my wife to wait for pickup to QO facility. A late call later at night (lost tracked which day)to confirm the whole household will be quarantined. No black or white or sms except the initial QO sent by sms to close contact(wife). Impossible to get through MOH/Certis hotline for updates, we speculated the numbers of QO are overwhelming.
Initially informed the school our kids will be absent from school until until the wife has received the first negative PCR test result, as per school/MOE guidelines.Rightfully, the rest of household needs to be on LOA or approved absense and confirmed by Certis during initial call. Certis told us strictly everyone is on QO after we put in the home QO request. Today is day 7, no one has visited to do swab test. Sent the school a copy of wife's QO sms, so that the school is aware of kid's absence until end of QO. Some teachers are kind enough to sent in school work updates, so that kids dont miss much.
According to MOH FAQ, QO is treated as sick leave. Without any proof, only informed my employer I am on LOA and continue to WFH.
[–]zoinks10 4 points 7 hours ago
Wow. That’s complex just to read and it sounds like a complete shambles. I appreciate there’s a load of cases now but this kind of disruption to lives, businesses and kids is not really acceptable.
[–]seejsee 1 point 13 hours ago
They have been saying things like fully vaxed people may be able to serve home quarantine. Also, doesnt seem like Expo, Big Box and Tanjong Pagar mass quarantine facilities will be reactivated soon.
So maybe now got an extra layer of decision-making and verification from MOH side, do QO at hotel or at home.
[–]DuePomegranate 1 point 5 hours ago
Expo, Big Box were not quarantine facilities. They were community care facilities i.e. infected but don’t need medical care. They had cubicles and individual patients were not isolated from each other, they queued en masse for meals. You can’t do this for quarantine since a few infected individuals would soon turn into a mega-cluster.
[–]Uranium-Sauce 1 point 13 hours ago
Reading ur last few lines really give me a feeling of a zombie apocalypse. Scenes we see in a movie. Chilling.
[+]Eltharion-the-Grim 1 point 11 hours ago
(0 children)
[–]iemfi -2 points 14 hours ago
I mean if you know for a fact you had a cab ride with a confirmed case, then I don't see how the QO changes anything. Isolate yourself at home for a week, you got the first jab already so chances are you won't be infected or are asymptomatic, but I wouldn't want to risk passing it on to my parents if I was in your position.
[–]Silverelfz 1 point 5 hours ago
Definitely get a Self test kit and run that. It may not be the most accurate but at least that gives your family some little space to relax.
As much as possible avoid interaction with the rest of your family till MOH gets back to you.
Do note that even after you do the self test, and you test negative, you can at any point become positive. Also self test kits are not the mist accurate so bear that in mind.
Take care and I hope you get an answer soon or already have before I typed this!
[–]DrinkMilkDaily 1 point 5 hours ago
I think the ART are pretty accurate. I was served with a QO due to close contact and was worth if my initial negative ART test would result in a positive pCR test but nope, luckily my two PCR tests are negative as well!
[–]Silverelfz 1 point 3 hours ago
Yes. ART are sufficiently accurate, just that we need to remember that there is a higher possibility a positive case is not picked up vs using PCR, so if someone has a strong suspicion he is exposed to covid and likely to contract the disease, he can use this as a quick test but still needs to follow up with a PCR to validate the negative results (under current protocols)
[–]DrinkMilkDaily 1 point an hour ago
True but the whole point is that we should stop worrying if it will become positive. When I was serving my QO, I nearly had a mental breakdown worrying about having positive results later until I called for help. That's why I really understand those under going QO. It's sucks not being to go out at all but worse if you keep thinking about the % of having positive results later.
[–]wanderchyl hermit 小姐姐[
S] 1 point 2 hours ago
Thank you! I still don't have anything from MOH and Cisco but I did self test and I'm negative so far, phew.
[–]luffytheOGgaan 1 point 4 hours ago
Yep same experience. Government side is overwhelmed and badly executed.
[–]raphide95 [score hidden] 56 minutes ago
A lot of things mentioned on their FAQ that certain things have to be done etc. E.g. Signing forms, being tagged and using ART and uploading the results. They are either very late or didn't appear at all. According to their FAQ, my father supposed to be swabbed within 24 hours of notification of QO, BUT, the swabber only shows up 48 hours after the notification and it was because MOH called my father to check if the swabber came.
