SINGAPORE — The National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) has urged the public not to visit its screening centre without doctor referrals.

This advisory comes after the centre experienced long queues on Monday (16 March). An NCID spokesperson told The Straits Times that some visitors have been seeking COVID-19 testing without appointments nor prior consultation with clinics.

The NCID screening centre also does not provide certification to return to work, travel or for other non-medical related issues, which some people were queueing up for, the spokesperson told The Straits Times.

NCID advises those who are unwell to first seek care at the Public Health Preparedness Clinics, which is the network of 900 general practitioner clinics – which includes all 20 polyclinics – across Singapore activated to deal with the increase in patient traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These clinics are found in all major HDB estates, with medical staff issued with personal protective equipment and trained in handling those with respiratory symptoms.

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