Story Timeline:
- 12th April 2020 – Five McDonald’s Singapore employees diagnosed with COVID-19, 4 outlets closed until further notice (Current Article)
- 17th April 2020 – McDonald’s Singapore to suspend takeaway service as part of COVID-19 safe distancing measures
- 19th April 2020 – McDonald’s Singapore suspends all restaurant operations until May 4
- 20th April 2020 – McDonald’s moved workers around S’pore outlets during circuit breaker to ‘stay nimble with available manpower’
Five McDonald’s employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19, said the fast food chain in a press release on Sunday (Apr 12).
The employees worked at outlets in Lido, Forum Galleria, Parklane and Geylang East Central, which have been deep-cleaned and closed until further notice.
All other employees working at the four outlets have been told to serve a company-imposed 14-day leave of absence, regardless of whether they had come into contact with the confirmed case, said McDonald’s Singapore. Their daily temperatures and health condition will be closely monitored.
The five confirmed cases are now quarantined in medical facilities and are being monitored by medical personnel, as per the Ministry of Health’s guidelines.
They had normal temperature readings at the start of their respective work shifts, said McDonald’s Singapore.
The details of the five cases are as follows:
- Employee 1 works at the Lido outlet and was last there on Apr 2. The employee also worked at the Parklane outlet for one day on Mar 30. The employee visited the doctor on Apr 3 for a sore throat and fever, and was given five days of medical leave. The employee visited the doctor again on Apr 8 and was sent for a swab test.
- Employee 2 works at the Lido outlet and was last there on Apr 3. The employee had rest days from Apr 4 to Apr 6 and visited the doctor on Apr 7 for joint pains and muscle aches.
- Employee 3 works at the Parklane outlet and was last there on Apr 8. The employee also worked at the Lido outlet on Mar 30, Apr 1, 2, 3 and 6. The employee visited the doctor on Apr 9 for a fever.
- Employee 4 worked at the Forum Galleria outlet and was last there on Apr 8. Employee 4 is a roommate of Employee 3. Employee 4 was well but was requested by McDonald’s to go for a swab test on Apr 10.
- Employee 5 works at the Geylang East Central outlet and was last there on Apr 8. The employee visited the doctor on Apr 9 with a fever and was referred to the hospital for a swab test.
In response to CNA queries, McDonald’s said about 210 employees are serving a 14-day leave of absence that has been imposed by the company.
“This is an added precautionary measure on our part to ensure that these employees stay isolated and safe at home,” it added.
Employees who are isolated have been advised to take their temperatures twice daily and to see a doctor if they are feeling unwell. McDonald’s said it would continue to monitor these employees’ well-being over the next 14 days.
“As we continue to uphold all important safety measures to the highest standards, we also want to encourage our customers to wear a mask when they visit our restaurants for takeaway in line with the latest recommendation, for their own safety and that of our employees,” said McDonald’s Singapore managing director Kenneth Chan.
