EVEN as the Singapore Government announces more measures to guard against a swine-flu outbreak, companies here are taking their own precautions as the alert level is upped from green to yellow.
At least one bank has asked its staff to practise regular temperature-taking while others are taking smaller steps like putting up posters promoting good hygiene or cutting trips to affected areas.
Said a spokesman for the Singapore Business Federation: "It is good to be ready even though the pandemic is taking root elsewhere, as it is all part of business preparedness."
OCBC Bank, for instance, has distributed an anti-flu kit consisting of thermometers, masks and gloves to their employees.
The bank will also be screening all visitors and employees entering its branches and offices.
Mr Winson Toh, head of fraud risk management at OCBC, said of the measures: "I feel very assured that the bank is proactively monitoring the situation and taking such precautionary actions to protect the health of our employees and customers."
OCBC's moves were the most extensive out of the companies my paper spoke to.
As for other banks, DBS Bank has put up posters reminding employees to practise good personal hygiene. Both DBS and United Overseas Bank have reminded employees to seek medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms.
Maybank and Citibank are discouraging staff from taking trips to affected countries for now.
Telecommunications giant SingTel and transport company ComfortDelGro are doing the same.
Dr Tan Seow Hwee, 45, medical director at the accident-andemergency department of Gleneagles Hospital, pointed out that it was especially important for companies whose staff come into constant contact with the public to take precautions.
"It is useful that people know if they are having a fever or are ill so that they don't pose a riskto others and can voluntarily isolate themselves," he added.
Singapore Airlines has mandated that emergency packs comprising gear like face masks, disposable gloves and protective gowns be available on all flights for use if necessary.
Frasers Centrepoint, meanwhile, said that they "intend to up the hygiene levels in their malls" within the next few weeks to ensure the safety of shoppers and employees.
So far, with no confirmed cases of swine flu here, most companies are still not taking any drastic measures. But as Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday at a press conference, it is only a matter of time before it arrives.
