Powers of Director-General of Health and Health Officers in dealing with outbreaks and suspected outbreaks of infectious diseases
Open ↗55. —(1) For the purpose of investigating into any outbreak or suspected outbreak of an infectious disease or for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of an infectious disease, the Director-General of Health or any Health Officer authorised by the Director-General of Health may — ( a ) at any time without warrant and with such force as may be necessary — (i) enter, inspect and search any premises; or (ii) stop, board, inspect and search any conveyance, in which the outbreak or suspected outbreak has taken place; ( b ) take samples of any substance or matter, wherever found, if the Director-General of Health or Health Officer has reason to believe that the substance or matter is the cause of, is contributory to or is otherwise connected with, the occurrence of the outbreak or suspected outbreak, and send those samples for such test, examination or analysis as the Director-General of Health or Health Officer may consider necessary or expedient; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( c ) seize any substance or matter, wherever found, if the Director-General of Health or Health Officer has reason to believe that that substance or matter is the cause of, is contributory to or is otherwise connected with, the occurrence of the outbreak or suspected outbreak; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( d ) require any person or class of persons to destroy any food in the possession of the person or those persons, in such manner and within such time as he or she may specify, and impose any requirement that the Director-General of Health or Health Officer thinks fit in relation to the destruction of the food, if the Director-General of Health or Health Officer has reason to believe that the food is the cause of, is contributory to or is otherwise connected with, the occurrence of the outbreak or suspected outbreak; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( e ) require any person or class of persons — (i) to furnish any information within the knowledge of the person or any person in that class of persons; or [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (ii) to produce any book, document or other record which may be in the custody or possession of the person or any person in that class of persons for inspection by the Director-General of Health or Health Officer and the making of copies thereof, or to provide the Director-General of Health or Health Officer with copies of such book, document or other record, [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] within such time and in such form or manner as the Director-General of Health or Health Officer may specify and may, if necessary, further require the person to attend at a specified time and place for the purposes of complying with sub‑paragraph (i) or (ii); [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( f ) require, by written notice, any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease to submit to medical examination and have his or her blood or other body sample taken for examination within or at such time, and at such place, and comply with such other measure relating to the medical examination, as may be specified in the notice, and to undergo such treatment as may be necessary; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( g ) subject to subsection (5), order the closure or cordoning off of any public place in which the outbreak or suspected outbreak, or the transmission or suspected transmission, of an infectious disease has taken place, and require the owner or occupier of the public place to carry out any additional measures that the Director-General of Health or Health Officer considers necessary, in the manner and within the time specified in the order; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( h ) subject to subsections (6) and (7), requisition, for such period as the Director-General of Health or Health Officer thinks necessary — (i) any premises (including any facility or equipment in those premises) which, in his or her opinion, is suitable for the isolation and treatment of persons who are, or are reasonably suspected to be, cases or at-risk individuals of the infectious disease; and [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (ii) any conveyance which, in his or her opinion, is suitable and necessary for use in connection with the prevention of the spread or possible outbreak of the infectious disease; and [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( i ) by order prohibit or restrict the movement of any person or class of persons, animals and conveyances into, within or out of any public place mentioned in paragraph ( g ) or any premises mentioned in paragraph ( h )(i), subject to any condition that the Director-General of Health thinks fit. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (2) Where the Director-General of Health or Health Officer seizes any substance or matter under subsection (1)( c ) — ( a ) the Director-General of Health or Health Officer must immediately give written notice of the seizure to the owner of, or to the person from whom, the substance or matter was seized and may — (i) direct that the substance or matter under seizure be kept or stored in the premises or conveyance where it was seized or be removed to any other place to be kept or stored there; or (ii) dispose of the substance or matter immediately if the Director-General of Health or Health Officer is of the view that the substance or matter is decayed, putrefied or deleterious to health; and [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( b ) any person aggrieved by the seizure may, within 48 hours after the seizure, complain to a Magistrate’s Court and the Magistrate’s Court may — (i) confirm the seizure wholly or in part; (ii) disallow the seizure wholly or in part; (iii) order that any substance or matter that has been seized be returned to its owner, subject to any condition which the Court may think fit to impose to ensure that the substance or matter is preserved for any purpose for which it may subsequently be required; or (iv) order payment to be made to the owner of or person entitled to the substance or matter seized of such amount as the Court considers reasonable compensation to the owner or person for any loss or depreciation resulting from the seizure. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (3) Where — ( a ) no complaint is received by the Magistrate’s Court within 48 hours of the seizure under subsection (2)( b ); or ( b ) the Magistrate’s Court confirms the seizure under subsection (2)( b )(i), the substance or matter seized in its entirety or to the extent to which its seizure was confirmed by the Magistrate’s Court (as the case may be) becomes the property of the Government and must be disposed of in the manner that the Director-General of Health thinks fit. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (4) A person (including a person in a class of persons) must comply with a requirement under subsection (1)( e ) to disclose information or produce documents to the Director-General of Health despite any restriction on the disclosure of the information or documents imposed by any written law, rule of law, rule of professional conduct or contract; and the person must not by so doing be treated as being in breach of any such restriction despite anything to the contrary in that law, rule or contract. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (5) The power referred to in subsection (1)( g ) does not apply in respect of any public place where the power to order the closure or cordoning off of such public place in the same circumstances has been conferred by any other written law on some other public officer or statutory body. (6) Any premises that are unoccupied may be requisitioned under subsection (1)( h ) without notice being given to the owner of the premises, but premises that are occupied must not be so requisitioned unless a written notice has been served on the owner or occupier or posted in a conspicuous position at those premises. (7) Where any premises or conveyance is requisitioned under subsection (1)( h ), the owner or occupier of the premises or the owner or person having control and possession of the conveyance is entitled to a reasonable compensation for the occupation of the premises during the period of requisition, or for the use and detention of the conveyance, as the case may be. (8) Any person (including any person in a class of persons) who fails to comply with any requirement or order made by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (1)( d ), ( e ), ( f ), ( g ) or ( i ) shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (9) For the purposes of subsection (1)( e ), where any document or record required by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer is kept in electronic form, then — ( a ) the power of the Director-General of Health or Health Officer to require the document or record to be produced for inspection includes the power to require a copy of the document or record to be made available for inspection in legible form; and [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( b ) the power of the Director-General of Health or Health Officer to inspect the document or record includes the power to require any person or class of persons on the premises in question to give the Director-General of Health or Health Officer such assistance as the Director-General of Health or Health Officer may reasonably require to enable him or her to inspect and make copies of the document or record in legible form or to make records of the information contained in the document or record. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
—(1) For the purpose of investigating into any outbreak or suspected outbreak of an infectious disease or for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of an infectious disease, the Director-General of Health or any Health Officer authorised by the Director-General of Health may — ( a ) at any time without warrant and with such force as may be necessary — (i) enter, inspect and search any premises; or (ii) stop, board, inspect and search any conveyance, in which the outbreak or suspected outbreak has taken place; ( b ) take samples of any substance or matter, wherever found, if the Director-General of Health or Health Officer has reason to believe that the substance or matter is the cause of, is contributory to or is otherwise connected with, the occurrence of the outbreak or suspected outbreak, and send those samples for such test, examination or analysis as the Director-General of Health or Health Officer may consider necessary or expedient; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( c ) seize any substance or matter, wherever found, if the Director-General of Health or Health Officer has reason to believe that that substance or matter is the cause of, is contributory to or is otherwise connected with, the occurrence of the outbreak or suspected outbreak; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( d ) require any person or class of persons to destroy any food in the possession of the person or those persons, in such manner and within such time as he or she may specify, and impose any requirement that the Director-General of Health or Health Officer thinks fit in relation to the destruction of the food, if the Director-General of Health or Health Officer has reason to believe that the food is the cause of, is contributory to or is otherwise connected with, the occurrence of the outbreak or suspected outbreak; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( e ) require any person or class of persons — (i) to furnish any information within the knowledge of the person or any person in that class of persons; or [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (ii) to produce any book, document or other record which may be in the custody or possession of the person or any person in that class of persons for inspection by the Director-General of Health or Health Officer and the making of copies thereof, or to provide the Director-General of Health or Health Officer with copies of such book, document or other record, [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] within such time and in such form or manner as the Director-General of Health or Health Officer may specify and may, if necessary, further require the person to attend at a specified time and place for the purposes of complying with sub‑paragraph (i) or (ii); [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( f ) require, by written notice, any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease to submit to medical examination and have his or her blood or other body sample taken for examination within or at such time, and at such place, and comply with such other measure relating to the medical examination, as may be specified in the notice, and to undergo such treatment as may be necessary; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( g ) subject to subsection (5), order the closure or cordoning off of any public place in which the outbreak or suspected outbreak, or the transmission or suspected transmission, of an infectious disease has taken place, and require the owner or occupier of the public place to carry out any additional measures that the Director-General of Health or Health Officer considers necessary, in the manner and within the time specified in the order; [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( h ) subject to subsections (6) and (7), requisition, for such period as the Director-General of Health or Health Officer thinks necessary — (i) any premises (including any facility or equipment in those premises) which, in his or her opinion, is suitable for the isolation and treatment of persons who are, or are reasonably suspected to be, cases or at-risk individuals of the infectious disease; and [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (ii) any conveyance which, in his or her opinion, is suitable and necessary for use in connection with the prevention of the spread or possible outbreak of the infectious disease; and [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( i ) by order prohibit or restrict the movement of any person or class of persons, animals and conveyances into, within or out of any public place mentioned in paragraph ( g ) or any premises mentioned in paragraph ( h )(i), subject to any condition that the Director-General of Health thinks fit. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(2) Where the Director-General of Health or Health Officer seizes any substance or matter under subsection (1)( c ) — ( a ) the Director-General of Health or Health Officer must immediately give written notice of the seizure to the owner of, or to the person from whom, the substance or matter was seized and may — (i) direct that the substance or matter under seizure be kept or stored in the premises or conveyance where it was seized or be removed to any other place to be kept or stored there; or (ii) dispose of the substance or matter immediately if the Director-General of Health or Health Officer is of the view that the substance or matter is decayed, putrefied or deleterious to health; and [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( b ) any person aggrieved by the seizure may, within 48 hours after the seizure, complain to a Magistrate’s Court and the Magistrate’s Court may — (i) confirm the seizure wholly or in part; (ii) disallow the seizure wholly or in part; (iii) order that any substance or matter that has been seized be returned to its owner, subject to any condition which the Court may think fit to impose to ensure that the substance or matter is preserved for any purpose for which it may subsequently be required; or (iv) order payment to be made to the owner of or person entitled to the substance or matter seized of such amount as the Court considers reasonable compensation to the owner or person for any loss or depreciation resulting from the seizure. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(3) Where — ( a ) no complaint is received by the Magistrate’s Court within 48 hours of the seizure under subsection (2)( b ); or ( b ) the Magistrate’s Court confirms the seizure under subsection (2)( b )(i), the substance or matter seized in its entirety or to the extent to which its seizure was confirmed by the Magistrate’s Court (as the case may be) becomes the property of the Government and must be disposed of in the manner that the Director-General of Health thinks fit. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(4) A person (including a person in a class of persons) must comply with a requirement under subsection (1)( e ) to disclose information or produce documents to the Director-General of Health despite any restriction on the disclosure of the information or documents imposed by any written law, rule of law, rule of professional conduct or contract; and the person must not by so doing be treated as being in breach of any such restriction despite anything to the contrary in that law, rule or contract. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(5) The power referred to in subsection (1)( g ) does not apply in respect of any public place where the power to order the closure or cordoning off of such public place in the same circumstances has been conferred by any other written law on some other public officer or statutory body.
(6) Any premises that are unoccupied may be requisitioned under subsection (1)( h ) without notice being given to the owner of the premises, but premises that are occupied must not be so requisitioned unless a written notice has been served on the owner or occupier or posted in a conspicuous position at those premises.
(7) Where any premises or conveyance is requisitioned under subsection (1)( h ), the owner or occupier of the premises or the owner or person having control and possession of the conveyance is entitled to a reasonable compensation for the occupation of the premises during the period of requisition, or for the use and detention of the conveyance, as the case may be.
(8) Any person (including any person in a class of persons) who fails to comply with any requirement or order made by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (1)( d ), ( e ), ( f ), ( g ) or ( i ) shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(9) For the purposes of subsection (1)( e ), where any document or record required by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer is kept in electronic form, then — ( a ) the power of the Director-General of Health or Health Officer to require the document or record to be produced for inspection includes the power to require a copy of the document or record to be made available for inspection in legible form; and [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( b ) the power of the Director-General of Health or Health Officer to inspect the document or record includes the power to require any person or class of persons on the premises in question to give the Director-General of Health or Health Officer such assistance as the Director-General of Health or Health Officer may reasonably require to enable him or her to inspect and make copies of the document or record in legible form or to make records of the information contained in the document or record. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
Powers of investigation
Open ↗55A. —(1) For the purposes of an investigation into an offence punishable under this Act, any police officer, or any Health Officer who is authorised in writing in that behalf by the Director‑General of Public Health, the Director‑General, Food Administration or the Director-General of Health, may — ( a ) require any person or class of persons, within such time and in such manner as the Director-General of Public Health, the Director-General, Food Administration or the Director-General of Health may specify — (i) to furnish any information within the knowledge of the person or any person in that class of persons; or [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (ii) to produce any book, document or other record which may be in the custody or possession of the person or any person in that class of persons for inspection by the police officer or Health Officer and the making of copies thereof, or to provide the police officer or Health Officer with copies of such book, document or other record, [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] and may, if necessary, further require the person to attend at a specified time and place for the purposes of complying with sub‑paragraph (i) or (ii); [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( b ) at any time without warrant and with such force as may be necessary, stop, board, enter, inspect and search any premises or conveyance; ( c ) take samples of or seize any substance or matter found in any premises or conveyance mentioned in paragraph ( b ); and ( d ) seize any book, document or record produced under paragraph ( a ) or found in any premises or conveyance mentioned in paragraph ( b ). [10/2008; 5/2019; 11/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (2) A statement made by any person giving evidence under subsection (1)( a ) — ( a ) must be reduced to writing and read over to the person; and ( b ) must, after correction (if any), be signed by the person. [10/2008] (3) Any person (including any person in a class of persons) who, without reasonable excuse — ( a ) refuses or fails to comply with any requirement of a police officer or Health Officer under subsection (1); or ( b ) refuses to answer or gives a false answer to any question put to him or her by a police officer or Health Officer, shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), it is a reasonable excuse for a person to refuse or fail to furnish any information, produce any book, document or other record or answer any question if doing so might tend to incriminate him or her. [10/2008] (5) For the purposes of subsection (1)( a )(i), where any document or record required by a police officer or Health Officer is kept in electronic form, then — ( a ) the power of the police officer or Health Officer to require the document or record to be produced for inspection includes the power to require a copy of the document or record to be made available for inspection in legible form; and ( b ) the power of the police officer or Health Officer to inspect the document or record includes the power to require any person on the premises in question to give the police officer or Health Officer such assistance as the police officer or Health Officer may reasonably require to enable him or her to inspect and make copies of the document or record in legible form or to make records of the information contained in the document or record. [10/2008]
—(1) For the purposes of an investigation into an offence punishable under this Act, any police officer, or any Health Officer who is authorised in writing in that behalf by the Director‑General of Public Health, the Director‑General, Food Administration or the Director-General of Health, may — ( a ) require any person or class of persons, within such time and in such manner as the Director-General of Public Health, the Director-General, Food Administration or the Director-General of Health may specify — (i) to furnish any information within the knowledge of the person or any person in that class of persons; or [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (ii) to produce any book, document or other record which may be in the custody or possession of the person or any person in that class of persons for inspection by the police officer or Health Officer and the making of copies thereof, or to provide the police officer or Health Officer with copies of such book, document or other record, [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] and may, if necessary, further require the person to attend at a specified time and place for the purposes of complying with sub‑paragraph (i) or (ii); [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( b ) at any time without warrant and with such force as may be necessary, stop, board, enter, inspect and search any premises or conveyance; ( c ) take samples of or seize any substance or matter found in any premises or conveyance mentioned in paragraph ( b ); and ( d ) seize any book, document or record produced under paragraph ( a ) or found in any premises or conveyance mentioned in paragraph ( b ). [10/2008; 5/2019; 11/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(2) A statement made by any person giving evidence under subsection (1)( a ) — ( a ) must be reduced to writing and read over to the person; and ( b ) must, after correction (if any), be signed by the person. [10/2008]
(3) Any person (including any person in a class of persons) who, without reasonable excuse — ( a ) refuses or fails to comply with any requirement of a police officer or Health Officer under subsection (1); or ( b ) refuses to answer or gives a false answer to any question put to him or her by a police officer or Health Officer, shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), it is a reasonable excuse for a person to refuse or fail to furnish any information, produce any book, document or other record or answer any question if doing so might tend to incriminate him or her. [10/2008]
(5) For the purposes of subsection (1)( a )(i), where any document or record required by a police officer or Health Officer is kept in electronic form, then — ( a ) the power of the police officer or Health Officer to require the document or record to be produced for inspection includes the power to require a copy of the document or record to be made available for inspection in legible form; and ( b ) the power of the police officer or Health Officer to inspect the document or record includes the power to require any person on the premises in question to give the police officer or Health Officer such assistance as the police officer or Health Officer may reasonably require to enable him or her to inspect and make copies of the document or record in legible form or to make records of the information contained in the document or record. [10/2008]
Disposal of document, substance or matter
Open ↗55B. —(1) Any book, document, record, sample, substance or matter (called in this section the document, substance or matter) produced, taken or seized under this Act must — ( a ) where the document, substance or matter is produced in any criminal trial, be dealt with in accordance with section 364(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010; ( b ) where the owner of the document, substance or matter consents to its disposal, be deemed to be forfeited; or ( c ) in any other case, be returned to the owner or reported to a Magistrate’s Court. [5/2019] (2) Where a document, substance or matter is reported to a Magistrate’s Court under subsection (1)( c ), the Magistrate’s Court may order the document, substance or matter — ( a ) to be forfeited; or ( b ) to be disposed of in the manner that the Magistrate’s Court thinks fit. [5/2019] (3) Subject to any order to the contrary by the Magistrate’s Court, if the document, substance or matter is forfeited or deemed to be forfeited under this section, the document, substance or matter must be delivered to the Director-General of Health and must be disposed of in the manner that the Director-General of Health thinks fit. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (4) This section does not affect any right to retain or dispose of property which may exist in law apart from this section. [5/2019]
—(1) Any book, document, record, sample, substance or matter (called in this section the document, substance or matter) produced, taken or seized under this Act must — ( a ) where the document, substance or matter is produced in any criminal trial, be dealt with in accordance with section 364(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010; ( b ) where the owner of the document, substance or matter consents to its disposal, be deemed to be forfeited; or ( c ) in any other case, be returned to the owner or reported to a Magistrate’s Court. [5/2019]
(2) Where a document, substance or matter is reported to a Magistrate’s Court under subsection (1)( c ), the Magistrate’s Court may order the document, substance or matter — ( a ) to be forfeited; or ( b ) to be disposed of in the manner that the Magistrate’s Court thinks fit. [5/2019]
(3) Subject to any order to the contrary by the Magistrate’s Court, if the document, substance or matter is forfeited or deemed to be forfeited under this section, the document, substance or matter must be delivered to the Director-General of Health and must be disposed of in the manner that the Director-General of Health thinks fit. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(4) This section does not affect any right to retain or dispose of property which may exist in law apart from this section. [5/2019]
Powers of arrest and detention
Open ↗56. —(1) Any police officer, or any Health Officer appointed under section 4(1)( a ), ( b ) or ( e ) and authorised in writing by the appropriate Minister, may arrest without warrant any person committing or who he or she has reason to believe has committed any offence under section 11(1), 20(3), 21A(4), 23(3), 24(3) or 55(8). [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (2) Subject to subsection (1), any police officer, or any Health Officer appointed under section 4(1)( a ), ( b ) or ( e ) and authorised in writing by the appropriate Minister, may arrest without warrant any person committing or who he or she has reason to believe has committed any offence under this Act if — ( a ) the name and address of the person are unknown to him or her; ( b ) the person declines to give the person’s name and address; ( c ) the person gives an address outside Singapore; or ( d ) there is reason to doubt the accuracy of the name and address if given. [10/2008; 11/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (3) Subject to subsection (8), any police officer, or any Health Officer appointed under section 4(1)( a ), ( b ) or ( e ) and authorised in writing by the appropriate Minister, may arrest without warrant any person who — ( a ) being required to be isolated in any place under the provisions of this Act, has failed to proceed to that place or has left or attempted to leave that place; ( b ) being required to undergo or submit to any surveillance, medical examination or medical treatment under the provisions of this Act, has failed to undergo or submit to the surveillance, examination or treatment or comply with any condition relating to the surveillance; or ( c ) being required to comply with any requirement mentioned in paragraph ( a ) or ( b ), attempts to leave Singapore without the approval of the Director-General of Health. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (4) Any person who, being required to comply with any requirement mentioned in subsection (3)( a ) or ( b ), attempts to leave Singapore without the approval of the Director-General of Health shall be guilty of an offence. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (5) Any person arrested under subsection (2) must, within 24 hours from the arrest or immediately in the case of a person who gives his or her address as a place outside Singapore, be taken before a Magistrate’s Court, unless before that time his or her true name and residence are ascertained, in which case the person must be immediately released on his or her executing a bond with or without sureties before a police officer not below the rank of inspector for the person’s appearance before a Magistrate’s Court, if so required. [10/2008] (6) Without affecting subsection (5), a person arrested must not be detained longer than is necessary for bringing him or her before a court, and in any case, not longer than 48 hours (excluding the time of any necessary journey), unless the order of a court for his or her detention is obtained. [10/2008] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (7) The Director-General of Health may issue any order under this Act for the isolation, surveillance, medical examination or medical treatment of a person arrested under subsection (3). [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (8) A police officer or Health Officer authorised in writing by the Director-General of Health for the purposes of this subsection may, in relation to a person in default under subsection (3)( a ), ( b ) or ( c ), take any of the following measures, whereupon the person is not to be arrested under subsection (3) in respect of the default: ( a ) in a case where that person is to be isolated — (i) to cause that person to be taken to the place where he or she is to be isolated; or (ii) to ensure that the person remains in isolation in his or her own dwelling place, for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health thinks necessary for the protection of the public; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( b ) in a case where that person is to undergo surveillance, to cause that person to undergo surveillance for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health thinks necessary for the protection of the public; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( c ) in a case where that person is to undergo medical examination or medical treatment, to cause that person to be medically examined or treated, subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health thinks fit. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (9) The measures mentioned in subsection (8) may extend to — ( a ) the entry into any premises without a warrant; and ( b ) the use of such force as may be necessary. [10/2008] (10) Any person arrested without warrant under this Act may be detained while awaiting trial or in remand at — ( a ) a lock-up appointed as a place of confinement under section 4(1) of the Prisons Act 1933; or ( b ) an immigration depot designated under the Immigration Act 1959. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
—(1) Any police officer, or any Health Officer appointed under section 4(1)( a ), ( b ) or ( e ) and authorised in writing by the appropriate Minister, may arrest without warrant any person committing or who he or she has reason to believe has committed any offence under section 11(1), 20(3), 21A(4), 23(3), 24(3) or 55(8). [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(2) Subject to subsection (1), any police officer, or any Health Officer appointed under section 4(1)( a ), ( b ) or ( e ) and authorised in writing by the appropriate Minister, may arrest without warrant any person committing or who he or she has reason to believe has committed any offence under this Act if — ( a ) the name and address of the person are unknown to him or her; ( b ) the person declines to give the person’s name and address; ( c ) the person gives an address outside Singapore; or ( d ) there is reason to doubt the accuracy of the name and address if given. [10/2008; 11/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(3) Subject to subsection (8), any police officer, or any Health Officer appointed under section 4(1)( a ), ( b ) or ( e ) and authorised in writing by the appropriate Minister, may arrest without warrant any person who — ( a ) being required to be isolated in any place under the provisions of this Act, has failed to proceed to that place or has left or attempted to leave that place; ( b ) being required to undergo or submit to any surveillance, medical examination or medical treatment under the provisions of this Act, has failed to undergo or submit to the surveillance, examination or treatment or comply with any condition relating to the surveillance; or ( c ) being required to comply with any requirement mentioned in paragraph ( a ) or ( b ), attempts to leave Singapore without the approval of the Director-General of Health. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(4) Any person who, being required to comply with any requirement mentioned in subsection (3)( a ) or ( b ), attempts to leave Singapore without the approval of the Director-General of Health shall be guilty of an offence. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(5) Any person arrested under subsection (2) must, within 24 hours from the arrest or immediately in the case of a person who gives his or her address as a place outside Singapore, be taken before a Magistrate’s Court, unless before that time his or her true name and residence are ascertained, in which case the person must be immediately released on his or her executing a bond with or without sureties before a police officer not below the rank of inspector for the person’s appearance before a Magistrate’s Court, if so required. [10/2008]
(6) Without affecting subsection (5), a person arrested must not be detained longer than is necessary for bringing him or her before a court, and in any case, not longer than 48 hours (excluding the time of any necessary journey), unless the order of a court for his or her detention is obtained. [10/2008] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(7) The Director-General of Health may issue any order under this Act for the isolation, surveillance, medical examination or medical treatment of a person arrested under subsection (3). [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(8) A police officer or Health Officer authorised in writing by the Director-General of Health for the purposes of this subsection may, in relation to a person in default under subsection (3)( a ), ( b ) or ( c ), take any of the following measures, whereupon the person is not to be arrested under subsection (3) in respect of the default: ( a ) in a case where that person is to be isolated — (i) to cause that person to be taken to the place where he or she is to be isolated; or (ii) to ensure that the person remains in isolation in his or her own dwelling place, for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health thinks necessary for the protection of the public; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] ( b ) in a case where that person is to undergo surveillance, to cause that person to undergo surveillance for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health thinks necessary for the protection of the public; [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( c ) in a case where that person is to undergo medical examination or medical treatment, to cause that person to be medically examined or treated, subject to such conditions as the Director-General of Health thinks fit. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(9) The measures mentioned in subsection (8) may extend to — ( a ) the entry into any premises without a warrant; and ( b ) the use of such force as may be necessary. [10/2008]
(10) Any person arrested without warrant under this Act may be detained while awaiting trial or in remand at — ( a ) a lock-up appointed as a place of confinement under section 4(1) of the Prisons Act 1933; or ( b ) an immigration depot designated under the Immigration Act 1959. [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
Police officer or Health Officer may demand names and addresses in certain cases
Open ↗57. —(1) Any person who is required by any police officer, or by any Health Officer authorised in that behalf by the Director‑General of Public Health, the Director‑General, Food Administration or the Director-General of Health, must on demand give the person’s name and address and other proof of identity to the police officer or Health Officer, as the case may be. [11/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (2) The occupier of any premises must, if required by any police officer or by a Health Officer authorised in that behalf by the Director‑General of Public Health, the Director‑General, Food Administration or the Director-General of Health, give the occupier’s name and address and other proof of identity and the name and address of the owner of the premises, if known. [11/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (3) Any person who fails to comply with any requirement properly made to the person by a police officer or Health Officer under subsection (1) or (2), or wilfully mis‑states the person’s name and address or the name and address of the owner of any premises, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500.
—(1) Any person who is required by any police officer, or by any Health Officer authorised in that behalf by the Director‑General of Public Health, the Director‑General, Food Administration or the Director-General of Health, must on demand give the person’s name and address and other proof of identity to the police officer or Health Officer, as the case may be. [11/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(2) The occupier of any premises must, if required by any police officer or by a Health Officer authorised in that behalf by the Director‑General of Public Health, the Director‑General, Food Administration or the Director-General of Health, give the occupier’s name and address and other proof of identity and the name and address of the owner of the premises, if known. [11/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(3) Any person who fails to comply with any requirement properly made to the person by a police officer or Health Officer under subsection (1) or (2), or wilfully mis‑states the person’s name and address or the name and address of the owner of any premises, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500.
Disclosure of information by Director-General of Health to prevent spread or possible outbreak of infectious disease, etc.
Open ↗57A. —(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Director-General of Health may disclose any information obtained by him or her under this Act which identifies any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease — ( a ) to any person if the disclosure is necessary for the person to take measures to prevent the spread or possible outbreak of the infectious disease; or ( b ) to the World Health Organization or a State Party to the World Health Organization if the disclosure is necessary to comply with an international obligation of Singapore. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] (2) The Director-General of Health may, in disclosing any information to any person under subsection (1)( a ), impose any conditions that the Director-General of Health thinks fit and the person to whom the information is disclosed must comply with the conditions. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (3) A person to whom the Director-General of Health has disclosed any information under subsection (1)( a ) may only disclose or use the information to the extent necessary for implementing any measure permitted by the Director-General of Health for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of that infectious disease, but not otherwise. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (4) Any person who — ( a ) fails to comply with any condition imposed under subsection (2); or ( b ) contravenes subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008; 5/2019] (5) This section applies without affecting any other right of disclosure under this Act or any other written law or rule of law. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Director-General of Health may disclose any information obtained by him or her under this Act which identifies any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease — ( a ) to any person if the disclosure is necessary for the person to take measures to prevent the spread or possible outbreak of the infectious disease; or ( b ) to the World Health Organization or a State Party to the World Health Organization if the disclosure is necessary to comply with an international obligation of Singapore. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024]
(2) The Director-General of Health may, in disclosing any information to any person under subsection (1)( a ), impose any conditions that the Director-General of Health thinks fit and the person to whom the information is disclosed must comply with the conditions. [10/2008; 5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(3) A person to whom the Director-General of Health has disclosed any information under subsection (1)( a ) may only disclose or use the information to the extent necessary for implementing any measure permitted by the Director-General of Health for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of that infectious disease, but not otherwise. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(4) Any person who — ( a ) fails to comply with any condition imposed under subsection (2); or ( b ) contravenes subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence. [10/2008; 5/2019]
(5) This section applies without affecting any other right of disclosure under this Act or any other written law or rule of law. [10/2008] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
Disclosure of information to prevent spread or possible outbreak of infectious disease, etc., as authorised by Director-General of Health
Open ↗57B. —(1) The Director-General of Health may, by written notice, authorise a healthcare provider to disclose to a specified recipient information, which identifies any person — ( a ) as a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease (called in this section the affected person); or [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( b ) as being suspected to be an affected person, to enable the specified recipient to take the necessary measures to prevent the spread or possible outbreak of the infectious disease. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (2) The Director-General of Health may, in authorising the disclosure of any information under subsection (1) by a healthcare provider, impose any conditions on the healthcare provider or the specified recipient of that information, and the healthcare provider or specified recipient (as the case may be) must comply with the conditions. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023] (3) A specified recipient of information provided under subsection (1) may disclose that information to another person providing a prescribed healthcare service to an affected person on behalf of the specified recipient, or use that information, only to the extent necessary to take the necessary measures to prevent the spread or possible outbreak of that infectious disease, but not otherwise. [5/2019] (4) Any person who, without reasonable excuse — ( a ) fails to comply with any condition imposed under subsection (2); or ( b ) contravenes subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence. [5/2019] (5) This section does not affect any other right of disclosure under any written law or rule of law. [5/2019] (6) In this section — “healthcare provider” means any person that provides a prescribed healthcare service; “prescribed healthcare service” means any healthcare service prescribed for the purposes of this section; “specified recipient” means any person that provides a prescribed healthcare service to an affected person. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
—(1) The Director-General of Health may, by written notice, authorise a healthcare provider to disclose to a specified recipient information, which identifies any person — ( a ) as a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease (called in this section the affected person); or [Act 13 of 2024 wef 09/04/2024] ( b ) as being suspected to be an affected person, to enable the specified recipient to take the necessary measures to prevent the spread or possible outbreak of the infectious disease. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(2) The Director-General of Health may, in authorising the disclosure of any information under subsection (1) by a healthcare provider, impose any conditions on the healthcare provider or the specified recipient of that information, and the healthcare provider or specified recipient (as the case may be) must comply with the conditions. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
(3) A specified recipient of information provided under subsection (1) may disclose that information to another person providing a prescribed healthcare service to an affected person on behalf of the specified recipient, or use that information, only to the extent necessary to take the necessary measures to prevent the spread or possible outbreak of that infectious disease, but not otherwise. [5/2019]
(4) Any person who, without reasonable excuse — ( a ) fails to comply with any condition imposed under subsection (2); or ( b ) contravenes subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence. [5/2019]
(5) This section does not affect any other right of disclosure under any written law or rule of law. [5/2019]
(6) In this section — “healthcare provider” means any person that provides a prescribed healthcare service; “prescribed healthcare service” means any healthcare service prescribed for the purposes of this section; “specified recipient” means any person that provides a prescribed healthcare service to an affected person. [5/2019] [Act 11 of 2023 wef 01/05/2023]
Police assistance
Open ↗59. The Commissioner of Police must provide such police assistance as may be necessary to carry out any of the provisions of this Act.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
