In forceAmended2020 Revised Edition

Contents

Infectious Diseases Act 1976 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Control of Infectious Diseases Within Singapore

18. Abatement of overcrowding

Amended

Last amended by an amending law of 2024. 4 amendments in all.

(1)

If, in the opinion of the Director-General of Health, a building is so overcrowded as to expose its occupants to the risk of infection by an infectious disease, the Director-General of Health may, by written notice, direct the owner or occupier of the building to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or part of the building, and carry out any other measure relating to the abatement or closure, in the manner and within the time specified in the notice.

(2)

Any owner or occupier who fails to comply with a notice given to the owner or occupier by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

(3)

When a building or any part of the building has been directed to be closed under subsection (1), any person who enters the building or any part of it without the permission of the Director-General of Health shall be guilty of an offence.

(4)

Without affecting any proceedings under subsection (2), where a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) has not been complied with, the Director-General of Health, a Health Officer or a police officer may, without warrant and with such force as may be necessary, enter the building and take or cause to be taken such measures as are necessary to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or any part of the building, as specified in the notice.

(5)

The costs and expenses incurred by the Director-General of Health or a Health Officer under subsection (4) must be paid by the owner or occupier in default and may be recovered as a debt due to the Government.

(6)

Any person who is aggrieved by any direction of the Director-General of Health as contained in a notice given to the person under subsection (1) may, within 7 days from the date of the notice, appeal to the appropriate Minister whose decision is final.

(7)

Even though an appeal under subsection (6) is pending, a notice issued by the Director-General of Health under subsection (1) takes effect from the date specified by the Director-General of Health, unless the appropriate Minister otherwise directs.

Terms defined in s 2

appropriate Minister
Defined · s 2
“appropriate Minister” means —(a)in the following cases, the Minister charged with the responsibility for health and sanitary measures in relation to vessels, aircraft, vehicles and persons entering or leaving Singapore:(i)the establishment of any advisory committee under section 5 for the purpose of giving advice to the Director‑General or the Director‑General, Food Administration;(ii)any purpose relating to sections 28, 29 and 33 to 45, including the making of subsidiary legislation in relation to any of those sections; or(b)in any other case, the Minister charged with the responsibility for regulation of diseases and disease control;
Open s 2
building
Defined · s 2
“building” means any house, hut, shed or roofed enclosure, whether intended for the purpose of human habitation or otherwise, and any wall, gate, post, pillar, paling, frame, hoarding, slip, dock, wharf, pier, jetty, landing-stage or bridge;
Open s 2
Director-General
Defined · s 2
“Director-General” means the Director‑General of Public Health appointed under section 3(1) of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987;
Open s 2
Health Officer
Defined · s 2
“Health Officer” means a Health Officer appointed by the Director‑General, the Director‑General, Food Administration or the Director under section 4;
Open s 2
infectious disease
Defined · s 2
“infectious disease” means —(a)any of the diseases specified in the First Schedule; and(b)for the purposes of sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 17A, 19, 55, 57A and 59A, includes any other disease —(i)that is caused or is suspected to be caused by a micro‑organism or any agent of disease;(ii)that is capable or is suspected to be capable of transmission by any means to human beings; and(iii)that, the Director has reason to believe, if left uninvestigated or unchecked, is likely to result in an epidemic of the disease;
Open s 2
occupier
Defined · s 2
“occupier”, in relation to any premises or vessel, means the person in occupation of the premises or vessel or having the charge or control thereof either on the person’s own account or as an agent of another person;
Open s 2
owner
Defined · s 2
“owner”, in relation to any premises or vessel, means the person for the time being receiving the rent of the premises or vessel whether on the person’s own account or as agent, trustee or receiver or who would receive the same if the premises or the vessel were let or chartered;
Open s 2