In forceAmended2020 Revised Edition

Contents

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

21. Control of business, undertaking or work

Feedback & support

Amended

Last amended by an amending law of 2024. 3 amendments in all.

(1)

The Director-General of Health may give a direction to —

(a)

any person who is a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease and is carrying on or may carry on any business, undertaking or work; (aa)any class of persons mentioned in paragraph (a);

(ab)

any person who is suspected to be a case or an at-risk individual of an infectious disease and is carrying on or may carry on any business, undertaking or work;

(b)

any person carrying on any business, undertaking or work in a manner as is likely to cause the spread of any infectious disease; or

(ba)

any class of persons mentioned in paragraph (b),about the taking of preventative action that the Director-General of Health reasonably believes is necessary to prevent the possible outbreak or prevent or reduce the spread of the infectious disease.

(2)

Without limiting subsection (1), “preventative action”, in the case of a direction given to a person or class of persons carrying on or who may carry on any business, undertaking or work, includes requiring the person or class of persons to do any one or more of the following:

(a)

to stop carrying on, or not carry on, the business, undertaking or work during a period of time specified in the direction;

(b)

take specified steps within a period of time specified in the direction, to ensure that the business, undertaking or work is conducted in compliance with conditions specified in the direction;

(c)

until the actions in paragraphs (a) and (b) are complied with, to ensure —

(i)

the premises at which the business, undertaking or work is or may be conducted is, for the period of time that is specified in the direction, not used for any activity;

(ii)

any vehicle, plant, article, machinery or equipment on those premises is, for the period of time that is specified in the direction, not used, moved, sold or otherwise handled; or

(iii)

any vehicle, plant, article, machinery or equipment on those premises and specified in the direction is, for the period of time that is specified in the direction, not removed from those premises, for any purpose or in any circumstances specified in the direction.

(3)

If a person refuses or fails to comply with any requirement of a direction given to that person or a class of persons to which that person belongs under subsection (1), the Director-General of Health may —

(a)

take any steps reasonably necessary to ensure control of the premises at which a business, undertaking or work is or may be conducted or any vehicle, plant, article, machinery or equipment on those premises, including entry to a place or vehicle without warrant and with the use of necessary force; and

(b)

carry out the requirement, and recover the costs and expenses reasonably incurred in carrying out the requirement as a debt due from that person to the Government.

(4)

A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any requirement of a direction given to that person or a class of persons to which that person belongs under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

(5)

A person (including a person in a class of persons) given a direction under subsection (1) may, within 7 days after the direction is given, appeal against the direction to the appropriate Minister, whose decision is final.

(6)

A direction under subsection (1) takes effect despite any appeal under subsection (5), unless the appropriate Minister otherwise directs.