Unexpected Covid Call: A 70-Year-Old’s Week in Fear
When 70‑year‑old Madam Tan Poh Choo received a phone message on Oct. 2 announcing a Covid‑19 positive result, she was stunned. She hadn’t felt a single symptom, didn’t remember visiting My Family Clinic since June, and simply had been enjoying her quiet two‑room HDB flat with her husband.
The Mix‑Up That Set Things in Motion
Sunday’s news wasn’t a glitch in her own body but a slip by the clinic. An identical name had tripped up the staff at the St George’s Road branch, inadvertently linking Madam Tan’s number to a different patient who had indeed tested positive.
- Oct. 4 – A call from the clinic trying to explain the mistake.
- Oct. 9 – Official confirmation that she was not infected.
By then, a whole week had slipped in with no official clearance to venture outside. She stayed locked in her tiny apartment, heart hammering and minds racing.
One Call & A Tearing Confession
On Oct. 5, the clinic urged her to pack and move to a community isolation facility. The words hit her like a punch: “We’ll take your belongings to the isolation centre.” Madam Tan couldn’t help but weep. She told Shin Min Daily News that the thought of leaving her family or being stuck alone in a facility was unbearable.
“When the call came, my mind was blank. I didn’t want to leave my family but feared the loneliness of an isolation block,” she said.
Clinic’s Turn‑Around
My Family Clinic later admitted the error‑ they said the name confusion plus a heavy patient load had led to the mishap. They also reported reaching out to the Ministry of Health’s Case Management Task Group as soon as the mistake was spotted.
Additionally, staff visited Madam Tan on three different days at her residence to support her and address her questions. “We’re taking this seriously and have tightened our procedures,” the clinic stated.
Facing Stigma & Finding Relief
Madam Tan confessed she feared the stigma of being escorted by nurses into an isolation centre – a visible reminder to the neighbours that “I’m sick.” She argued that no one should be judged differently when catching the virus; nobody wants a flu‑like feel‑good‑low heart.
Finally, on Oct. 11, her TraceTogether status was cleared, bringing a sigh of relief after nine days of uncertainty.
Though the incident began as a simple administrative mistake, it turned into an emotional saga that highlighted the importance of clear communication and empathy during a public health crisis. The story underscores how a single misstep can amplify fear for ordinary citizens. The Straits Times first braced this piece – a reminder that even small errors may ripple through many lives.
