SINGAPORE - Travellers from Myanmar will not be allowed to enter Singapore from Thursday (July 15) given a rise in Covid-19 cases there, said the Ministry of Health on Wednesday (July 14). From 11.59pm on Thursday, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with a travel history to Myanmar - including transit - in the past 21 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore. "This will also apply to all those who had obtained prior approval for entry into Singapore," added MOH. All travellers with recent travel history to Myanmar will also have to take an antigen rapid test (ART) upon arrival. Travellers with recent travel history to Myanmar who have yet to complete their 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) by 11.59pm on Thursday will continue to serve their SHN at dedicated facilities and take a polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) upon arrival, said MOH. A self-administered ART test has to be taken on day 3, 7 and 11 of arrival in Singapore. A second PCR test also has to be taken on day 14 of arrival. MOH said the multi-ministry task force regularly reviews Singapore's border measures to manage the risk of importation from travellers and onward local transmission. It added that "as the global situation evolves, we will continue to adjust our border measures". Any changes to border measures will be updated on the SafeTravel website here.
SINGAPORE - All new travellers arriving from high-risk countries and regions must be placed on a 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) from Wednesday (June 23), instead of 21 days, at dedicated facilities. However, they must take an antigen rapid test using self-test kits on the third, seventh and eleventh day after arriving in Singapore. The Ministry of Health said in a statement on Wednesday that while there is increased transmissibility with the new variants of concern, it found no evidence - from both overseas and local data - that these variants come with longer incubation periods. It added that since the 21-day SHN for all travellers with recent travel history to higher-risk countries or regions was implemented from May 8, there were 270 imported cases among such travellers as at Tuesday. "All of them had incubation periods well within the 14-day window. As such, we will reduce the SHN period from 21 days back to 14 days," said MOH. However, to identify potential infection cases early and provide infected travellers with appropriate medical care as soon as possible, travellers will be required to test themselves regularly with antigen rapid test kits on days three, seven and 11 of their arrival in Singapore, while serving their SHN. This is on top of the Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests they have to take on arrival in Singapore, and on day 14 of their arrival, before they finish their SHN. More on this topic Related Story Changes to stay-home notice requirements for travellers to S'pore from Fiji and Israel Related Story What is a stay-home notice and how is it enforced?
SINGAPORE - About 2,500 travellers have arrived in Singapore via reciprocal green lanes from June 8 to Dec 25 last year, with two among them testing positive for Covid-19, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has said. About 835 of the travellers came from three Asean states - Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, he said in Parliament on Tuesday (Jan 5). Another 1,640 or so came from countries in North-east Asia - China, South Korea and Japan - while about 15 arrived from Germany. Mr Gan, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force combating Covid-19, also said that as at Dec 26 last year, two people from Japan were detected with the virus during the mandatory test on arrival here for such travellers. The reciprocal green lanes facilitate short-term essential business and official travel between Singapore and its counterpart countries or regions, and the first such arrangement kicked in on June 8 last year between Singapore and China, in what was then called a "fast lane". Six provinces and municipalities in China - Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang - were included then, and Singapore currently continues to admit travellers from these places under the arrangement. The travellers have to abide by several rules. Either a company or government agency in Singapore can sponsor or apply for a prospective traveller to visit Singapore at least 14 days before arrival under the reciprocal green lanes. Approved travellers must take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction test within 72 hours before departure for Singapore at an authorised health centre designated by the government of a counterpart country, and obtain a certificate for a negative test. On arrival in Singapore, these travellers will be swabbed and must test negative once more before they are allowed to proceed with a 14-day itinerary, submitted by their sponsor during the travel application process. They are also required to use TraceTogether during their stay here. Besides the reciprocal green lanes, Singapore has in place two other travel arrangements with several countries and territories. Visitors from Australia, Brunei, China, New Zealand, Taiwan and Vietnam can apply for an air travel pass for all forms of travel and not be quarantined, provided they test negative for Covid-19 on arrival. Separately, the periodic commuting arrangement allows Singapore and Malaysia residents with long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country to periodically return home for short-term home leave. An air travel bubble with Hong Kong - which would have facilitated leisure travel between the two places - was slated to launch in November last year but was deferred following a spike in cases in the territory. More on this topic Related Story Travel under green lane arrangement affected after Indonesia's temporary ban on foreigners Related Story Singapore tightens restrictions on travellers from UK after emergence of new Covid-19 strain
Thirteen Covid-19 cases who served their stay-home notice (SHN) at Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel are being investigated by the Ministry of Health after it emerged that they could be linked. Here is what happens when travellers serve their SHN. 1 Before arrival in Singapore All travellers must submit a pre-trip health and travel history declaration before arriving here. Those who are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents (PRs) need entry approval from government agencies or certain travel passes to enter Singapore. Depending on a person's travel history, they will need to comply with different requirements. Some will need a negative result for an approved Covid-19 swab test taken within 72 hours before departure. Singaporeans and PRs do not need to take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before returning here. 2 Arrival in Singapore On arrival, most travellers will receive an SHN or an electronic monitoring device, or both, during immigration clearance. The SHN duration can be either seven days or 14 days. Those arriving from a limited list of countries, including Brunei and Australia, are allowed to take a swab test on arrival. They will have to self-isolate while waiting for their results and do not need to serve an SHN. 3 From airport to SHN facilities Some travellers from places such as Macau can choose to opt out of serving their SHN in dedicated facilities and choose to serve it at their own accommodation. They must meet criteria such as occupying the accommodation alone or only with household members with the same travel history. Others will be allocated dedicated SHN facilities by officers at the immigration checkpoint. Transportation will be arranged to take them to these facilities directly from the airport. Staff at Changi Airport who come into close contact with passengers don full personal protective equipment and are routinely tested for Covid-19. More on this topic Related Story MOH probing 13 Covid-19 cases who served SHN at Mandarin Orchard hotel Related Story Mandarin Orchard cases: Human factor most likely cause if Covid-19 had spread within hotel, say experts 4 Serving SHN Hotels used as SHN dedicated facilities need to have strict protocols to separate those on SHN from other guests. These include placing them in segregated blocks, wings or floors as well as ensuring the routes they use to get around are clearly separated from that of other guests. Individuals on SHN cannot leave their rooms during their stay, and rooms are thoroughly disinfected and sanitised after they leave. These people cannot access common facilities in the hotels too. More on this topic Related Story Mandarin Orchard Covid-19 cases: Holidays cut short as guests' worries grow over hotel stays Related Story Travellers from more countries allowed to serve stay-home notices at own place of residence During their SHN, travellers will have to take a Covid-19 swab test. To avoid contact with other people, they have their own room and toilet each, with meals provided to them. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority will also conduct checks on travellers placed on SHN through house visits, calls or via WhatsApp. Related Stories: Related Story MOH investigating 13 Covid-19 cases who served SHN at Mandarin Orchard Related Story 17 new Covid-19 cases in S'pore, all imported Related Story Malaysia to get AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, follows Pfizer-BioNTech deal Related Story Not getting Covid-19 vaccine puts all at greater risk: Experts Related Story S'pore to enter phase 3 on Dec 28: Groups of 8 to be allowed for social gatherings Related Story 7 things to expect in phase 3: Dining out in larger groups, free Covid-19 vaccinations Related Story 16 new Covid-19 cases in S'pore, including 1 from worker dorm Related Story Travellers from HK to serve 14-day SHN in S'pore from Dec 14 Related Story Muis urges Muslims to take Covid-19 vaccine once available, found to be safe and effective Related Story Britain issues anaphylaxis warning on Pfizer vaccine after adverse reactions
SINGAPORE - From the second half of January 2021, short-term business travellers from all countries arriving in Singapore will no longer need to be quarantined, under new segregated travel lane arrangements. The Ministry of Trade and Industry said on Tuesday (Dec 15) that those who opt to use the lane will be transported from the airport to dedicated facilities where they will stay and work. There, they can have meetings through floor-to-ceiling air-tight glass panels with local businessmen, as well as with other foreign businessmen with safe distancing measures in place. Regular testing will be conducted throughout the duration of their stay - for instance on alternate days - in addition to tests before departure from their home countries and upon arrival here. They will also have to move within their pre-declared travel group of up to five people to reduce the risk of mass transmission. The segregated travel lane is distinct from existing reciprocal green lane arrangements, which apply only to selected countries but allow those on essential business here to move about around Singapore more freely. The segregated travel lane restricts movement, but lets in business, official and high economic value travellers from all countries, as long as their stay is 14 days or shorter. The lane is expected to increase traffic at Changi Airport, where about 15 per cent of travellers pre-Covid-19 entered the country for business-related reasons. It should also have knock-on effects on the hospitality sector, which could cater food and provide accommodation for the travellers once they are given approval. Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, on a tour of Connect @ Changi, one of the facilities that will be used to house travellers in the segregated travel lane, said the new measures will make Singapore more relevant as a business hub amid the unpredictability of Covid-19. "Global business travel has been severely affected by the need for quarantine measures... Different countries will continue to have different risk profiles and we should not let this hinder business meetings," he said. "Dedicated facilities can allow Singaporeans to meet (business) travellers from elsewhere. They can also allow (business) travellers from elsewhere to meet each other." An artist's impression of Connect@ Changi's courtyard. PHOTO: CONNECT@ CHANGI Based on patterns established last year, roughly nine in 10 of business travellers to Singapore stayed in the country for five days or fewer, hinting at the demand for such expedited, business-specific travel arrangements. A huge chunk of these travellers are currently not covered by reciprocal green lane arrangements, and have to undergo quarantine before being able to meet their local partners face to face. Temasek senior managing director Alan Thompson, who was among those helming the Connect @ Changi project, said local employees of multinational companies might not have had a chance to meet their regional heads in person for more than year. More on this topic Related Story Singapore to let in more travellers to help retain air hub status: Chan Chun Sing Related Story Singapore and France working on travel green lane for short-term business and official trips Facilities like Connect @ Changi, which will take in its first guests in February next year, provide businessmen with that opportunity while minimising physical contact. Connect @ Changi is a four-star facility currently being built at Singapore Expo and Max Atria, about a five-minute drive from Changi Airport. When fully constructed in mid-2021, more than 1,300 guest rooms and about 340 meeting rooms will be available for booking, with each night costing travellers between $400 and $480. Meeting rooms can fit between four and 22 people, and are meant for meetings rather than larger-scale conferences or events. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Meeting rooms can fit between four and 22 people, and are meant for meetings rather than larger-scale conferences or events. Mr Wong Heang Fine, group chief executive officer of Surbana Jurong, which built Connect @ Changi, said the facility can be quickly repurposed within weeks for other uses post-Covid-19, as it is constructed from pre-fabricated modules. Connect @ Changi said the facility will create 800 jobs in Singapore in construction and the maintenance and provision of services within the facility. Mr Chan said MTI will study the demand for the segregated travel lane to assess the number of dedicated facilities needed, and could broaden the use of the lane for medical or family-visiting uses. Facility operators interested in serving as a segregated facility can submit their proposals through the Singapore Tourism Board by the end of the year. More on this topic Related Story Singapore and Germany agree to set up Reciprocal Green Lane for business and official travel Related Story S'pore to lift border restrictions for visitors from Taiwan from Dec 18