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SINGAPORE – Singapore is expected to announce its first air travel bubble with Hong Kong, sources told The Straits Times.
This means that people will be able to travel between the two locations without the need to be quarantined, subject to conditions that include negative tests for Covid-19.
ST understands that tests for Covid-19 will be conducted in both Singapore and Hong Kong, either before departure or after arrival, as well as “bubble” flights or designated flights that do not carry passengers in transit.
It is understood that the key features of the deal have been largely established, but details on when it will start, or where and when double testing for the virus will take place, are yet to be worked out.
Hong Kong is the 10th place with which Singapore has made special travel arrangements.
There are different types of agreements.
The first is a unilateral opening – a standing invitation from Singapore to countries that have comprehensive public health surveillance systems and have successfully controlled the spread of Covid-19.
The countries in this group are New Zealand, Brunei, Australia (excluding the state of Victoria) and Vietnam.
Visitors must apply for the Air Travel Pass which allows all forms of short-term travel, including leisure travel.
The second level, the bilateral green lane arrangements, are for essential business and official travel.
China was the first country to establish a greenway with Singapore. There are also reciprocal green lanes with Malaysia (from August 17), Brunei (from September 1), South Korea (from September 4), Japan (from September 18) and Indonesia (applications will start on October 26th).
In the case of Malaysia, there is a second plan: the periodic transport agreement, for longer-term travel for work and business.
For other countries heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, travelers must serve a 14-day quarantine at dedicated government facilities and take a swab test before their quarantine period ends.
The total confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Hong Kong has exceeded 5,200, including 105 deaths.
The city was hit by the third wave of the pandemic after clusters began to appear in June and rapidly deteriorated in the weeks after, prompting authorities to implement the strictest social distancing measures, such as the mandatory use of face masks and limiting public gatherings to two. , in July.
Currently, the third wave has subsided and daily increases have fallen from highs of more than 100 about a month ago.
But health authorities and experts in Hong Kong have warned in recent weeks of the fourth wave of the pandemic in the winter season, with some saying it could come sooner if people let their guard down.
Public gatherings are now capped at four and gyms, bars and pubs have been allowed to reopen. Meal services in restaurants will end at midnight.
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