More travelers, including those from Japan and Thailand, can deliver COVID-19 stay-at-home notice to their place of residence

SINGAPORE: Travelers from more countries will be able to deliver their 14-day stay-at-home notice at their place of residence in Singapore instead of at a dedicated facility starting November 4.

The countries are Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a press release on Tuesday (October 27).

In order to opt out of staying in a dedicated facility, travelers from those locations must not have visited any other country in the past 14 days prior to entering Singapore.

They must also live alone in their place of residence or with household members who are also serving a stay-at-home notice of the same duration and with the same travel history.

Applications to opt out of dedicated facilities open November 2, for arrivals starting November 4.

Singapore citizens and permanent residents must submit an application prior to arrival via the Safe Travel Office website.

“All travelers must submit approval to opt out upon arrival in Singapore,” the Health Ministry said.

“As the list of countries will be updated from time to time based on the public health risk assessment, all travelers should be prepared to be subject to existing border measures upon entry, including staying in special SHN facilities ( notice of stay in the home) and payment, if applicable “.

READ: Fast Lane, Green Lane, Air Transport Bubble – What You Need To Know About Singapore’s COVID-19 Travel Measures

Currently, with the exception of the countries to which Singapore has unilaterally opened, travelers from selected low-risk countries or regions are required to submit a seven-day stay-at-home notice at their place of residence or suitable accommodation of their choice. All other travelers must provide a 14-day stay-at-home notice at specialized facilities.

All travelers who choose not to stay in special facilities must remain in their declared place of residence at all times. They will be subject to electronic monitoring and random physical controls.

READ: Singapore reports 7 new COVID-19 cases, including 6 imported infections

TRAVELERS WILL BE COST OF STAY IN DEDICATED FACILITIES

The Ministry of Health also announced that effective January 1, 2021, the Government will no longer waive the costs of staying in dedicated stay-at-home notification facilities for Singapore citizens and permanent residents who last left Singapore. time before March 27.

This is because the “vast majority” of Singaporeans and PRs who left Singapore for the last time in the past year have returned, the ministry said.

The Government will also not pay more for inpatient medical bills for Singapore citizens, PRs and Long Term Pass Holders (LTPHs) who left the country before March 27 if they develop COVID-19 symptoms within the 14 days after arrival in Singapore.

This will go into effect on January 1 of next year.

“They will be able to take advantage of regular healthcare financial arrangements for their inpatient medical bills: SCs and RPs can access government subsidies and the MediShield Life / Integrated Shield Plan to help pay their bills, while LTPHs can take advantage of their usual financing arrangements, such as private insurance, ”the ministry said.

He added that Singapore’s border measures will evolve as the global COVID-19 situation changes.

“We will continue to closely monitor the global health situation and update our border measures in accordance with the public health risk assessment,” the Health Ministry said.

“If the situation in a country / region deteriorates, stricter measures will be implemented to limit the risk of importation and prevent community transmission of imported cases.”

CHECK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram