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SINGAPORE – The first flights under a travel agreement between Hong Kong and Singapore will proceed as planned on Sunday (November 22), but travelers from Hong Kong will need to undergo a Covid-19 test upon arrival in Singapore.
The additional requirement, which will go into effect on Sunday, comes after a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong in recent days. Visitors to Hong Kong were previously required to take the test only before leaving for Singapore.
Revealing the change on Saturday (Nov 21), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said visitors will need to take the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at Changi Airport as a “precautionary measure. “.
“More cases are expected in Hong Kong in the coming days due to the emergence of new clusters,” the CAAS said in a statement.
Hong Kong reported 26 cases on Friday (November 20), and its Health Secretary, Professor Sophia Chan, described the situation as “serious”.
“The health authorities of Singapore and Hong Kong are in close contact and are monitoring the situation,” added CAAS.
Speaking to reporters after a visit to the Singapore Airlines training center in Changi on Saturday, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said: “As you know, Hong Kong cases skyrocketed yesterday. Cases are likely today increase even more, and we should wait a few days of high cases, dozens. “
He added: “If in the next three days there are more than 22 unlinked cases, then I think the suspension will go into effect. But that will not affect tomorrow’s flight. Tomorrow’s flight will still start because our mechanism is as such that when (the threshold), (the bubble) will be suspended with a 48-hour notice so that travelers do not get stranded. “
The PCR test here will cost $ 196 per traveler, but will not be applied in the first week of Nov. 22-28 to allow travelers to adjust to the change, the CAAS said.
Travelers should immediately take private transportation to a declared place of accommodation, a hotel or a house (for Singapore residents), to isolate themselves while they wait for the test results, which will take between six and eight hours.
The Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble deal is the Republic’s first since border restrictions were imposed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the agreement, there will be a daily flight to each city and a quota of 200 travelers per flight starting Sunday (November 22).
Travelers between Singapore and Hong Kong will need to take Covid-19 tests, rather than receiving quarantine or staying home notices.
There will be no restrictions on the purpose of the trip, and a controlled itinerary will not be necessary, but travelers must meet the eligibility criteria and adhere to the current border control measures and public health requirements of both cities.
Under the terms of the agreement, travel will be suspended for two weeks if the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unrelated Covid-19 cases exceeds five in Singapore or Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s figure currently stands at 2.14, the CAAS said on Saturday (November 21).
The threshold will be exceeded if there are more than 22 unrelated cases in Hong Kong over the next three days. This will trigger a two-day notice period, after which the suspension will take effect, the authority added.
The prevailing border measures, a seven-day stay-at-home notice (SHN) in the case of travelers from Hong Kong, will apply upon entering Singapore.
Mr Ong said the increase in cases seen in Hong Kong is “a sobering reminder that the virus is still with us,” and it is good that roadblocks are now showing up at the start of the travel bubble.
“We are struggling to regain our normal life and lifestyle. But as we do so, please remember that the virus is still with us until vaccines are widely available and administered to the majority of people around the world,” he said .
A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines said the airline is closely monitoring the situation and will work with authorities on air travel bubble flights.
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