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SINGAPORE: Singapore will lift its border restrictions for all visitors from mainland China and Australia’s state of Victoria starting next Friday (November 6).
This will take effect from midnight on November 6 and includes all travelers who are not Singapore citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Thursday.
Starting at 12:00 p.m. From October 30, visitors traveling from mainland China and the state of Victoria can apply for an Air Travel Pass (ATP) to enter Singapore from November 6.
Applicants must have been in mainland China or Australia for the last 14 consecutive days prior to entry and must travel to Singapore on direct flights without transit.
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They will then undergo a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival at the airport. These travelers will be allowed to carry out their activities in Singapore, without the need to send a stay-at-home notice, if their test result is negative.
Starting at midnight on November 6, Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning from mainland China and the state of Victoria will similarly undergo a COVID-19 PCR test at their arrival.
They will also be allowed to carry out their activities in Singapore without the need to provide a stay-at-home notice if their test results are negative.
MORE LIFTING OF BORDER RESTRICTIONS
This latest initiative follows the previous lifting of border restrictions for visitors to Australia, excluding the state of Victoria, Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand and Vietnam.
As of 12 p.m. on October 29, CAAS said it had approved 1,375 applications for these venues and received 602 visitors. None of the visitors tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival.
CAAS said that both mainland China and the state of Victoria have comprehensive public health surveillance systems and “demonstrated successful control” over the spread of COVID-19.
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Over the past 28 days, mainland China and the state of Victoria have had a local incidence rate of the virus of 0.00009 and 0.099 per 100,000, respectively. The risk of importation from these locations is low, CAAS added.
CAAS said it will update the travel advisory to allow travel to mainland China and all of Australia. Travelers are advised to check the entry requirements imposed by these countries and take the necessary precautionary measures.
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Visitors entering with the Air Travel Pass can expect to receive their PCR test results within 12 to 48 hours. After taking the PCR test, visitors must take private transportation, taxi or private rental car from the airport to their declared place of accommodation, CAAS said.
“They must remain isolated in the housing until the test result is confirmed to be negative. Checks will be made to ensure compliance. After being notified of negative test results, visitors will be able to conduct their activities in Singapore, ”added CAAS.
To facilitate the contact tracing process, visitors must download and register for the TraceTogether app on their mobile devices before departing for Singapore. They must also keep it activated during their stay and not delete it for 14 consecutive days after leaving Singapore.
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If they subsequently test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of their departure from Singapore, they will be asked to upload data to the app at the request of the Ministry of Health (MOH).
CAAS reminded visitors that they are responsible for their COVID-19 related medical bills while in Singapore.
This includes costs related to testing and isolation imposed on visitors for public health reasons in the event they are suspected of being infected with COVID-19, as well as medical treatment for COVID-19.
Visitors can apply for the single entry Air Travel Pass, free of charge, between seven and 30 calendar days prior to the scheduled date of entry into Singapore. More details on the Air Travel Pass conditions, application requirements and the process can be found online.
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