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SINGAPORE: All travelers to Singapore with a recent travel history to Sabah will soon be required to present a 14-day stay-at-home notice at specialized facilities.
This is one of several changes to Singapore’s border measures and COVID-19 testing for travelers announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (October 12).
Other changes affect travelers with recent travel histories to Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Hong Kong.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will also lift the visa suspension and resume the issuance of new visas, in line with the “calibrated reopening of Singapore’s borders,” the Health Ministry said.
HOME HOME NOTICE FOR SABAH TRAVELERS
Under the changes announced Monday, travelers with travel history to Sabah in the past 14 days will be required to submit a 14-day stay-at-home notice at dedicated facilities.
The requirement applies to all travelers entering Singapore after 11:59 p.m. on October 14.
The requirement also applies to Singapore-based returning travelers under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL), as well as Malaysian citizens and permanent residents entering Singapore under the Periodic Transportation Agreement, the Health Ministry said.
READ: FAQ: How can workers travel between Singapore and Malaysia and what are the COVID-19 protocols in place?
However, it does not apply to Malaysia-based travelers under the RGL, who will continue to be subject to the RGL’s existing health measures of a pre-departure test, a pre-arrival test and a previously declared controlled itinerary, the said. Ministry of Health.
A COVID-19 test will continue to be administered before the stay-at-home notice period ends, the Health Ministry said.
Previously, Malaysian travelers were allowed to deliver a seven-day stay-at-home notice at their place of residence.
The latest measure follows a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Sabah, the Health Ministry said.
The state of Sabah has seen a large increase in infections in recent weeks, reporting 488 new cases out of the daily total of 561 new cases from Malaysia on Sunday.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in other states and federal territories, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya. For now, travelers from all other parts of Malaysia (except Sabah), will continue to serve a stay-at-home notice for seven days at their place of residence, “the ministry said.
On Monday, the Malaysian government announced stricter rules for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya, including restrictions on travel between districts. All three will be subject to a Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) for two weeks, starting October 14.
PRE-DEPARTURE TESTS FOR TRAVELERS FROM INDONESIA, PHILIPPINES
Travelers who are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents and have recent travel history to Indonesia or the Philippines in the last 14 days prior to entry will now need to take a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. within 72 hours before departure. MOH said.
This requirement will take effect for people arriving or moving through Singapore from 11:59 p.m. on October 19, the Health Ministry said.
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Travelers will be required to submit a valid negative COVID-19 test result as a condition of approval to enter or transfer through Singapore, the Health Ministry said.
Those entering Singapore will still need to deliver a 14-day stay-at-home notice at dedicated facilities and take a negative COVID-19 test before their notice ends, the Health Ministry added.
Travelers from India transferring through Singapore will now also need to present a valid negative COVID-19 test result, the Health Ministry said.
Travelers wishing to enter Singapore who have a history of travel to India in the past 14 days and who are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents must already submit a valid negative COVID-19 test result as a condition for approval.
READ: COVID-19: Singapore to lift border restrictions for some visitors from Australia, Vietnam
HOME HOME NOTICE FOR HONG KONG TRAVELERS
Hong Kong travelers will now be able to deliver a seven-day reduced stay-at-home notice to their place of residence.
The change will apply to travelers entering Singapore from 11:59 p.m. on October 14, the Health Ministry said.
This follows Hong Kong’s addition to a list of low-risk countries and regions for COVID-19, the Health Ministry said. Others on the list are Macau, mainland China, Malaysia (excluding Sabah), and Taiwan.
RESUME OF THE VISA REGIME
ICA will lift the visa suspension and resume issuing new visas in line with the calibrated reopening of Singapore’s borders, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
Starting at 11:59 p.m. From October 18, short-term visitors who require a visa to enter Singapore can apply for visas through a local contact, Singapore’s overseas mission or an authorized visa agent, the Health Ministry said.
Visitors who have already received visas that are still valid, as well as those who are eligible for visa-free transit facility, do not need to apply or reapply, the ministry said.
The Health Ministry added that possession of a valid visa alone does not guarantee entry into Singapore. All short-term visitors must seek prior approval through the appropriate COVID-19 travel channels before they can enter Singapore.
COVID-19 TESTING
To make COVID-19 testing more accessible to travelers leaving Singapore, the Health Ministry will increase the number of clinics and providers that can administer COVID-19 PCR testing for pre-departure testing, it said. the ministry.
There are currently more than 150 clinics providing pre-departure testing to eligible travelers, he added.
The Health Ministry added that it will also “gradually liberalize” COVID-19 testing to allow those requiring testing to have more options to obtain such services from approved providers.
Laboratories, clinics and swab service providers that are interested in providing such COVID-19 testing services can request approval from the Ministry of Health, the ministry said.
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