[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – Singapore will unilaterally lift border restrictions on visitors from Australia, excluding the state of Victoria, and Vietnam from October 8.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Wednesday (September 30) that these two countries have comprehensive public health surveillance systems and have successfully controlled the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The risk of importation from these countries is low,” the authority said, noting that during the last 28 days, Vietnam had zero local cases of Covid-19 while Australia (excluding the state of Victoria) had a low incidence rate virus of 0.02 cases per 100,000. people.
The two countries join New Zealand and Brunei as the four countries to which Singapore has unilaterally opened its borders, as the country makes an offer to revive its tourism and travel markets.
Visitors from Australia and Vietnam will be able to apply for the Air Travel Pass to enter Singapore starting Thursday. The first day they will be able to enter Singapore will be October 8.
The Air Travel Pass program allows all forms of short-duration travel, including leisure travel. This is in contrast to reciprocal green lane agreements between countries, which are typically for essential business and official travel.
Visitors will need to have a swab test upon arrival and will be able to continue their activities after a negative result. They will have to use the TraceTogether app during their stay here, among other conditions.
CAAS also said that Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders returning from Australia (excluding the state of Victoria) and Vietnam will be able to take a Covid-19 test upon arrival.
This will replace the current requirement of a seven-day stay-at-home notice with proof before the notice ends.
CAAS added that it has updated Singapore’s travel advisory to allow travel to Australia (excluding Victoria) and Vietnam.
He advised travelers to check the entry requirements imposed by these countries and to take the necessary precautions if traveling.
Australia currently bans all travel abroad, and those who want to do so must apply for an exemption. Also, foreigners cannot enter the country at the moment.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has temporarily suspended the entry of all foreigners and Vietnamese abroad via commercial flights. It will only approve the entry of some foreigners, such as those with diplomatic passports, on a case-by-case basis.
As border restrictions for visitors from Brunei and New Zealand were lifted on September 8, CAAS approved 331 requests from travelers from the two countries.
As of 5pm on Wednesday, 136 visitors have arrived so far. None of them tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival.
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said last month that the unilateral reopening of the borders to Brunei and New Zealand was a “small and cautious” step that may resurrect Changi airport.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Ong said he spoke with Michael McCormack, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, and Ms. Tao Thi Than Huong, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Singapore, about the move.
“They appreciated Singapore’s decision and when the conditions are right, I think they will consider lifting the restrictions on Singapore travelers,” he said.
The minister added that Singapore’s decision to open up further was another step in resuscitating Changi airport.
The Changi air hub is a crucial part of Singapore’s economy, contributing more than 5 percent of Singapore’s gross domestic product and employing 192,000 people before the pandemic.
Now, it is among the worst affected segments of the economy, with the transportation and storage sector contracting at an annualized rate of 80 percent in the second quarter of the year, compared to the previous quarter.
[ad_2]
