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SINGAPORE: Non-Singaporean travelers or permanent residents entering Singapore from high-risk countries will be required to undergo a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours of departure.
This is part of the country’s plans to reduce the risk of imported cases from high-risk countries and regions, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) said in a statement on Tuesday (November 10).
The pre-departure requirement will begin on November 18.
These travelers will still need to submit their stay-at-home notice upon arrival in Singapore and will be evaluated at the end of their stay-at-home notice, the Health Ministry said.
Previously, pre-departure PCR testing was only applied to people with a recent travel history to India, Indonesia and the Philippines. They must present a valid negative PCR test to enter or transit through Singapore.
READ: Businesses, People Who Need COVID-19 PCR Testing Can Get Such Services From Approved Providers Starting Dec. 1
However, travelers from low-risk territories are exempt from this requirement. These include people from: Brunei, New Zealand, Vietnam, Australia, Mainland China, Macau, Malaysia (except Sabah), Taiwan, and those from Hong Kong who are not under the Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble.
The Health Ministry said Singapore’s border measures are evolving alongside the latest global situation.
If conditions in a country or region worsen, stricter measures will be taken to limit import risk and prevent community transmission.
And if circumstances in the country or region improve, border controls will be relaxed, the ministry said.
READ: Businesses, People Who Need COVID-19 PCR Testing Can Get Such Services From Approved Providers Starting Dec. 1
At Tuesday’s COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force press conference, Education Minister Lawrence Wong was asked why there were no travel arrangements with Taiwan despite its low COVID-19 incidence rates. .
Mr. Wong said there is “no question” that Taiwan is considered a lower risk jurisdiction according to Singapore’s classification.
Addressing the need for a seven-day stay-at-home notice for travelers entering Singapore from Taiwan, Wong said Singapore will continue to monitor the situation.
“And at some point, if in fact Taiwan is still a safe, low-risk jurisdiction, then it’s quite possible that we’ll put it on an equal footing with some of the other places like New Zealand, Vietnam … as long as you have a test on arrival, then there is no need for SHN, “he said.
“That can happen down the road, like I said, it’s a dynamic process and we keep updating.”
A travel bubble is a “different” matter because it is a bilateral agreement, Mr. Wong said.
“A travel bubble means that we have to argue and the other party has to agree. We don’t have travel bubbles with many; not all the places that are of lower risk, because that requires bilateral negotiations and agreements from both parties, ”he said.
“We continue to discuss these possibilities with all these countries. And to the extent that mutual understanding and agreement can be reached, we can herald a travel bubble when that happens.”
See the full press conference:
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