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SINGAPORE – Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s joint decision to postpone the air travel bubble was based on “clear parameters” that had been set out in the agreement between the two cities, the trade minister said on Monday (23 November). Industry, Chan Chun Sing. .
The travel bubble was scheduled to start on Sunday, but its delay was announced a day earlier in light of the recent surge in coronavirus cases in Hong Kong.
Addressing questions about the travel bubble during a press conference where Singapore’s economic figures for the third quarter were released, Chan said the terms had been set during earlier discussions between Singapore and Hong Kong.
Both parties reached “a very quick agreement that when conditions change, when conditions have evolved, we will make decisions accordingly,” he added.
Under the agreement, the travel bubble would be suspended with a two-day notice if the seven-day moving average for unrelated cases in any of the cities exceeds five.
Chan said authorities in both cities provide the other with daily updates on their Covid-19 numbers.
A joint decision is made when the threshold is crossed, he said, adding: “As new information becomes available (from) both sides, we will share it with each other, and once we analyze those numbers, we will apply the framework. and we made a joint decision. “
Last Saturday morning, the Singapore Civil Aviation Authority said the travel bubble would proceed as planned the next day, but with the added requirement that travelers from Hong Kong perform a polymerase chain reaction test. Covid-19 upon arrival.
Later in the day, however, the U-turn in the decision and the postponement of the travel bubble for two weeks was announced.
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post on Saturday afternoon that updates on when the travel bubble may start will be made at a later date.
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