Singapore: Officials tightening COVID-19-related border rules as of Jan. 18 /update 32

Event

Singapore continues to tighten restrictions to stem the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as of Jan. 18. From 2359 Jan. 18, Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PR) returning from South Africa and the UK must serve an additional seven-day self-quarantine at their place of residence on top of the two-week quarantine at dedicated stay-home notice (SHN) facilities. The affected travelers must also undergo COVID-19 tests at the end of their quarantine at the SHN facilities and self-quarantine at their residence. Officials say these rules apply to travelers who are already serving their SHN in Singapore. All passengers must also undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests upon arrival in Singapore from 2359 Jan. 24. Additionally, starting at 2359 Jan. 31, people who are applying to enter Singapore under the Air Travel Pass (ATP) and Reciprocal Green Lanes (RGL) schemes must have a minimum SGD 30,000 (USD 22,500) travel insurance for COVID-19 medical treatment costs should they test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Singapore.

Some domestic rules remain in place. Social gatherings are limited to eight people. Employees can work on-site for up to half of their working hours daily; a maximum of 50 percent of staff may be present at the workplace at a given time. Other curbs, such as spacing work stations one meter apart from each other, remain in place. Authorities encourage companies to stagger working hours. Essential services, including medical and food retailers, can operate on-site with full staff capacity. Places of worship can now host events with a maximum of 250 people, with safeguards such as dividing the attendees into multiple zones of 50 people each.

The government maintains its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) at Orange, the second-highest level, indicating some human-to-human transmission in the country. Authorities continue to require people to practice health protocols, including wearing facemasks in public. Foreign workers staying in dormitories must download the TraceTogether application and FWMOMCare health monitoring application.

The Johor Causeway, which links Singapore to Malaysia, is open 0700-1900 daily. State carrier Singapore Airlines (SQ) and its subsidiaries, Scoot (TR) and SilkAir (MI), continue to suspend most flights but plan to resume operations to several locations gradually. Singapore-based airline JetStar Asia Airways (3K) has resumed some routes. Foreigners flying from select cities with several airlines, including SQ, TR, and MI, can transit via Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

Travel Restrictions
Most short-term visa holders, including work pass holders who do not provide essential services, remain banned from entering Singapore. Long-term visit pass and student pass holders must apply for official approval before traveling to Singapore. Incoming passengers must submit online health declarations up to three days before arrival. Foreign nationals traveling from most locations must test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before the trip.

Arrivals from most locations must serve their SHN for 14 days at designated sites. Travelers who spent the previous two weeks in mainland China, Macau, and Taiwan can serve a seven-day SHN in their residence. Arrivals from Fiji, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, and Thailand can serve SHN at their residence for two weeks if they fulfill specific requirements. The travelers must have spent the previous 14 days in the aforementioned locations and must serve their SHN at the accommodation alone or with other travelers with the same travel history.

Long-term pass holders and short-term travelers who have been in South Africa and the UK within the previous 14 days cannot enter Singapore. Singaporean citizens and PRs with recent travel history in the UK are subject to a two-week quarantine at dedicated SHN facilities and subsequently a one-week self-quarantine at their place of residence. Additionally, short-term travelers who have been in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) within the previous two weeks cannot enter Singapore. Singaporean citizens, PRs, and long-term pass holders with recent travel history in NSW must isolate at their own residence for a week.

Authorities are allowing entry for all travelers from Brunei, mainland China, New Zealand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and areas in Australia outside of NSW. The passengers must have remained in the mentioned locations for the last 14 days before entry, apply for an ATP 7-30 days before entry, and self-isolate until on-arrival test results are ready. Travelers who test negative are exempt from the typical compulsory SHN requirement for arrivals.

Arrangements for cross-border business and official travels are in place with Brunei, Germany, and South Korea, as well as Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces and Chongqing, Shanghai, and Tianjin municipalities in mainland China under RGL schemes. Travelers entering Singapore under the programs must have a sponsoring Singaporean government agency or company, seek prior approval from Singaporean authorities, and test negative for COVID-19 within 48-72 hours before departure. Travelers must test for COVID-19 again upon arrival, remain at their accommodation until the test returns negative, and adhere to controlled itineraries for the first 14 days of their visit. However, travelers from South Korea under the scheme must also quarantine at designated SHN facilities for 14 days. Additionally, RGL schemes with Indonesia and Japan are currently suspended due to ongoing border rules in the two countries, though Singapore-bound travelers who have already obtained approval may still be able to enter Singapore.

Context

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV). Symptoms occur 1-14 days following exposure (average of 3-7 days). These symptoms include fever, fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, sometimes worsening to pneumonia and kidney failure - especially in those with underlying medical conditions. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

Advice

Consider postponing travel if affected by travel restrictions. Confirm flight status before checking out of accommodation and departing for the airport. Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.

Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.

Resources

Ministry of Health Singapore
TraceTogether Mobile Application
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
Safe Travel Portal